Sarah C. Duffy

Top rated Real Estate attorney in Fergus Falls, Minnesota

The Ahlgren Law Office, PLLC
Sarah C. Duffy
The Ahlgren Law Office, PLLC

Practice areas: Real Estate, Estate Planning & Probate, Bankruptcy; view more

Licensed in Minnesota since: 2012

Education: William Mitchell College of Law

Selected to Rising Stars: 2019 - 2025

The Ahlgren Law Office, PLLC

220 West Washington Avenue
Suite 105
Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Visit website
Details

Sarah C. Duffy is a highly accomplished attorney at The Ahlgren Law Office, PLLC, based in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. With years of proficiency in diverse legal fields, encompassing real estate, estate planning, elder law, landlord/tenant law, corporate and business law, bankruptcy and employment law, she is equipped to meet every legal challenge.

Additionally, Ms. Duffy adeptly advocates for clients involved in agricultural mass torts, with notable recent experience representing farmers in legal proceedings against Syngenta Corporation and Monsanto Company. Holding a license to practice law in both North Dakota and Minnesota, including the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, she is known for her unwavering commitment to her clients' interests and for delivering outcomes that meet their needs.

Ms. Duffy achieved her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Following this, she pursued her passion for law and enrolled in Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She earned her J.D. in 2012, laying the foundation for her illustrious legal career.

While at law school, Ms. Duffy served as an evening student representative for the Child Advocacy Coalition and volunteered with the Minnesota Justice Foundation. Furthermore, she contributed as a voluntary research and writing law clerk at the National Child Protection Training Center.

In addition to her law practice, Ms. Duffy plays an integral role in the Fergus Falls community. She also actively participates in various organizations, such as the Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, Otter Cove Children's Museum, the Fergus Falls Hockey Association, Girl Scouts and the Otter Tail County Bar Association. Her past involvements include board memberships with A Center for the Arts, Claire Ann Shover Nursery School and the New Lawyers Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Practice areas

Real Estate: Consumer, Estate Planning & Probate, Bankruptcy: Consumer, Business/Corporate, Elder Law, Employment & Labor: Employee

Focus areas

Bankruptcy Law, Business Formation and Planning, Contracts, Credit Repair, Employment Law - Employee, Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Landlord/Tenant, Limited Liability Companies, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Sexual Harassment, Trusts, Wills

  • 40% Real Estate: Consumer
  • 20% Estate Planning & Probate
  • 10% Bankruptcy: Consumer
  • 10% Business/Corporate
  • 10% Elder Law
  • 10% Employment & Labor: Employee

First Admitted: 2012, Minnesota

Professional Webpage: https://ahlgrenlaw.net/attorneys

Bar / Professional Activity

  • City of Fergus Falls Planning Commission- Chair, 2025
  • City of Fergus Falls Charter Commission, Chair, 2025
  • Otter Tail County Bar Association President, 2025
  • Otter Tail County Bar Association President, 2024
  • City of Fergus Falls Charter Commissioner- Chair, 2024
  • City of Fergus Falls Planning Commissioner- Vice Chair, 2024
  • President- Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2023
  • Federal District Court of Minnesota
  • Minnesota
  • North Dakota
  • City of Fergus Falls, Charter Commission Member, 2023
  • City of Fergus Falls, Planning Commission Member, Vice-Chair, 2023
  • President Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2022
  • City of Fergus Falls- Planning Commission Member, 2022
  • City of Fergus Falls- Charter Commission Member, 2022
  • Vice President Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2021
  • Fergus Falls Charter Commission member, 2021
  • Vice President Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2020
  • Vice President of Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2019
  • Vice President of Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2018
  • Secretary Otter Tail County Bar Association, 2017
  • Minnesota State Bar Association's New Lawyers Section Outreach Committee Chair, 2012

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

  • Assisted over 3,000 clients in finalizing a class action settlement of the Syngenta mass tort litigaiton.

    , 2018

Pro bono / Community Service

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer (50+ hours of pro bono), 2025
  • Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis- Board of Directors, 2025
  • Otter Cove Children's Museum-Board of Directors, 2025
  • Fergus Falls Hockey Association: Pro Bono Legal Counsel, Squirt Boys Hockey Coach, 2025
  • Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis- Board Member, 2024
  • Otter Cove Children's Museum Board Member and Legal Advisor
  • Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis- Board Member, 2023
  • Board, Claire Ann Shover Nursery School
  • Board, A Center for The Arts
  • Girl Scouts
  • Fundraising Chair- Organized and chaired a fundraising committee which raised over $600,000 for the construction of an inclusive playground (Dr. Allen Magnuson Park) in the heart of Fergus Falls.  , 2023
  • Pro bono Legal Counsel to the Fergus Falls Hockey Association, 2022
  • Fergus Falls Hockey Association- Volunteer Mite Director, 2022
  • Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis- Board Member, 2022
  • North Star Lawyer for 50+ hours of pro bono representation., 2022
  • Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader, 2022
  • Otter Cover Children's Museum- Board Member, 2022
  • Pro Bono Legal Counsel- Fergus Falls Hockey Association, 2022
  • Chairperson of Fundraising Committee for an inclusive playground for children with disabilities.  Fundraised over $600,000 for community project in Fergus Falls., 2022
  • Chairperson of the Board, Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, 2021
  • Volunteer Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader, 2021
  • Pro bono Legal Counsel to the Fergus Falls Hockey Association, 2020
  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2020
  • Chairperson of the Board, Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, 2020
  • Chairperson of the Board, Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, 2019
  • Pro bono Attorney for Fergus Falls Hockey Association, 2019
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2019
  • Volunteer Girl Scout Troop Leader, 2019
  • Volunteer Hockey Coach 8U Girls and Mites, 2019
  • President of Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, 2018
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2018
  • President Elect Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, 2017
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2017
  • President of Fergus Falls' Center for the Arts Board of Directors

    , 2016
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2016
  • Vice President Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis, 2016
  • North Star Lawyer

    , 2016
  • Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis Board Member, 2016
  • North Star Lawyer

    , 2015
  • President of Fergus Falls' Center for the Arts Board of Directors

    , 2015
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2015
  • North Star Lawyer

    , 2014
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2014
  • Volunteer Attorney Volunteer Lawyers Network, 2014
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2013
  • Legal Services Northwest Minnesota Private Judicare Attorney, 2012

Educational Background

  • Gustavus Adolphus College, 2007

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

  • This presentation focused on the big picture implications of how clients maybe impacted if they are contemplating, in the process, or coming out of bankruptcy. , Presenter, How Bankruptcy Impacts the Civil Litigator, Business Law/Transactional Attorney, and Real Estate Attorney, Minnesota CLE, Bankruptcy, Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Business Law, 2022
  • In-service training for independent public school districts covering the legal requirements and implementation of Section 504 for disabled students., Presenter, Understanding and Implementing Section 504 for Disabled Students, Fergus Falls Public Schools, 2020
  • Present at the Minnesota School Counselors Association Conference on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and school district requirements regarding the same., Presenter, Understanding and Implementing Section 504 for Disabled Students, Minnesota School Counselor Association Conference, School Districts, 2020
  • Presentation to special education administrators from across the State regarding technical and practical aspects of special education litigation., Presenter, Case Analysis: Balancing the legal obligations with practical considerations in special education litigation, 2019 Fall MASE Leadership Conference, 2019
  • Provided in-service training to hundred of special education staff prior to the 2019-2020 school year., Presenter, Prior Written Notice: Write it Now!, Alexandria Public Schools/Runestone Education Cooperative In-Service Training, Education, 2019
  • Presented a 2019 general education law update to public school superintendent's., Presenter, 2019 Legal Update, Lakes Country Service Cooperative Adminsitrator's Forum, 2019
  • Presented to 200 public school administrators and educations on special education law regarding the requirements and best practices of prior written notice under state and federal law., Presenter, Prior Written Notice: Write it Now!, Minnesota Association of Special Education Administrators (MASE), School Districts, 2019
  • Presented at the 2017 Rural & Ag Law Institute on the status of the Syngenta mass tort litigation.

    , Presenter, Syngenta Litigation Update, 2017
  • Presenter at the Annual MASE Conference providing legal education to special education adminstrators across the state of Minnesota.

    , Presenter, Stay out of the Penalty Box: A School District's Obligations to Student's with Disabilities in Extracurricular Activities, Education, 2017
  • Presented at the Spring MASE Leadership conference to special education administrators regarding parental rights and the uncertainty district's face when implementing educational services for students when parental rights are in question.

    , Presenter, Practical Guidance for School Districts When Parental Rights Become Uncertain, 2016
  • Presented on the legal requirements to accomodate and determine the need for animals to assist students with disabilities in their education and the school district's obligations to provide FAPE under state and federal special education laws.

    , Presenter, Requirements for School Districts to Accommodate Service Animals for Special Education Students, 2016
  • Presented at the MASE Fall Leadership Conference on Ethics, Technology and School Law., Presenter, Ethics, Technology and School Law, 2015
  • Presented on issues related to practicing in rural Minnesota, specifically in the area of agricultural law, with an emphasis on representing individuals in matt tort litigation against Syngenta related to commercialization of GMO corn and non-approval and rejection of corn by key export market of China., Presenter, Women in Agribusiness, 2015
  • "Safe and Supportive Schools Act", Presenter, Annual Charter School Law Conference, 2014
  • "Data Practice Guidance Regarding Educational Data for Charter Schools"  , Presenter, Annual Charter School Law Conference, 2013

Firm News (Newsletters)

  • I author a quarterly email newsletter to public school administrators, special education directors, and teachers covering important special education law topics., Special Education Law Quarterly Newsletter, Minnesota Public School Districts
  • I authored this article regarding employment law updates for our clients. The newsletter highlighted the Affordable Care Act changes and the new Sick Leave Law., Employment Law Update, Employment Law
  • I authored this newsletter which summarized the 2014 Minnesota legislative changes. The article highlighted the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act, Minnesota Women's Economic Security Act, and other employment updates., 2014 Legislative Update, Employment Law
  • I co-authored this article regarding the 2013 Minnesota Legislative Session Update. The newsletter highlighted the Same-Sex Marriage Law, "Ban the Box" Law, Childcare Collective Bargaining Act, Affordable Care Act, Minimum Wage, Social Media, and the Anti-Bullying Law. Please review the newsletter on the attached link., 2013 Minnesota Legislative Session Update, Employment Law

Honors

  • Best Attorney in Otter Tail County, Daily Journal Media Readers, 2024
  • Best Attorney in Otter Tail County- Top 3, Fergus Falls Daily Journal, 2025
  • Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2025
  • Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2024
  • Nominated in top 3 for Best Attorney in Otter Tail County., Best Attorney in Otter Tail County, Fergus Falls Daily Journal, 2023
  • Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2023
  • Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2022
  • Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2021
  • Selected to Super Lawyers Risings Stars., Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2019
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers "Rising Star" 2019, 2020, and 2021

Office location for Sarah C. Duffy

220 West Washington Avenue
Suite 105
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Phone: 218-524-6800

Selections

7 Years Rising Stars
  • Rising Stars: 2019 - 2025

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