Staff Biographies
Mark A. Cohen is the editor-in-chief of Minnesota Lawyer. In this position, Cohen is responsible for overseeing the editorial content of the weekly newspaper, website, blog and related print and online products. Prior to joining Minnesota Lawyer, Cohen served as the legal editor of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. He also served as the managing editor of Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly. Cohen’s prior journalistic experience includes serving as a correspondent for the Lowell Sun, a daily newspaper in Massachusetts. Cohen obtained his B.A. in English from Providence College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. He also holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. His prior legal experience includes working at a law firm in Massachusetts and as a judicial clerk.
He is admitted to practice both in Massachusetts and Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Associations.
Prior to becoming associate editor, Barbara L. Jones was a contributing writer for Minnesota Lawyer for more than a year. A 1982 graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, Jones practiced law in the private sector from 1983 to 1999. She focused primarily on family law, but also handled cases in a variety of other areas, including bankruptcy and civil litigation.
Jones is a member of the adjunct faculty at Hamline University School of Law and is co-chair of the Minnesota Women Lawyers communications committee.
Michelle Lore joined Minnesota Lawyer as an associate editor in March 2000. Lore was previously engaged in the private practice of law in St. Paul, handling employee discrimination, workplace harassment and other employment-related matters. She has more than five years of experience handling employment claims, and also spent a year in general practice in Virginia, Minn.
Lore graduated cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 1994. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Mankato State University.
Patrick Thornton joined Minnesota Lawyer as a reporter/ special sections editor in December 2009. Previously, he was a communications specialist with the DFL Caucus for the Minnesota House of Representatives.From 2005-08 he covered local and state politics and the courts and crime beat for Gannett Central Wisconsin Newspapers. He reported on state and national elections, budget deficits, statewide smoking ban debates and jail overcrowding issues. He has interviewed John McCain, John Edwards, Walter Mondale and the two-time Wisconsin state karaoke champion at Partner’s Pub in Stevens Point, Wis. He also worked as an editor at a weekly paper in Brooklyn Park, Minn. and as a staff writer for the Hibbing Daily Tribune in Hibbing, Minn.
Thornton graduated from Drake University with BAs in journalism and mass communication and English. He lives in St. Paul. His wife, father, father-in-law and several friends are attorneys. He is not.
