Our Team

"Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing shall be wanting unto them." - Titus 3:13

Zenas Baer is the 9th of 15 children of Allan Baer and Edna Baer, Old Order Mennonites, who converted to Hutterites, then left the communal movement in 1960, to become capitalists. Zenas has 10 brothers and 3 sisters living, one sister deceased. He graduated from Lake Park High School, Lake Park, MN in 1969, served three years in the Alternate Service from 1969 to 1972, and obtained his discharge from Selective Service in 1972.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in German and Political Science from the University of Minnesota Minneapolis, with a cumulative GPA of 3.54, studying one year at the University of Erlangen Nuernberg, Bavaria, Germany. He graduated in the upper 13 percentile of the Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, MN, Class of 1980, where he received his Juris Doctorate Degree.

Immediately after graduation, he began practicing with Magnus Wefald, who had been practicing in Hawley, Minnesota. Since then, Zenas has been admitted to the White Earth Tribal Court, State of Minnesota Supreme Court, North Dakota Supreme Court, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, United States Claims Court, United States District Court District of North Dakota, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and United States Supreme Court.

Zenas Baer was elected to the City Council of the City of Hawley in 1981, and re-elected in 1985. He did not seek a third term, and became City Attorney, a post which he has held since 1990. Zenas was appointed Clay County Examiner of Titles in 1984, a post which he still holds, charged with the responsibility of reviewing torrens title documents and responding to any inquiries from the Registrar of Titles concerning legal procedure for registered title property.

Zenas has built a reputation in the legal community as being a very strong and forceful advocate for his clients and represents a group of people who otherwise would not have access to the courthouse. Zenas has filed claims against all governments from townships, cities, counties, school districts, watershed districts, State of Minnesota, State of North Dakota, and the U. S. government.

Zenas was the General Counsel for the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians, a post which he held from 1996 to 2001. As General Counsel to the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians, he was involved in giving legal advice to a government which owns and operates the Shooting Star Casino, which has 1,100 employees, and the White Earth Reservation Business Committee, which has approximately 350 employees. The duties included representation of the White Earth Band in Federal and State Courts and administrative proceedings, and giving day to day advice on matters concerning government to government relations with the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians.

Interests outside of the practice of law include: biking, tennis, racquetball, wood carving, and making homemade sauerkraut.

Zenas holds membership in a number of bar associations, including the Minnesota State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, and is past president of the Clay County Bar Association. Zenas is a sustaining member of Minnesota Public Radio. He contributes substantial amounts of time to ending the barbaric practice of routine infant male circumcision worldwide, insuring genital integrity for all citizens of the world.

Judy Aarsvold joined the firm in 1981. Judy is the Office Manager in charge of bookkeeping, billing, personnel and assisting of attorneys. She has extensive experience in the areas of probate, real estate, corporate work, and many other areas of law.

Cindy Willits joined the firm as a Legal Secretary in April 1998. She assists Attorneys in transcription of legal dictation and preparation of various Court documents. Prior to joining the firm, she worked for 18 years as a Sales Administrative Assistant with an Investment firm in Fargo, North Dakota.