About - Cooper Law, LCC

About Cooper Law

Helping you through the maze of the legal system as efficiently as possible.

About us

Our History & Mission

Who is out there to represent people in the middle, with middle-class incomes that are not enough to hire high-priced attorneys?

After practicing for fourteen years, including four years working for a legal aid organization, founder Emily Cooper decided she wanted to do more to help people .

During those fourteen years, Emily observed people who could afford attorneys who charged hundreds of dollars per hour, as well as those who qualified for free legal aid. But so often she came across people who could not afford the average attorney fee rates of $250 or more and who did not qualify for legal aid. There was an obvious gap for these “people in the middle”. Founded in 2010 specifically to fill that gap, Cooper Law, LLC offers sliding fees to family law clients to assure that even those of modest means are able to obtain legal counsel in serious and life-changing family law matters.

Where we work

We represent clients in the 7 county metro area and beyond!

Are we in your area?

Hennepin County
Ramsey County
Washington County
Carver County
Dakota County
Wright County
Scott County
Chisago County
Anoka County
Sherburne County
Pine County
Isanti County

If not, contact us and see if we can help.

Dedicated and committed

Meet Our Team

The Cooper Law, LLC Team has over 60 years of experience combined!

Emily Cooper

Attorney & Founder

“Helping clients to achieve their goals in an economical manner and with high quality legal representation is what I strive for.”

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In her 24 years of practice Emily has seen cases from all sides and represented a wide variety of client types. Her practice has included complex litigation issues, trials and evidentiary hearings, as well as alternative dispute resolution and settlement strategy. She brings this knowledge to her case work and focuses on family law and social security disability claims at Cooper Law. As the managing partner, Emily works hard to assure that all cases are handled professionally and with personal attention and care.

Emily is a 1996 honors graduate from the University of Minnesota Law School. In her early career she practiced civil litigation and family law while an associate at a major law firm in Ohio. She then spent five years working in the corporate world as in-house counsel for a multi-billion-dollar corporation, focusing on contract negotiations and drafting. While serving as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Volunteer Attorney Program she worked to encourage and recruit attorneys to volunteer to provide pro bono representation to low income clients. She also worked for three years as a staff attorney for a legal aid organization where she represented low income, abused and disabled individuals. In 2010, Emily was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Committee for Equality and Justice.

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Rufus

Chief Hair Distribution Officer

“Woof!”

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Rufus is the office mascot and (unofficial) therapy dog. He has been with the firm since December 2018. Rufus keeps clients calm when they are having a tough time by offering his ears up for scratches. His favorite time of day is lunchtime at the office. He has many interests, from tacos to bánh mì. Rufus also enjoys receiving the daily office deliveries, with mixed results.

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Chad Wartick

Attorney

“So often individuals, even of middle-income means, cannot afford legal representation. Being able to provide accessible and experienced legal representation is something I truly believe in.”

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Chad exclusively handles family law matters at Cooper Law. Prior to joining the firm in 2017, he worked at various law firms throughout the Twin Cities, working in areas of personal injury, litigation preparation, and legal research. Chad has extensive experience representing clients in all types of family law cases: divorce, custody, third party custody, paternity, post decree matters, third party custody, spousal maintenance, child support, and more. He enjoys bringing a realistic and grounded approach to the practice of family law. While in law school at Hamline University School of Law, Chad first became interested in the area of family law when he was a Judicial Extern for a semester with the Honorable Robert A. Awsumb in the Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center. During this time he gained practicable understanding of how family court procedure works and how judges decide cases. Chad also understood the need in the Twin Cities communities for affordable legal representation after volunteering with Judicare of Anoka County. Chad still volunteers once a month with Anoka County Family Law Clinic providing free legal advice to clients of limited means. Chad grew up in Northern Wisconsin and graduated from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, emphasis in Legal Studies, and a minor in vocal performance. He then moved to the Twin Cities where he attended and subsequently graduated from Hamline University School of Law with a Juris Doctor. Chad enjoys being an active citizen in his St. Paul neighborhood, from being a “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities to singing with a local choral group.

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Adam Spees

Attorney

“I go home every day feeling that I have truly bettered people’s lives. There’s no better feeling than that.”

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Adam’s practice is devoted exclusively to Social Security disability law. Adam is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (with an emphasis in law, criminology, and deviance) and a Bachelor of Arts in History (with an emphasis in American legal history). He studied Italian language and culture in Italy. Adam holds a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law.

Prior to joining the firm, he represented indigent defendants at the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office and the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office. He also worked in insurance defense and at a boutique business law firm in the east metro. He taught in a paralegal studies program for several years and still teaches a master’s-level class at a non-profit university. Adam is the current Chair of the Minnesota Bar Association’s Social Security Disability Law section and he volunteers each month with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), where he provides free legal advice to veterans and their families.

When he’s not practicing law or teaching, Adam enjoys reading books on history, especially military history and Roman history, taking walks, and tending to his garden. Adam lives in Northeast Minneapolis with his crazy cat, Foxy.

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Timothy Groshens

Attorney

“Cooper Law’s absolute commitment to providing high quality family law legal services at an affordable price is the reason I joined the firm after 40 years of working at the bar association.”

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Tim is Cooper Law’s initial contact with family law clients. He assesses their cases to see if we are a good fit for each other and explains the Cooper Law method for solving people’s family law problems. Tim enjoys relieving some of the stress the client is under when they first reach out for help, by providing assurance and explaining that we will work with them at a price within their means. Tim recently retired from a forty-year career as Executive Director of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Rather than attempt to learn golf, Tim has chosen to continue efforts to provide access to the legal system, particularly for those who are concerned about the cost related to solving their family law problem. His educational accomplishments include a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. Tim is licensed by the US Supreme Court and the Minnesota Supreme Court. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and its Family Law Section.

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Christine Murphy

Attorney of Counsel

“I realized when I was a law clerk that there were far too many people without access to good legal advice simply because they could not afford it. Access to legal advice should not be cost prohibitive. I have a dedication to providing quality legal service, with compassion and empathy. I, too, am divorced and understand the raw emotion associated with this difficult time.”

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Christine is Attorney of Counsel for Cooper Law’s family law department. Christine graduated with a J.D. from Hamline School of Law in 2005. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Policy Analysis from University of South Dakota. Christine obtained a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2005. She was admitted to Minnesota Bar in 2006 and served as a law clerk for the 1st District from 2005-2006. She then worked as a Committee Administrator for Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007-2011. Christine has been practicing family law since 2011.

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Crystal Peterson

Paralegal

“Working at Cooper Law, I have the privilege of meeting so many people and working with them one-on-one to obtain benefits. My clients have helped me with my life and made me the person I am as well.”

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Crystal first met Emily Cooper in 2011 when she completed her college internship. Cooper Law drew her attention because it involved helping people at a sliding fee scale rate and serving those that were homeless. Crystal enjoyed completing medical summaries and helping people. After her internship ended, she went on to work at a big Social Security law firm but missed the connection of meeting clients in person and working with them one-on-one.

In August 2013, Crystal came back to Cooper Law as a full-time paralegal, taking over the Social Security department. She became a SOAR Advocate in January 2014. Crystal has a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies. She enjoys snowmobiling, going for walks, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

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Rachel Friesen

Director of Operations

“Working in social services for many years, I’ve seen the lifelong impact that a financial or health setback can cause. I appreciate that Cooper Law’s mission is to empower and help people get back on their feet, whether through affordable family law services or by helping gain access to social security benefits.”

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Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at University of St. Thomas. In her free time she enjoys working on house projects and gardening.

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Josh Gilpin

Legal Assistant

"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." – John Bunyan

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Josh is the first point of contact for new social security clients. He handles the initial paperwork and communicates directly with the Social Security Administration offices. Josh has been with Cooper Law since August 2017. He is a father of 2, an avid pool player, gardener and cat parent.

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Oksana Weir

Law Clerk

“I have worked with low income and disabled clients for over five years because I believe everyone deserves representation.”

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Oksana is a 2nd year law student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law completing her Juris Doctor Degree. When she is not busy with school or assisting clients, she spends her time reading, volunteering, traveling and playing with her dog, Lucy

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Michael Bruner

Law Clerk

“I once learned that one of the biggest indicators for success in court is how wealthy a person is. I believe everyone deserves equal treatment in the eyes of the law, and quality representation, regardless of their income, and I want to be part of a firm with the same values.”

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Michael is a third-year law student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He has been working with Cooper Law since May 2019. Prior, he clerked for the 10th Judicial Public Defender’s Office in Anoka County representing clients on bail hearings and pre-trial hearings.

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Kendra Luke

Receptionist

“Helping clients to achieve their goals in an economical manner and with high quality legal representation is what I strive for.”

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Kendra Luke is the receptionist at Cooper Law and has been with the firm since August 2019. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She hopes to use her background in the hard sciences to bring something unique to Cooper Law. She will begin as an L1 at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Fall 2020.

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Nicholas Nix

Administrative Assistant

“Family law matters can get very complicated and having legal counsel is a must. Cooper Law’s sliding fees allow everyone the opportunity to quality legal services.”

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Nick handles billing matters for Cooper Law. He has been with the firm since November 2017 and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. When he’s not at the firm, Nick enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

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Streamlined processes and technology to save our clients time and money.

When it comes to legal work, time is money. Cooper Law is constantly innovating to handle legal matters more efficiently, so that you get the most bang for your buck.

About Cooper Law

About us

Where we work