JDs Rising is a new Minnesota Lawyer blog for the next generation of lawyers.
This blog is designed to provide those lawyers a forum to discuss what’s on their minds, pose questions, give answers and make their voices heard. We welcome comments from anyone of any experience level who has something to add to the discussion.
Please do not hesitate to provide your feedback to me at patrick.thornton@minnlawyer.com or (612) 584-1554. Thanks for visiting!
Patrick Thornton,
Blog coordinator
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Blog Contributors
Hometown / current location: Beemer Nebraska; Northfield Minnesota
Law School: William Mitchell College of Law
Britt Ackerman is a soon-to-be-sixth-year associate extraordinaire with the firm of Hvistendahl, Moersch, Dorsey & Hahn, P.A., in Northfield, Minnesota. She graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2004 and from Carleton College in 2000 where she was a columnist and copy editor for The Carletonian, my college’s newspaper. Britt is experienced in the areas of criminal defense and family law, and enjoys litigating all manner of cases, including dabbling in appellate work. Britt is a self-proclaimed Grammar Nazi, and is mortified when her typos slip into print. If she makes an egregious error, she won’t ask for your forgiveness, as there are typos in every printed paper she’s ever read. Feel free to email her at britt.ackerman@gmail.com.”
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Hometown / current location: Chisago City: Coon Rapids
I am the Membership Outreach Manager at the Minnesota State Bar Association.
I spend my non-working hours trying to keep up with my 2 year old son, watching reality TV, and cooking. I was in a car accident on the way to my last day of High School. I had a broken vertebra in my neck and was so medicated that I don’t remember my graduation. I would like to help the readers make the most of all their Bar Association has to offer. I also want to be sure that the Bar Association is staying current on the issues facing this group and can have solutions and resources available.
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I am a 2010 graduate from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where I co-founded the Student Collaborative Law Society and wrote for Tommie Law News. I received my undergraduate degree in Journalism from Minnesota State Mankato.
I am currently clerking at a small family law firm in Edina and volunteering at VLN. When I am not searching for a full time job, my hobbies include cooking, running, reading, photography and being outdoors and on the lake.
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Hometown / current location: Lakeville; Champlin
Law School: William Mitchell College of Law
Founding partner: Brown Law Offices, P.A.
I have two sons, ages 6 and 4. Married my high school sweetheart (married 15 years). Volunteer mock trial coach for Meadow Creek Christian School and the author/editor of the Minnesota Family Law Blog.
My hobbies are bass guitar and observational astronomy.
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Hometown / current location: Great Falls, MT; Minneapolis
Law School: University of St. Thomas School of Law
I am an attorney at the Lommen Abdo law firm in Minneapolis. At Lommen, I practice civil litigation, primarily in professional liablity defense and commercial litigation. Most of my clients are lawyers, accountants, and a variety of other professionals.
I received my JD from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2006 and a BA in political science from Carroll College in Helena, Montana.
Contact Brett by e-mail at brett@lommen.com.
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Hometown / current location: Mankato; St. Louis Park
I received a B.S. degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2004 and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in January 2008. I am a former college speech and debate champion, was named an All-American by the American Forensics Association, and remain active as a judge and coach for these competitions.
I am an in-house litigator for State Auto Insurance Companies, with my practice focusing on insurance defense for business, property, and automobile policies. I previously clerked for two years with the Honorable Ann L. Alton in Hennepin County District Court. I am an active committee-chair with the Minnesota Women Lawyers’ bar and is a volunteer attorney with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
My husband Travas and I live in suburban Minneapolis. I make the most of my free time running, biking, hiking and kayaking in Minnesota’s great outdoors.
Heather’s posts on this site are her own and don’t necessarily represent her employer’s positions, strategies, or opinions.
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Hometown / current location: Inver Grove Heights; Minneapolis (in the uptown area)
Law School: University of Minnesota 2006, currently work in the public sector. I volunteer for MWL (co-chair of Public Policy Advocacy Committee). And I’m trying to learn Spanish. We’ll see how long that lasts. Since law school I’ve been published in the Bench & Bar (MSBA), With Equal Right (MWL) and the Hennepin Lawyer (HCBA).
I was practically deported from Australia, due to an annoying glitch in my VISA, which coincidentally is why I ended up enrolling in Law School. Funny how that happened. Oh, and I used to be really shy, no one believes me when I say that.
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Hometown / current location: Minneapolis, MN
Law School: University of St. Thomas
Former Law Clerk for Former Chief Justice Eric Magnuson and beginning September 2010 an associate attorney at Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mason.
I just got married in October 2009, and I love married life. My husband, Chad, is finishing up his masters in marriage and family counseling. We are active members of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis who strive to stay grounded in our faith.
I love to write and I am particularly interested in exploring the human side of the legal profession. I can perform vocal percussion.
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Hometown / current location: Sioux City, Iowa / St. Paul
Law school: Hamline University School of Law
Michael Goodwin is a licensed attorney in Minnesota. In 2009-2010, Michael was an AmeriCorps VISTA member with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services in St. Paul. Michael’s articles have appeared in The Hennepin Lawyer, Bar Talk and the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal, and he earned first place in the 2010 Levit Essay Contest, a national writing contest sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability and Long & Levit, LLP.
Michael graduated from Hamline University School of Law in 2009. During law school he was a board member of the Hamline Law Review and represented Hamline in the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Michael was a newspaper reporter prior to enrolling in law school.
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Law School: University of St. Thomas
Arianna Halper graduated from The University of St. Thomas School of Law in May 2010 and was admitted to practice law in Minnesota in October 2010. Arianna is an associate specializing in criminal defense and family law with Halper Law Office located in Chaska, Minnesota. Arianna can be reached at arianna@halperlawoffice.com or (952) 479-7376.
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Hometown / current location: Rochester; Uptown Minneapolis
Law School: University of Minnesota (Class of 2006)
I am now a partner at Friedman Iverson, PLLC. I was editor of my high school newspaper and I did a lot of freelance journalism and fiction writing before I went to law school. Last summer I started writing a novel which is coming along at a snail’s pace. I also play guitar in a band called Hot Bird along with my law partner.
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Law School: Whittier Law School
Janie Paulson is a licensed attorney in California and Minnesota. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif., and a cum laude graduate of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Since the fall of 2007, she has been the law clerk to Judge J. Thomas Mott of the Second Judicial District.
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Law Office of Eric A. Rice
ricedefense.com
(651) 998-9660
Hometown / current location: Cottage Grove; Mendota Heights
Law School: Harvard Law School. I currently own a criminal defense practice
My rock band, The Cold Open, is releasing an album and playing around the Twin Cities this summer. I also wrote a short composition that was played and recorded by the University of Minnesota Orchestra.
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Work: Miller O’Brien Cummins, PLLP
Work #: 612-333-5831
Email: frojas@m-o-c-law.com
Website: www.m-o-c-law.com
Hometown / current location: Bogota, Colombia; St. Paul
Law School: William Mitchell College of Law
I practice in the areas of employment and labor law. I focus on helping workers who have experienced employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation. In addition, I counsel workers who have experienced wage and hour violations. Francis also advises workers in union organizing campaigns and assists unions with contract enforcement.
I graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2008 and have a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Augsburg College. While in law school, I interned with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I also helped individuals and non-profit organizations through the William Mitchell Civil Advocacy Clinic and the Tax Planning Clinic. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia and am fluent in Spanish.
I have lived in different countries, I like to play the guitar, and I’m very good with computers.
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Hometown / current location: Minneapolis, MN
Law school: William Mitchell College of Law
I joined the firm of Reiter & Schiller, P.A. as an associate attorney in 2007. In my litigation practice, I have handled a variety of disputes, including claims involving the Truth in Lending Act and other lending regulations, wrongful foreclosure and equitable mortgage claims, and mechanics’ liens. I have experience with every phase of litigation, from discovery and motion practice through mediation and trial, and at the appellate level.
I’m an avid crocheter. I love to make hats, toys, and baby blankets. I have tried to learn to knit a few times because I love hand knit socks more than anything, but I just can’t do it. I started canning and preserving last summer, and can’t wait to make strawberry jam. I’m also looking for a good garlicky dill pickle recipe, if anyone’s got one that they’re willing to share.
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