Local lawyers

Though it may not seem like an obvious connection, the reasons to shop locally–supporting local businesses, strengthening the community by keeping money closer to home, and retaining the convenience of ready access–apparently apply to lawyers just as readily as they do retail shops and service businesses.

 

Representatives from three Waseca law firms, Byron Law Office, Kraus Law Offices and Patton, Hoversten and Berg (PHB) P.A. shared their insights regarding the value of working with a local law office.

 

The first reason they recommend choosing a local firm is quite straightforward. “You will get excellent representation,” observed Bill Hoversten, who has been a lawyer in Waseca since 1975, having originally worked with one-time county attorney William Patton and served, himself, as assistant county attorney in the 1970s. He is currently one of seven shareholders with PHB; the firm is located at 215 E. Elm Avenue. “Lawyers at all our local firms are knowledgeable and dedicated.” He went on to say there is no sense of competition among the providers since there is “plenty of work for everybody.”

 

In fact, said Molly Byron of Byron Law Office, the businesses and the community benefit from having an array of options in numerous ways. For one, they will have the opportunity to seek out a personal connection. For another, different offices offer differing services. In her case, for example, she tends to spend the majority of her time working on estate planning and matters related to agriculture and real estate. A Waseca High School graduate, Byron joined the staff of the no-longer-existing Iversen law firm in 1997, when it became “Iversen and Byron.” She has been serving local clientele under her own name since 2002. Her one-lawyer office is located at 122 N. State Street. Having recently lost her long-term administrative assistant Bea O’Brien to cancer, she currently employs local college student Kyle Chen as an intern.

 

Tom Kraus of Kraus Law Offices mentioned another benefit. “There are at least two sides to every case,” he pointed out. “Both sides are going to need representation.” Kraus is also homegrown, having graduated from Waseca High School before attending the University of Minnesota and then Pepperdine University in California  before returning to Waseca to join the practice of John McLoone in the 1980s. He has been located in his own building at the far south end of Waseca’s Eighth Street Southeast for 23 years. Kraus is joined by his adult son, Michael, who works as a paralegal, and administrative assistant Mona Montenegro.

 

An obvious corollary to the word “local” is the idea of ready access.

 

“About four times a day,” commented Byron, “someone comes walking into my office and says something like ‘Can I just ask you a few questions?’

 

“Lots of times, their concerns are something that need some form of legal action.”

 

The idea of access also ties in with one mentioned by Hoversten: personal acquaintance. “When the individual is part of the community, you get opportunities to interact with him or her,” he observed. “You can sort of size them up, and decide if they’re someone you would want representing you.”

 

All three lawyers mentioned small “maintenance” matters dealing with relatively routine legal issues such as business partnerships, family agreements having to do with mutually owned property, powers of attorney, wills, farm leases, and the like. “You have the convenience of being able to just stop by and get it taken care of,” said Hoversten.

 

Kraus, who, like PHB, takes criminal and family law cases as well as handling lawsuits, pointed out every law office has increased abilities thanks to the now routine practice of holding court sessions remotely using electronic communication.

 

“It used to be I might have six hearings in one day, and they might be in different courtrooms around the region,” Kraus described. “That would be a lot of extra time for me and expense for my clients.

 

“But now it’s possible to attend those six hearings without ever leaving my office.” Given that many hearings cover minor matters such as scheduling, Kraus sees the opportunity to take part remotely as “a real godsend.”

 

Kraus also mentioned that a local law office is more in touch with local needs. In his case, he said, the local hispanic community benefits thanks to the contributions of bilingual office manager Montenegro. “Our Spanish-speaking community wants to be able to comply with legal expectations,” Kraus pointed out, “but coming from a different culture, they don’t understand those requirements.

 

“We’re glad to be here to help with some of those difficulties.”

 

In addition to knowing the community, Byron points out local lawyers are on a first-name basis with many key players typically involved in legal transactions–from bankers and real estate agents to officials in the courthouse to participants in legal matters ranging from peace officers and court services workers all the way up to the clerk of court.

 

“We know who to talk with, and we know how to get in touch with them,” said Byron. “They know who we are, and we know what to expect from each other.”

 

“I’m not always using up time introducing myself,” observed Kraus.

 

Kraus mentioned the idea of access to local lawyers has been of particular interest to him lately, since he is looking toward retiring.

 

“What I would love,” he said, “is for a lawyer to take a look at my practice, learn what I do, and take up the reins.

 

“I want to see my clients continue to receive the service and support my office has been providing.”

 

“Southern Minnesota is a good place to live,” stated Hoversten. “We want to attract as many young lawyers to the area as we can so they can discover that for themselves and decide to stick around.

 

“Keeping our practices vital and current is a form of service we work to perform for the community.”