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Christopher Cadem | St. Paul Criminal Defense Lawyer

Christopher Jay Cadem

Christopher Jay Cadem

Cadem Law Group, PLLC

Criminal, DUI-DWI, Divorce & Family Law, Child Support, Personal Injury, HRO, OFP, CHIPS

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Experience: 20 years
Language(s): English
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Main Office

1014 Arcade Street
Saint Paul, MN 55106

Office Hours

Monday - Friday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Other Locations

1005 Pebble Lake Rd – Suite 209
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Proudly Serving: Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Otter Tail County, Fergus Falls, Wahpeton, Washington County, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Alexandria, Wadena, Staples, Morris, Little Falls, Becker, Clay, Wadena, Douglas, Grant, Wright, Dakota, Scott, Carver, Anoka, Pope, Becker and Detroit Lakes, MN.

Cadem Law Group, PLLC

About Christopher

For more than a decade, Chris Cadem has concentrated his practice on litigation matters in both criminal and civil cases in State and Federal Court. His experience includes more than 100 trials and roughly a dozen appeals, including multiple petitions to the Minnesota Supreme Court. He has successfully litigated cases spanning from simple speeding tickets to first degree murder and first degree criminal sexual conduct. His civil docket includes everything from contract disputes to complex multiparty, million-dollar financial matters. Chris’s clients include an Academy Award nominated actor, family members of court staff, a judge, and thousands of other Minnesotans. Prior to forming Cadem Law Group, Chris practiced at a small Minnesota based law firm where he founded the firm’s first civil litigation practice. Before that, he worked as the vice president and as legal counsel for an insurance agency located in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an intern lobbyist in Washington D.C. for a large Minnesota law firm. Chris received his Bachelor of Arts degree in both political science and psychology from the University of Minnesota Morris with Highest Distinction, where he was honored with the prestigious Scholar of the College Award and the Gieske Academic Award. He was also a Phi Kappa Phi honorary and presented independent research on the impact of social identity on voting behavior at the University of Minnesota Research Symposium and at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Louisville, Kentucky. Chris received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School. While a student there, Chris was in the Maynard Pirsig Appellate Advocacy Moot Court, where he was awarded honors and was nominated for the law school’s best appellate brief. He was also selected as a student director of the University of Minnesota Housing Law Clinic and to take part in the Kommerstad Center’s Business Law Clinic. During his final year in school, Chris externed with the Honorable Richard H. Kyle of the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. In his practice and personal life, Chris works diligently to have a positive influence in his community and on the lives of the people around him. Chris gives back to his community through multiple volunteer organizations. He served for many years as general corporate counsel for the Minnesota Jaycees, is a member of the Fergus Falls Jaycees where he has served as chairman of the board, president, vice president of membership, and treasurer. He is the two-time past president of the Fergus Falls Lions, was the secretary and treasurer of the Otter Tail County Bar Association, and was an ambassador for the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. Since 2006, he has served repeatedly as a Civil Rights Moot Court judge for the University of Minnesota Law School, and also volunteers as a mock trial judge for the Minnesota State Bar Association’s annual High School Mock Trial Tournament. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his kids, home renovation and improvement, biking, fishing, bodybuilding, time on the lake, and woodworking.

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Experience

Attorney

Cadem Law Group, PLLC

Present

Fergus Falls, MN

Admission

Verified Minnesota

2005

Education

University of Minnesota, Morris

B.A. (Political Science & Psychology)

2001

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Recognitions & Achievements

Associations
  • Otter Tail County Bar Association Secretary/Treasurer
    2010 - Present
  • Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • American Association for Justice
  • Minnesota Association for Justice
  • Fergus Falls Jaycees Vice President Membership/Treasurer
    2012 - 2013
Honors / Awards
  • Chris has been widely recognized by his peers for his experience and professionalism. He was named an “Up & Coming Attorney” by Minnesota Lawyer magazine, “Rising Star” by Minnesota Super Lawyers magazine, repeatedly named a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association, repeatedly named in the “Top 100” criminal defense attorneys by the National Trial Lawyer Association, and has received Avvo.com’s highest distinction as a “Superb Attorney.”

Notable Work

Cases

Testimonials

"This firm handles their cases quite diligently. They are extremely attentive and pay close attention to every detail, and treat their clients with the utmost respect. They are worth every single penny, and if you are EVER in need of a great defense attorney I HIGHLY recommend that you speak with this law firm. They will defend you five times, as well as any other defense attorney, would. You can definitely sense that they are there to defend your rights as a citizen, and will do whatever it takes to see your case through. 5 stars all day long."

"Cadem Law Group is my go too. They are very friendly and knowledgeable! Anytime I need advise or help at the stand, I call Cadem."

Publications

Legal Blog | Cadem Law Group, PLLC

Questions & Answers

Please describe a case in the last year or two where you made a big difference.

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.[Chris:] Two years ago I represented a severely disabled veteran whose family worked hard for almost a decade to get him the mental health services he needed. He was ultimately charged with 1st and 2nd Degree Murder. He was found not guilty of both charges and is now receiving the treatment he so desperately needed

How did you build a successful practice?

How did you build a successful practice?[Chris:] I cannot say I engaged in any measured or deliberate approach to building my practice. I simply do the best job I can for each of my clients, treat my clients the way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes, and do everything in my power to obtain the best possible outcomes. That view, combined with my extensive legal education and aggressive nature have combined to create my successful practice and my record of achieving outstanding results

What should clients look for in a lawyer?

Someone who actually has experience with the issues faced by the client and who has tried a large number of cases to judges and juries. If a lawyer has not tried a lot of cases, they simply cannot match the experience of those of us who have, they lack insight into outcomes and defenses with which to advise their clients, and they tend to lack credibility in the eyes of opposing counsel and prosecutors.

What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?

During initial consultations I can generally give an outline of issues relevant to the case, what the stages of the case will be, and help the client understand what may or may not occur in the case (for example, if someone is charged with a crime, the charges often list the maximum penalty even though in most cases, the worst case scenario will not even come close to that penalty). I do not believe in scaring clients into retaining me like so many other attorneys.

What information do you need in a free phone consultation?

To best assist people, it helps to have the name of the case and file number, the names of all parties and witnesses involved (for conflict checks), and a broad outline of the facts of the case.

What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?

I have not lost a jury trial for roughly 5 years, and my large trials during that time period include 1st Degree Murder; 2nd Degree Murder; 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct; 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct; and Criminal Vehicular Homicide. If we go to trial, I intend to win.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Giving my clients peace of mind and their life back.

What are your other interests in addition to law?

I enjoy anything outdoors, time on the lakes, carpentry, remodeling, working out, and inventing.

Additional Info

Cadem Law Group, PLLC Highlights

Criminal

Firm Size: 1
Firm Locations: 1
Languages: English
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Premium Member Christopher Jay Cadem has been a Premium Member since May 08, 2019.

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