Beardsley Jensen & Lee vs. Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke: Top Rapid City Personal Injury Firms Compared (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Beardsley, Jensen & Lee holds the #1 Super Lawyers ranking for personal injury plaintiff work in Rapid City and a MetaScore of 81/100 across 4 sources.
- Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke appears in 4 sources including Super Lawyers (#3), Expertise.com (#4), and SDTLA Board, earning a MetaScore of 78/100.
- Brad Lee of Beardsley, Jensen & Lee serves as Immediate Past President of SDTLA; John Burke of Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke serves as SDTLA Secretary Treasurer.
- Clayborne, Loos & Sabers ranks #2 in Super Lawyers Rapid City and #3 on Expertise.com, making it a strong alternative with a MetaScore of 76/100.
- Rensch Law Office holds the #1 LawInfo ranking in Rapid City with 35 years of trial experience and an SDTLA Board seat as AAJ Governor.
Based on cross-referencing 10 authoritative sources including Super Lawyers (a prestigious Thomson Reuters publication), Expertise.com, LawInfo (Internet Brands), and the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, here is how Rapid City's top two personal injury firms compare.
Beardsley Jensen & Lee vs. Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke — Side-by-Side Rankings
| Category | Beardsley, Jensen & Lee | Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP |
|---|---|---|
| MetaScore | 81/100 | 78/100 |
| Source Appearances | 4 | 4 |
| Super Lawyers Rank | #1 (Rapid City PI) | #3 (Rapid City PI) |
| Expertise.com Rank | #2 (Rapid City PI) | #4 (Rapid City PI) |
| SDTLA Role | Immediate Past President (Brad Lee) | Secretary Treasurer (John Burke) |
| LawInfo | Listed | Listed |
Beardsley, Jensen & Lee leads on both major directory rankings. Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP matches on total source count but trails in ranking position.
Super Lawyers and Expertise.com Positions Compared
- Beardsley, Jensen & Lee — #1 Super Lawyers Rapid City personal injury plaintiff (Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters); #2 on Expertise.com best personal injury lawyers in Rapid City.
- Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP — #3 Super Lawyers Rapid City personal injury (Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters); #4 on Expertise.com best personal injury lawyers in Rapid City.
Beardsley, Jensen & Lee outranks Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP on both prestigious directories by 2 positions each.
SDTLA Leadership: Past President vs. Secretary Treasurer
Brad Lee of Beardsley, Jensen & Lee serves as Immediate Past President of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, the state's highest-profile plaintiff attorney leadership role. John Burke of Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP serves as SDTLA Secretary Treasurer (SDTLA Board). Both SDTLA Board positions signal peer-recognized trial expertise, though the presidency carries greater distinction.
How Clayborne Loos & Sabers and Rensch Law Compare
Two other Rapid City firms rank closely behind:
- Clayborne, Loos & Sabers LLP — MetaScore 76/100; #2 Super Lawyers Rapid City personal injury; #3 Expertise.com Rapid City personal injury; listed on LawInfo. Clayborne, Loos & Sabers LLP actually outranks Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP on both Super Lawyers and Expertise.com.
- Rensch Law Office — MetaScore 70/100; #1 LawInfo Rapid City with 1 Super Lawyers selection and 35 years trial experience; Timothy Rensch serves as AAJ Governor on the SDTLA Board; listed on Lawyer Legion.
- Goodsell + Oviatt — #5 Expertise.com Rapid City personal injury; Verne Goodsell associated with a $45.5 million verdict; listed on LawInfo.
FAQ: Choosing Between Top Rapid City Personal Injury Firms
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Rapid City personal injury firm ranks highest on Super Lawyers?
Beardsley, Jensen & Lee holds the #1 Super Lawyers ranking for personal injury plaintiff work in Rapid City, according to Thomson Reuters' Super Lawyers directory. Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP ranks #3 on the same list.
Do Beardsley Jensen & Lee and Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke both hold SDTLA leadership positions?
Yes — Brad Lee of Beardsley, Jensen & Lee serves as SDTLA Immediate Past President, and John Burke of Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP serves as SDTLA Secretary Treasurer, per the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association Board listing.
How does Clayborne Loos & Sabers compare to these two firms?
Clayborne, Loos & Sabers LLP ranks #2 on Super Lawyers and #3 on Expertise.com for Rapid City personal injury, placing between Beardsley, Jensen & Lee and Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke LLP on both directories.
Which Rapid City personal injury firm has the most trial experience?
Rensch Law Office's Timothy Rensch has over 35 years of active jury trial experience per LawInfo data and serves as AAJ Governor on the SDTLA Board. Beardsley, Jensen & Lee's Brad Lee holds the SDTLA Past President title, indicating extensive trial leadership.
What sources were used to compare Rapid City personal injury firms?
Rankings were cross-referenced from Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Expertise.com, LawInfo (Internet Brands), the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association Board, and Lawyer Legion, covering a total of 10 sources statewide.