Jean Brandl is an experienced litigator, currently licensed in both Minnesota State and Federal courts, and in California. She has practiced criminal law in both Minnesota and California for 18 years. She has represented more than 1000 clients in criminal matters ranging from DWI/DUI to homicide cases, including narcotics/drug offenses, firearms charges, robbery, burglary, car theft, assault, child abuse, fraud, larceny, forgery, embezzlement, attempted homicide, gang cases, and numerous other misdemeanors and felonies in both adult and juvenile court. Ms. Brandl has been the lead attorney in over 50 jury trials, including four murder trials, 40 felony trials and numerous misdemeanors.

Ms. Brandl's dedication to her clients' rights and her successful outcomes for her clients earned her an award for attorney of the year from the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association in 2002 and she was named attorney of the year for the San Diego Alternate Public Defender in 1998. She has lectured at criminal defense conferences on the art of delivering closing arguments and on shaken baby defense strategies.

Ms. Brandl moved to Minneapolis in 2007. Since starting this law firm with Ms. Cloutier, she continues to represent criminal defendants, but has also litigated several employment and personal injury cases in both state and federal courts. Additionally, she has broadened her practice to focus on GLBT legal issues including second parent adoptions, estate planning and domestic partnership agreements. Ms. Brandl is an attorney who works hard for all of your rights.  Whether you need someone to file an adoption, negotiate a plea bargain or settlement, or go to trial, she is dedicated to ensuring that you walk away from your legal experience fully satisfied with her representation in your case.  Please contact our office for a free consultation on any of your legal needs.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal
• Personal Injury - Plaintiff
• Employment Law
• Adoptions
• Civil Rights

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 2007
• California, 1991
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 2007

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  J.D.
  
  
• Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
  B.A.
  Major: English
  
  

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Closing Argument Seminars, California Public Defender Association, 2000 - 2002

Honors and Awards

• Attorney of the Year - San Diego Alternate Public Defender, 1999
• Attorney of the Year - San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association, 2002

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2007 - Present
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 2007 - Present
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, 2007 - Present
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• San Diego County District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney, 2004 - 2006
• San Diego Alternate Public Defender, Deputy Attorney, 1994 - 2004
• Contra Costa Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender, 1993 - 1994
• Solano County Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender, 1991 - 1993