Dan Adkins

Dan Adkins is a Minnesota criminal defense lawyer at North Star Criminal Defense, with extensive experience defending clients facing serious criminal charges. Since moving his practice to Minnesota in 1996, he has built a record that includes pre-charge declines, evidence suppression, charge reductions, acquittals, and appellate victories. His defense work covers DWI, drug crimes, assault, domestic assault, weapons charges, federal crimes, homicide, theft, probation violations, expungements, and other felony or misdemeanor matters throughout the state.

Dan earned his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law in 1994. He was on the Top 25% Dean’s List. He was the President of the Association for Public Interest Law. His legal training was already connected to courtroom work, as he won his first trial before starting his final year of law school. That early advocacy experience shaped a career focused on criminal defense, trial strategy, legal analysis, and careful preparation for clients facing difficult accusations and life-changing consequences in state and federal courts.

Dan has served for more than two decades as managing partner at criminal defense firms, combining leadership with direct courtroom experience. He has handled more than 40 jury trials, more than 200 court trials, thousands of hearings, and more than eight dozen appeals. He has also taught or hosted many continuing legal education programs and argued landmark Minnesota decisions involving Miranda protections and custody credit in important criminal cases statewide.

Dan Adkins is recognized as a Super Lawyers Criminal Defense attorney and remains active in the criminal defense bar. He has served in leadership with the Minnesota State Bar Association Criminal Law Section, including as chair in 2014-2015, and has been involved with state and national defense organizations. His broader experience includes pro hac vice admissions in federal and state courts outside Minnesota for serious criminal matters and complex appellate cases.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, North Star Criminal Defense
• Former Chairman, Minnesota State Bar Association, Criminal Law Section
• Member of Board of Directors, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Former National Committeeman, National Association of Public Interest Law

Licensed State

• Minnesota

Education

• George Mason University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Minnesota
  BA in Philosophy & English Literature with Cum Laude

Awards & Badges