Practice Areas: Family Law, Personal Injury, Business & Corporate; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 2006
Education: Hamline University School of Law
Details
As a partner with the Pennington, Cherne, & Gaarder, PLLC, law firm in St. Cloud, Minnesota, attorney Michael Scott Gaarder focuses his practice on criminal defense, family law, personal injury, employment law, general civil litigation and appeals. Additionally, he also represents commercial clients and business owners with contract and business disputes, entity formation and all other areas of business law.
A 1998 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in international relations, Mr. Gaarder attended Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, where he majored in law enforcement and passed the Minnesota POST Test in 2004. In 2006, he graduated with his law degree from Hamline University School of Law, and the Minnesota State Bar Association admitted him to practice that same year. In 2007, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota admitted him to practice.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Gaarder received his certification from the veterans administration to represent veterans with their legal matters, and while he was in service, he volunteered as a prosecutor for the Naval Legal Service and was involved with the Staff Judge Advocate's Office.
A consummate professional, Mr. Gaarder remains active in several professional legal organizations, including the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Stearns-Benton Bar Association. He is also a member of the 7th Judicial District Ethics Committee and once served as president for the Cloud City Achievers BNI Chapter.
In recognition for his high level of service and professionalism, Mr. Gaarder has received a number of awards and honors throughout his career. He is a member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys, and Lead Counsel verified him as a family law attorney. Moreover, the Minnesota State Bar Association named him North Star Lawyer in 2013.
Practice areas
Family Law, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Business/Corporate, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation: PlaintiffFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Animal Bites, Arrest & Arraignment, Assault, Assault & Battery, Business Formation and Planning, Child Support, Contracts, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Law, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Failure to Pay Child Support, Father's Rights, Felony, Limited Liability Companies, Marital Property, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Name Change, Paternity, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Theft
- 50% Family Law
- 20% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% Business/Corporate
- 10% Criminal Defense
- 10% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2006, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: http://www.saintcloudlaw.com/About/Michael-S-Gaarder.shtml
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 2007
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Admitted U.S. District Court (Minnesota), 2008
- Minnesota, 2006
- Cloud City Achievers BNI Chapter, Past President, 2014 - 2015
- Stearns-Benton Bar Association
- Seventh Judicial District Ethics, Committee Member
- American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys (former Member)
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Volunteer Attorney Program (Central Minnesota)
- 2013 Northstar Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association, May 8th, 2014
- Super Lawyers edition, one of the top Rising Star Attorneys in the state of Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, 2013
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2014 - 2016
- Law Enforcement Certificate and Passed Minnesota POST Board Examination., 2000
- Juris Doctor, Hamline University School of Law., 2006
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, B.A., Major: International Relations, 1998
Office location for Michael Scott Gaarder
630 Roosevelt Road
Suite 101
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Phone: 320-200-9805
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2017 - 2024
- Rising Stars: 2013 - 2016