How to Find a Minnesota Lawyer
Minnesota has free and low-cost ways to find a lawyer, and you can check any lawyer’s license online before you hire. Start with the option that fits your situation.
If You Cannot Afford a Lawyer
Free legal aid organizations help people who qualify based on income. Many also run free clinics and hotlines open to everyone. See the Free & Low-Cost Legal Help directory, organized by county and issue.
LawHelpMN also lists legal aid programs and self-help resources across Minnesota.
Use a Lawyer Referral Service
Minnesota Lawyer Referral is run by the Hennepin and Ramsey County Bar Associations. It connects people with private lawyers in over 40 areas of law.
- Call 612-752-6699, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to talk with a referral counselor.
- The counselor can set up a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer, often for the next business day.
- The service charges a $30 administrative fee. The fee is waived for injury cases, such as personal injury, product liability, malpractice, Social Security disability, and workers’ compensation. The lawyer does not charge for that first consultation.
- A Reduced Fee Program helps people with stable income between 125% and 250% of federal poverty guidelines. The service screens for it by phone at the same number.
Search the State Bar Directory
The Minnesota State Bar Association has an online Find a Lawyer directory. It lists only bar members who chose to be included, so it is not a complete list of Minnesota lawyers.
Check a Lawyer’s License Before You Hire
The Minnesota courts’ free Attorney Search shows a lawyer’s license number, current status, admission date, and professional liability insurance information.
The Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, which is part of the lawyer discipline system, publishes tips for hiring a lawyer.
Consider Limited Help
You do not always need a lawyer for your whole case. Many lawyers offer limited help, such as reviewing your documents, coaching you before a hearing, or handling one step of your case. This usually costs less than full representation. Ask about it when you call.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- Have you handled cases like mine? How many?
- How do you charge: by the hour, a flat fee, or a share of what I recover?
- What will my case likely cost in total, and what other costs might come up?
- Will you put our fee arrangement in writing?
- Who will work on my case, and how quickly do you return calls and emails?
Not sure whether you need a lawyer at all? Try the Do I Need a Lawyer? tool.