Biography
Steve's 88-year-old mother needed help to stay in her home of 43 years. Steve stepped in. He became the 24/7 personal caregiver for his mom. Steve drafted the Personal Care Agreement required by Minnesota medical assistance law. Eventually, his mom's dementia and care needs demanded that she receive a higher level of care in a memory care facility. He marshalled the “spenddown” of assets needed to qualify his mother for medical assistance. Steve applied for and qualified his mother for Medical Assistance Long Term Care (MA-LTC) under the Elderly Waiver (EW) Program.
Steve's experience with his own mother led to the founding of the Steve Wilson Law Office, an elder care law firm. Steve is a military veteran and long-time commercial attorney and trial lawyer in Minneapolis. He approaches his legal practice with the confidence and experience of having practiced law for 40 years; and with a passion instilled through his direct personal experience caring for his elderly mother's basic daily needs, as well as her legal needs. Steve “has been there.”
Steve also represents workers in wrongful discrimination, wrongful termination and other employment law matters. Steve practiced for decades defending employers in litigation; he knows the “other side,” and uses that knowledge and experience to benefit his employment law clients. Additionally, Steve serves as a counselor and advocate to non-profit organizations. Steve has served on several non-profit boards of directors. He has counselled numerous non-profits on myriad issues including achieving and maintaining tax-exempt status, corporate governance, and employment law.
Steve lives in Eden Prairie with his wife of 38 years and their Golden Retrievers. Their three grown children live and work in the Twin Cities area, as well. The Wilsons enjoy the outdoors, including the family homestead on South Walker Bay of Leech Lake, the BWCA, and Voyageurs National Park.
Steve graduated with honors from law school. He then served with distinction as an attorney on active duty with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Steve returned to downtown Minneapolis from active duty, serving as a partner in a large regional law firm for over 20 years. He then served as an in-house lawyer for a national annuity and insurance company and later owned and operated a delivery company.
Steve now serves families, individuals, and non-profits facing difficult, complex legal issues. Empathy, gratitude, and a sense of service to others motivate Steve to excel on behalf of his clients.
About aging:
“In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”
– Abraham Lincoln
“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”
– Frank Lloyd Wright
“Don't try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff. There
are so many things I won't live long enough to find out about, but I'm still
curious about them.”
– Betty White
Education
• William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
• J.D. - 1986
• Honors: Cum Laude
• St. John's University
• B.S. – 1983
• Economics
Bar Admissions
• State of Minnesota, 1986
• U.S. Western District of Kentucky, 1987
• U.S. District of Minnesota, 1991
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1999
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2006
Practice Areas
• Elder Law, Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health
Care Directives
• Employment Law for Individuals
• Counselling and Advocacy for Non-profit Organizations