Lawyers in Minnesota

Finding a lawyer in Minnesota

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul hold most of Minnesota's law firms, from national corporate offices to neighborhood family and criminal practices. Outside the metro, lawyers in Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud and the smaller county seats tend to be generalists who know their local district court well. Minnesota's large immigrant communities, its medical sector around Rochester, and its farm and mining regions each bring their own kinds of legal work.

This directory groups Minnesota law firms by practice area and by city, so you can find attorneys who handle your type of matter close to the court that will hear it.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Get a Minnesota attorney involved early when you have been charged with a crime, seriously injured, served with a lawsuit, or when a divorce involves children or property, or an immigration status is at stake. Minnesota sets deadlines for bringing claims by statute, and a lawyer can tell you which ones apply to you.

Minnesota's conciliation court handles small claims through a simplified process meant for people without lawyers, and the state court system's self-help centers and online resources support people representing themselves in other matters. Uncontested paperwork and petty misdemeanors are often handled alone. If you are unsure whether you need counsel, a brief consultation, which many firms offer free or at low cost, is a cheap way to find out.

Common practice areas in Minnesota

• Personal Injury and Car Accident — Minnesota has a no-fault auto insurance system, so an injury lawyer first handles your own policy's benefits and then evaluates a claim against the other driver.
• Family & Divorce — dissolution, custody and parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance and order modifications in Minnesota district courts.
• Criminal Defense and DUI & DWI — defense against state charges; in Minnesota the drunk-driving offense is called DWI, and the license revocation is a separate process with its own short deadline to challenge.
• Immigration — federal law with a strong presence in the Twin Cities, serving East African, Southeast Asian, Latin American and other communities in visa, asylum, family and removal matters.
• Employment — wrongful termination, wage and hour, discrimination and whistleblower claims.
• Business and Real Estate — formation, contracts and disputes; property purchases, title questions, landlord-tenant and agricultural land matters.
• Workers' Compensation — injuries covered by Minnesota's state workers' compensation system.
• Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability — federal practice areas.
• Estate Planning & Probate, Medical Malpractice, Tax, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights and Traffic Ticket complete the Minnesota categories.

How to check a lawyer's license in Minnesota

Attorneys in Minnesota are licensed by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Registration records are kept by the court's Lawyer Registration Office, and public discipline is handled by the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility. Both offer public lookups where you can confirm that a lawyer is authorized to practice and see whether any public disciplinary action has been taken. The Minnesota State Bar Association is a voluntary organization, so membership there does not replace the court's records.

Confirm the status is active and authorized, then read any disciplinary history and ask the lawyer about it if something concerns you.

How to choose a law firm

Look for a firm whose regular work matches your case and whose lawyers appear in your judicial district. Practice in Hennepin County differs in pace and custom from a courtroom in northern Minnesota, and local familiarity helps.

Understand the fee arrangement before signing. Injury cases are usually contingency-based, while family, criminal and business matters are billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask what costs are extra, whether a retainer is needed, and how unused funds are handled. Get it in writing.

Make sure you know who will handle your matter day to day and how quickly the firm responds. Their behavior during the hiring process is a fair preview.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

• How much of your work is cases like mine, and in this court?
• What outcomes are realistic, and what could change them?
• Who will do the work on my file, and how do I reach them?
• How do you charge, what is extra, and can I see the agreement?
• What deadlines are we facing right now?
• What information or documents should I gather?
• How will you keep me updated?

Free and low-cost legal help

Legal aid organizations across Minnesota represent low-income residents in civil cases such as housing, family and benefits, and LawHelpMN.org offers free legal information and referrals by county and topic. The Minnesota State Bar Association and several county bar associations operate lawyer referral services with a low-cost first consultation. The state courts run self-help centers, and the law schools in the Twin Cities operate clinics that take selected cases. If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court about a public defender.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Minnesota attorney about your situation.