Mark Arneson

PRO

Mark Arneson

5.0
88 reviews
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 28 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Minneapolis, MN
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Domestic Violence ... +2 more

333 Washington Avenue North, Suite 405, Minneapolis, MN

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

About Mark

Biography

Former prosecutor with 28+ years of criminal defense experience—Top-rated Minnesota attorney delivering proven results in DWI, DUI & criminal cases.

Relentless criminal defense with proven trial success—protecting your rights, freedom, and future.

Former prosecutor with 28+ years of experience defending DWI & DUI cases—results that protect your license and record.

Compassionate, strategic defense in domestic assault cases—protecting your rights and reputation.

Clear your record, protect your future—trusted expungement representation with proven results.

Discreet, aggressive sex crime defense—experienced trial attorney safeguarding your freedom and future.

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 35%

Dedicated to defending persons accused of all crimes, including felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor offenses.

29 years

35%
DUI and DWI 35%

29 years

35%
Domestic Violence 10%

10%
Expungement 10%

10%
Sex Crime 10%

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2020 2019 2018
...
+ 3
Platinum Client Champion
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Minnesota for 28 years

State: Minnesota

Acquired: 1997

Authorized to Practice

No misconduct found

Location

Arneson & Geffen

333 Washington Avenue North, Suite 405, Minneapolis, MN, 55401-1370

www.arnesongeffen.com

Online Presence

Other places you can find Mark online.

Mark Arneson's Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (74) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 11 - 15 of 15 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by anonymous | December 27, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Number One Lawyer in MN!

When I was wrongfully charged with a 5th degree possession of a controlled substance, he was the one who I could count on. With anyone else I might worry of my case being lost, but with Mark I was assured 100% of the time that I would be kept in the loop with any updates in the case, as soon as they ...came. There was no waiting around and wondering. If I had to recommend a lawyer to anyone, Mark would be the one, he treats you like family...not a number.

Posted by colton | December 18, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

a review

I have hired mark as my attorney a few times regarding 2 separate felony drug possession charges and an obstruction of justice charge. He is a very happy, positive, and serious guy who i could count on to make my cases much less complicated. Today my record is clean and was never sentenced to any jai...l time thanks to marks ability to work out my cases with the state, allowing me much easier options to situate my crimes have i not had such good representation. Thanks again Mark for keeping my spirits high through difficult times

Posted by Jacob | December 10, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Excellent

I was charged with open bottle, careless driving, and first degree property damage which is a felony. I hired Mark as my lawyer and after he used his experience and knowledge of the law he was able to get my felony charge dropped and the open bottle ticket dropped. In the end I was convicted of jus...t a careless driving. I am glad that I hired Mark to represent me. He definitely knows what he is doing and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a good criminal lawyer

Posted by Richard | November 12, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Mr. Richard A. Unger

I was lucky to find Mark Arneson. 5 stars are not enough, I give Mark 100 stars professional ,compassionate, fair, understanding Takes personal interest in your case Makes you feel comfortable and that he is really on your side. Mark Arneson is real good at what he does. In my opinion Mark Ar...neson is The Muhammad Ali of defense lawyers. "The Greatest"

Posted by Bill | April 07, 2011 | DUI & DWI

My Case was dismissed when I thought I had no shot!

I found Mr. Arneson on the internet when I was charge with a DWI. After talking with him on the phone I set up a meeting to discuss my case. Although it was my first offense, I did have a very high reading. When Mr. Arneson looked at the reports, he noticed something right away. He believe the of...ficer violated my right with respect to the testing method. I really wasn't sure if this was a line of crap or not, but decided to hire him. Well, what he said was true. Mr. Arneson scheduled my case for a contested hearing regarding the issue he had described to me. The judge agreed and the case was thrown out and my license revocation was rescinded. Excellent attorney. Thanks Mark. Bill H

See All Client Reviews

Mark Arneson's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Mark
Judd S Nemiro headshot
Judd Nemiro

Unknown lawyer | Apr 06

Relationship: Other

"A top notch attorney who has great knowledge of the law. I endorse this lawyer."

Gerald A Miller headshot
Gerald Miller

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mark is a highly knowledgeable and experienced lawyer in the area of criminal and DWI law. His reputation is A+. He zealously represents his clients to the highest degree. I give him my full endorsement"

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | May 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Mark. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Ethan Patrick Meaney headshot
Ethan Meaney

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Max A. Keller headshot
Max Keller

Criminal defense lawyer | May 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mark is a skilled practitioner who knows the system and the judges. He is often seen in courts across the State. I give him my full endorsement."

Kenneth Lee LaBore headshot
Kenneth LaBore

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Arneson is a well known and respected Criminal and DUI/DWI attorney in Minnesota."

Douglas Troy Kans headshot
Douglas Kans

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mark is very experienced in the area of criminal defense and is a zealous and diligent advocate for his clients."

Todd Jay Kenyon headshot
Todd Kenyon

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mark and I see each other in court state wide. I love discussing legal issues with him because he is an excellent lawyer! It is such a luxury in this day and age to work with and deal with a great lawyer like Mark!"

Maury Devereau Beaulier headshot
Maury Beaulier

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mark is an excellent, aggressive and thorough lawyer. I endorse this lawyer."

Jeffrey B Ring headshot
Jeffrey Ring

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Arneson stays on top of the cutting edge issues and always conscientiously represents his clients, getting results that most often would not have been possible without his work. I recommend him to anyone who needs criminal help at affordable, reasonable fee rates. Jeff Ring-Attorney"

Daniel Sach Le headshot
Daniel Le

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Mark because he has incredible integrity to go along with his excellent legal skills to make sure his clients are represented to the highest degree. Mark is simply a incredible person who is also a phenomenal attorney."

Todd V. Peterson headshot
Todd Peterson

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Arneson has extensive experience defending criminal cases. He is well known and respected in the legal community."

View All Endorsements
Kurt Byron James Glaser headshot
Kurt Glaser

Criminal defense lawyer

James Rene Chatto headshot
James Chatto

Criminal defense lawyer

Mark Gabriel Giancola headshot
Mark Giancola

Criminal defense lawyer

Gerald A Miller headshot
Gerald Miller

Criminal defense lawyer

Judith Ann Samson headshot
Judith Samson

Criminal defense lawyer

Ethan Patrick Meaney headshot
Ethan Meaney

DUI and DWI lawyer

Douglas Troy Kans headshot
Douglas Kans

Criminal defense lawyer

Todd Jay Kenyon headshot
Todd Kenyon

Criminal defense lawyer

Patrick Lennae Cotter headshot
Patrick Cotter

Criminal defense lawyer

David L Valentini headshot
David Valentini

Criminal defense lawyer

Christopher Paul Renz headshot
Christopher Renz

Criminal defense lawyer

Maury Devereau Beaulier headshot
Maury Beaulier

Criminal defense lawyer

Max A. Keller headshot
Max Keller

Criminal defense lawyer

Andrew Robert Pearson headshot
Andrew Pearson

Criminal defense lawyer

Jeffrey B Ring headshot
Jeffrey Ring

DUI and DWI lawyer

Daniel Sach Le headshot
Daniel Le

Business lawyer

Todd V. Peterson headshot
Todd Peterson

Criminal defense lawyer

Charles Alan Ramsay headshot
Charles Ramsay

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Avvo Client’s Choice, Avvo

2025

Platinum Client Champion, Martindale-Hubbell

2025

AV Preeminent Peer Review Attorneys, Martindale-Hubbell

2022

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2022

Top 25 Criminal Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association

2022

Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys Minnesota, National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys

2022

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2021

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association

2021

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2020

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2019

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2018

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2017

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2014

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2013

Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota, American Society of Legal Advocates

2013

Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys Minnesota, National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys

2013

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association

2013

Top 100 DWI Attorneys in Minnesota, National Advocacy for DUI Defense

2012

Criminal Defense, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

2011

Criminal Defense, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

2010

Criminal Defense, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

2009

Crimianl Defense, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

2004

Rising Star, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine

2004

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2004

Rising Sar, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine

2003

Rising Star, Minnestoa Law and Politics

2003

Rising Star, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine

2003

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

Work Experience

2008 - Present

Partner, Arneson & Geffen

2001 - 2008

Attorney, Arneson & Associates

1999 - 2001

Associate Attorney, Meshbesher Law Office

1997 - 1999

Prosecuting Attorney, Rajkowski Hansmeier

Associations

2010 - Present

Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

8th Judicial Circuit Bar Association

Member

2010 - 2011

Hennepin County Bar Association

Member

2010 - 2011

Minnesota State Bar Association, Criminal Law Section

Member

2010 - 2011

Hennepin County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

State v. Painter

State dismissed case at trial

State v. Mogendi

Trial Verdict, Not Guilty

State v. Aurzada

Trial Verdict, Not Guilty

State v. Martinez

Case Dismissed

State v. Berreth

Case Dismissed, License Revocation Rescinded

State v Her

Trial Verdict, Not Guilty

State v Kabasso

Case Dismissed

State v. Titus

Trial Verdict, Not Guilty

State v Haaland

Case Dismissed

State v McBorrough

Case Dismissed

State v. P.S.

Case Dismissed

State v. Andersen

Case Dismissed

See More Legal Cases

Education

1997

William Mitchell College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1994

Minnesota State College & University - Minnesota State University, Moorhead

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2010

Criminal Justice Institue

DWI Testing

Publications

2010

Minnesota State Bar Association Urine Testing in DWI Cases

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution