Our practice of law is framed by our philosophy that the best practice is always the one with the best long-term benefit for the client. Since each client and case is different, the approach in each case will also be different.

We believe that, for most clients, resolving their legal issues with the least amount of conflict and court intervention is the best long-term result. Consequently, we rely on Alternative Dispute Resolution as the first step in handling cases. For those clients who cannot successfully use an ADR process, the court remains an option to resolve legal disputes.

Attorney-mediator Terri Wintering has nearly 20 years of alternative dispute resolution experience, including cases in the areas of divorce and family mediation, EEOC, ADA, and human rights mediation, special education mediation, ENE mediation, civil mediation, parenting time expediting, and facilitated IEP meetings.

Terri Wintering's Mediation, Arbitration, and ADR Training:

Divorce & Custody Mediation Training
Mediation Center, May-June, 1988 (40 hours)

State of Minnesota Special Education Mediation Training
Office of Dispute Resolution:
   Inititial Training, Aug. 1992 (21.5 hours)
   Yearly Training, 1994 through 2007 (approx. 150 hours)

Civil Mediation Training
Mediation Center, June, 1994 (40 hours)

Lawyer Discipline Mediation Pilot Project
Minnesota Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility
June, 1995 (2.75 hours)

Advanced Negotiation Skills Training, Oct, 1995 (7.5 hours)

Americans With Disabilities Act Mediation Training
State of Minnesota ADR Pilot Program, Jan, 1996 (8 hours)

Certified Family Arbitration
Minnesota CLE, Oct. 1997 (6 hours)

Certified Domestic Abuse Issues Training, May 1997 (6 hours)

Redefining the ADR Process
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Dec, 1998 (6.5 hours)

Minnesota Human Rights Mediator Training:
   November, 1999 (6.0 hours)
   Human Rights Day, Dec 5, 2003 (6.5 hours)

EEOC Mediator Training:
   June, 1999 (3 hours)
   March 27, 2001 (4 hours)

Collaborative Law Institute, January 18, 2002 (6.25 hours)

Olmsted County Collaborative Law Training, annually, 2003-present

Areas of Practice

• Family Law and Divorce
• Collaborative and Mediated Divorce
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Marital Property Division
• Child Support, Child Custody, and Visitation
• Parenting Time Expediting
• Alimony and Spousal Support
• Modification of Family Court Orders
• Adoption
• Establishment of Legal Paternity
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Special Education Mediation
• EEOC Mediation
• Family and Civil Mediation
• Wills
• Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1977
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1979

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 1977
  J.D.
  
  
• College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota, 1973
  B.A.
  
  

Representative Cases

• Soule v. Nicholson, 408 N.W. 2d 173 (App. 1987 )

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Southern Minnesota Family Law Collaborative, 2002 - Present
  Charter Member, Past President
  
  
• Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly Academy of Family Mediators & SPIDR)
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association
  
  
• Olmsted County Bar Association, 1986 - Present
  Chair, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Minnesota Rule 114 Neutrals Roster
  
  
• Minnesota ADR Special Education Mediation Panel
  
  
• Minnesota Human Rights Mediation Panel, 1997 - Present
  
  
• Minnesota EEOC Mediation Panel, 1999 - Present
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Wintering Law Office, Ltd. (formerly Walters & Wintering, Ltd.), Partner/Solo Practitioner, 1988 - Present
• Legal Assistance of Olmsted County, Executive Director, 1986 - 1988
• Legal Assistance of Olmsted County, Staff Attorney, 1983 - 1985
• Grinnell Mutual Insurance Co., Grinnell, Iowa, Insurance Adjuster, 1982 - 1983
• Carter Law Office, Pine Island, Minnesota, Attorney, 1981 - 1982
• Minnesota State Legislature, House Caucus Research, 1976 - 1981

Pro Bono Activities

• Chair, Board of Directors, Women's Shelter, Rochester, MN, 2005 - Present
• Chair, Board of Directors, Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women, St. Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona, MN, 2004 - Present
• Volunteer Attorney, Legal Assistance of Olmsted County, 1988 - Present
• Volunteer Mediator, Minnesota Department of Human Rights
• Volunteer Mediator, Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board
• Olmsted County Domestic Violence Committee, 1996 - 1999
• Rochester Area D.R.U.G, 1992 - 1993
• Faith Formation Teacher, St. John's and Pax Christi parishes, Rochester, MN, 1988 - 2002
• Board of Directors, Alumnae of CST (formerly College of St. Teresa Alumnae Association), 1983 - 1994
• Annulment Volunteer, Diocese of Winona, 1990 - 1993
• Board of Directors, Alumnae of CST (formerly College of St. Teresa Alumnae Association), 1972 - 1979
• Volunteer Youth Sports Coach, Rochester Youth Baseball, Soccer, and Softball