Michael S. Gaarder is an associate attorney with Pennington, Lies & Cherne, P.A.

Michael focuses his practice on criminal defense and civil litigation, assisting clients in the areas of family law, personal injury law, business law, employment law, civil rights/police misconduct issues.

Prior to joining Pennington, Lies and Cherne, P.A., Michael gained valuable experience as a law clerk for Judge Fred Casey and Judge Richard Zimmerman in Crow Wing County, the Minnesota Justice Foundation, Stearns County Court Administration, and as an assistant on the Naval Legal Service prosecution team, and as integral member of the Staff Judge Advocate's Office in Yokosuka, Japan.

Education
J.D., Hamline University Law School
St. Paul, Minnesota, 2006

Metropolitan State University
St. Paul, Minnesota, 2004
Major: Law Enforcement Certificate
Passed Minnesota POST Test (2004)

B.A., University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1998
Major: International Relations

Military Service
United States Navy
1993-1995

Bar Admissions
U.S. District Court of Minnesota, 2008
Minnesota State Bar, 2006

Professional Associations & Memberships
Minnesota State Bar Assoc.
Stearns/Benton Bar Assoc.
John E. Simonett American Inns of Court
Ducks Unlimited
Pheasants Forever
St. Cloud Rotary