About Carly West
Carly West Holler entered law school after completing a liberal arts degree at the University of Minnesota Morris in 2005. She earned her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in 2011. Those formative academic years left her with a practical view of legal work and a steady approach to the day-to-day demands of practice.
After law school she became a member of the Minnesota State Bar and began building a practice in the state. Over the years her professional activities have included volunteer tasks and local bar leadership. She has an ongoing role in the 18th District Bar Association, serving as secretary since 2014. She also served as the association’s treasurer in 2015.
Holler’s path reflects steady local engagement rather than a single dramatic case or public profile. She has worked in firm settings, taking on the kinds of matters that sustain community-based legal practices. Colleagues describe her as methodical in approach and attentive to procedural detail. That steadiness shows in how she manages case files and client communications, and in how she represents clients before administrative bodies and state tribunals.
Her professional network is firmly rooted in Minnesota. She maintains active membership in the state bar and participates in district bar activities. Those roles have kept her connected to local judges, clerks and fellow lawyers. They have also provided a platform for the practical, nuts-and-bolts work of improving how small firms and solo practitioners operate in the district.
Office life for Holler has centered on Smith, Paulson, O Donnell & Erickson, PLC, where she has practiced alongside other attorneys in a multi-lawyer firm environment. There she handles client intake, case preparation and courtroom matters when necessary. Her work at the firm has involved collaboration on matters that require careful factual development and steady courtroom presence.
Outside of office hours she keeps a local focus. Her experience in district bar leadership reflects an interest in the institutional life of the legal community rather than a pursuit of statewide visibility. She remains based in Minnesota and continues to take part in local bar initiatives.
Her current practice focuses on serving clients in Minnesota through her work at Smith, Paulson, O Donnell & Erickson, PLC.
