Attorneys

Meet Rhonda Lockwood, owner of Lockwood and Zahrbock Kool Law Office in Sioux Falls, SD. After graduating from SDSU, Rhonda worked as a home based therapist at Children’s Home Society in Sioux Falls. During her time with Children’s Home Society, she became certified as a Level II alcohol and drug counselor. Rhonda worked for Children’s Home Society for three years before attending law school at the University of Tulsa. She graduated in 1993, when she started to work for the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office. She worked with the public defender’s office for three years before starting her practice. She always knew she wanted to run her own business and that’s when, in 1996, she started Lockwood Law Office. Since practicing law starting in 1996, Rhonda has grown to specialize in Family Law. She wasn’t planning on working in this area, but she’s grown herself into enjoying this area of law. Rhonda is here to help you see the truth with what you’re involved in and figuring out a way to resolve your case as quickly as possible. Rhonda loves working for Lockwood Law because this is “her baby”. She never once has doubted herself and is proud of the practice she has started. Outside of work, Rhonda is passionate about her family and will always put them first. She enjoys watching her boys in sports, doing yoga, running, water and snow skiing, and spending time with her husband. Rhonda is going to work hard for you and be honest—even when you do not want to hear it. The reason is, Rhonda says, is “if you ‘own’ what is going on, the case will go smoother; but, most importantly, your healing will start and you can start to discover what your next chapter is meant to be!”

Meet Tressa Zahrbock Kool. Tressa is owner of Lockwood and Zahrbock Kool Law Office. 

Tressa received her degree from the University of South Dakota where she graduated with a double major in political science and criminal justice and minor in business administration. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Tressa went to University of South Dakota Law School and graduated with her juris doctrine and masters in public administration. After graduation she worked for the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office for two years before starting in private practice.

Tressa’s main area of expertise is in custody and divorce cases. She strives to make Lockwood & Zahrbock Kool Law Office a compassionate office where her clients can feel comfortable sharing their life stories. Tressa is a strong advocate for her clients providing them confidence and security that Lockwood & Zahrbock Kool Law Office is handling their life situations.  If there’s one situation that Tressa is passionate about solving it is a family’s parenting plan with their children.  working with parents to come up with a “parenting plan”. Tressa will work with parents to determine a schedule on the basis of their family situation needs and desires.

In addition to family law, Tressa specializes in criminal law matters. Tressa and her team will take the time to understand a client’s case and their journey of how they got where they are now, and where they might be going.

Tressa enjoys working at Lockwood & Zahrbock Kool Law because of the fabulous talented team she gets to work with everyday. Everyone at Lockwood & Zahrbock Kool Law has a strong desire to be an advocate for the client. She lives in Sioux Falls with her husband and two young daughters.

Meet Rachel Preheim. Rachel is a Partner at Lockwood and Zahrbock Kool Law Office.

Rachel, a family and criminal law attorney, will work diligently to advocate for your rights as you face a stressful time in life. Rachel’s passion for the law is fed by assisting her clients transition into the next chapter of their story as easily as possible while providing her clients with the knowledge they deserve to understand the process and their options.

Rachel has been involved in litigating high conflict divorce and custody cases which provides her the understanding when navigating these difficult situations. Rachel has also tried numerous criminal jury trials, most notably obtaining an acquittal in an aggravated assault, 2nd degree kidnapping, and simple assault case, https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2020/02/27/jury-acquits-man-kidnapping-and-assault-charges/4872726002/

Rachel is a member of the South Dakota Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

Prior to joining LZK, Rachel clerked for the Third Judicial Circuit of South Dakota, researching and writing for the judges while gaining practical knowledge. After completing her clerkship, Rachel zealously defended clients as a Public Defender for the 2nd Judicial Circuit for three years where she practiced in the magistrate and felony divisions. Rachel advanced her criminal litigation skills, becoming a Senior Deputy Public Defender.

Rachel holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Go Yotes! During her law school career, Rachel was a certified intern at the Federal Public Defender for the District of South Dakota, Southern Division and the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office. Rachel was also a member of the Law School Moot Court Board and Trial Team.

Outside of the office, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, teaching fitness classes, traveling, and wiping the mud off her 4 dogs paws.

Meet MarieClaire Christenson. MarieClaire is an attorney at Lockwood and Zahrbock Kool Law Office.

MarieClaire is a Sioux Falls native having attended Longfellow Elementary, Patrick Henry Middle School, and Lincoln High School. She loves calling South Dakota home.

MarieClaire graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Dakota with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. MarieClaire went on to attend the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law.

During law school, MarieClaire served as the Student Bar Association President, as well as a research assistant for the McKusick Law Library. She was also a student ambassador and participated in Women in Law. Upon graduation, MarieClaire was the recipient of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law Dean’s Award for Service, Leadership, and Excellence.

MarieClaire was the fourth person of her immediate family to graduate from the University of South Dakota’s law school. She followed in the footsteps of her dad and her two older brothers. 

MarieClaire enjoys working in the realm of family law, criminal defense, and estate planning.

Outside of work hours, MarieClaire can be found spending time with family and friends or delving into a good book. MarieClaire is also a fan of trying out new hobbies. In 2021, MarieClaire picked up running as a new hobby and ran her first half marathon in London, England; as such, she has made it a goal to run a few more half marathons in the upcoming years. 

Meet Morgan Erickson. Morgan is an attorney at Lockwood and Zahrbock Kool Law Office.

Morgan grew up on her family’s farm in Gayville, South Dakota, while attending Vermillion High School. Morgan’s family consists of both Jackrabbit and Coyote alumnus, so she pursued degrees through both universities. Morgan completed her undergraduate degree in English Writing at South Dakota State University, magna cum laude, also graduating from the SDSU Honor’s College. While at SDSU, Morgan participated in a national student exchange program, enrolling at North Carolina State University for the spring semester in 2013, earning a 4.0 GPA.

After graduation, Morgan taught English composition as a graduate teaching assistant for SDSU. She also worked concurrently as a technical writer for Daktronics and was in enrolled in the graduate English Rhetoric program, earning the Excellence in Graduate Student Scholarship Award. After six years in Brookings, Morgan returned to Vermillion to attend law school at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law.

While in law school, Morgan was an Admissions Ambassador, Administrative Law Committee Student Member, and Moot Court Board Member. While competing for the law school’s 14-member Moot Court Board, Morgan earned the top oral advocate award at two national competitions that included competitors from law programs such as the University of Minnesota and New York University. See https://www.usd.edu/the-south-dakotan/third-year-law-student-reflects-on-success-in-moot-court. Morgan’s favorite law school memory is seeing how proud her late father was at her graduation ceremony.

Since beginning her practice, Morgan has accumulated her courtroom experience. Before joining Lockwood and Zahrbock Kool, Morgan practiced both civil and criminal litigation, representing federal and state-level files that span from civil personal injury matters to criminal homicide charges. Morgan enjoys working at Lockwood & Zahrbook Kool because of the values the office, and its team, represent in passionately advocating for clients.

In her spare time, Morgan has served as a coach for USD Knudson School of Law’s Moot Court Board and judges a variety of competitions hosted by the law school. Morgan also cherishes time with family. She enjoys traveling to new places or boating with her mother on the Missouri River, especially if her basset hound, Olive, and the family’s English Bulldog, Gus, can join on the pontoon.