Birken Law Office

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Company Description

Hi, I’m Jess Birken.

I am the owner of Birken Law Office, I help nonprofits solve problems so they can quit worrying and get back to what matters most – The Mission. I’m not like most attorneys, I actually have an outgoing personality, and – like you – I like to think outside the box. Most of my clients are passionate and have an entrepreneurial spirit. I’m like that too. My goal is to help you crush it. Getting bogged down in the minutia sucks the joy out of the important work. My clients want to do the work – not the paperwork.

My Credentials:
• BA, Sociology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• JD, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Magna Cum Laude
• MA, Nonprofit Management, Hamline University

My Biography: 
I am the former CEO & Managing Partner at Urban Birken PLLC, a boutique firm that specialized in serving the nonprofit community. I have worked with nonprofit organizations for most of my career. Before becoming a private practice attorney, I spent four years inside a national nonprofit organization, Pheasants Forever.

I worked my way through law school and had the beginnings of a promising career in criminal law after graduation. However, I quickly realized that going to court is depressing! In court, the toothpaste is out of the tube and you’re just trying to clean up the mess. My colleagues reassured me I’d become callous and get used to the grim reality. But I thought that sounded like a terrible personal outcome and decided I needed to change course. I really missed the nonprofit sector. As a result, I went back to grad school and earned a Masters in Nonprofit Management. I rejoined the nonprofit sector through my work with Pheasants Forever where my role was a marriage of attorney work and federal grant management and administration.

Since that time, I have run my own firms. I’m now the owner of Birken Law Office a firm designed to help nonprofits and the arts.

My Family: I have two daughters, who are the light of my life. (Well sometimes they can act like little scamps but mostly they are awesome!) We live outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, near their dad who is amazing and a great friend. In my free time, I enjoy pretending to be a foodie, science fiction, films, dance music, running and spending time with great friends.

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Services Provided

Nonprofit Startup

Starting a nonprofit is exciting…and intimidating! There are so many choices to make. Should you start a nonprofit or a for-profit? If you start a nonprofit then how do you get income tax exemption? So many forms – ugh! What are the steps involved?

• Incorporation
• Drafting articles & bylaws
• IRS income tax exemption
• State sales tax exemption

Nonprofit Risk Management 

Running a nonprofit is like any other business – full of paperwork! You’re doing this because you love The Work not the paperwork. But, with great programming comes great responsibility – to make sure deals get done well. Protect your organization by working with a nonprofit risk management lawyer.

• Contracts
• Leases
• Buy / sell property
• Policies & procedures

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Fee Structure

I work with nonprofits of all stripes and sizes. I love getting to know my clients and being a strategic partner with them. Anybody can produce a one-off document, or get less than expert opinions, but the best advice comes from a working relationship. When my team and I work with you our goals are:

• Create flexible solutions and win-win outcomes
• Keep deals moving forward
• Understand the programs and personalities
• Help you build a word-class nonprofit We offer both traditional hourly billing and innovative subscription legal services

Learn more about that program

Let’s us help you with the paperwork and compliance so you can get back to the mission.