On Monday, June 2, 2025, the Director of the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition for disciplinary action against attorney Jill I. Frieders. The petition, submitted to the Supreme Court of Minnesota, outlines allegations of unprofessional conduct related to her handling of client funds.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Jill I. Frieders.”
The charges cited Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a), 1.15(c)(3), and 1.15.
According to the petition, the disciplinary action arises from the discovery of trust account shortages and negligent misappropriation of client funds. These issues were first identified on September 26, 2022, when the Director received notification of an overdraft on a trust account belonging to Frieders’s law firm, which operates under the name O’Brien & Wolf, LLP.
In response to the overdraft notice, the Director requested an explanation along with access to various trust account records. Frieders, through her legal counsel, informed the Director that her firm maintained three trust accounts, two of which were dormant. An active account, linked to her current firm, Frieders & Kuhn, LLP, was examined more closely. The investigation revealed discrepancies in the records associated with the Bremer Bank trust account, which is critical for tracking client deposits and disbursements. The Director’s audit of the account, covering the period from July 2020 to February 2023, highlighted several negative balances on client subsidiary ledgers and prolonged shortages in the account.
Specifically, the audit indicated that there were eleven months of shortages ranging from $2,126 to $6,756 between July 2020 and June 2021, and an additional nine months of shortages from January to September 2022, with amounts between $1,560 and $5,972. The usage of this account primarily involved deposits of unearned fee advances and subsequent disbursements to Frieders as fees were earned.
To manage the firm’s accounting, Frieders utilized a software program called MyCase, designed to maintain accurate records of client accounts. However, errors made by her bookkeeper led to inflated balances for some clients’ unearned fees. Additionally, an outside accountant prepared various financial reports, which were regularly reviewed by Frieders. Despite identifying discrepancies, Frieders relied on the accountant’s assurances that corrections had been made, which proved to be inaccurate.
The investigation further revealed that Frieders became aware of ongoing issues with the accountant’s handling of the trust account. She eventually opted to terminate the relationship due to persistent problems, although she did not take sufficient steps to ensure that the underlying errors were rectified.
The failure to address these accounting issues resulted in disbursements of client funds exceeding the amounts that had been properly deposited, leading to negligent misappropriation of client funds. By December 2022, Frieders had deposited sufficient funds to resolve all negative balances and restore the trust account to proper standing. She has since taken measures to maintain her trust account records in-house and has engaged a new accounting firm to oversee her financial practices.
The petition asserts that Frieders’s actions constitute violations of multiple provisions of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct. In light of these findings, the Director has requested that the Minnesota Supreme Court impose appropriate discipline against Frieders and award costs associated with the proceedings.
The petition states:
“WHEREFORE, the Director respectfully prays for an order of this Court imposing appropriate discipline, awarding costs and disbursements pursuant to the Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility, and for such other, further or different relief as may be just and proper.”
According to Avvo.com, Ms. Frieders is a divorce and separation attorney in Rochester, Minnesota. She attended the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1984. She acquired her law license in Minnesota in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
