Chris graduated with distinction from University of North Dakota – School of Law in 2008 as a member of the Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers. Chris served as the law clerk for North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle from 2008-09. He worked at the Vogel Law Firm in Bismarck, ND from 2009-11, practicing in criminal law and family law. From 2011-13, Chris served as Assistant In-House Attorney for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, where he specialized in code and statute development/drafting and gaming law, and handled matters regarding employment, tax, education, government relations, historic preservation, criminal justice and lobbying.