CHIPS and Paternity Representation Professional Service Solicitation

Eligible panel attorneys must:

• Have a minimum of five years of combined experience as a practicing attorney in child protection, CHIPS or family law.
• (CHIPS panel applicants only) Have at least two years of the five years as a practicing attorney in child protection or CHIPS.
• (CHIPS panel applicants only) Have a working knowledge of the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act and the African American Family Preservation Act.
• Have the ability to appear for hearings in person or remotely as required by the court.
• Have a current license to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
• Provide an Employer Identification Number or W9.
• Carry sufficient malpractice insurance coverage or the ability to obtain such coverage before the start of work.
• Be available start work on or after Jan. 2, 2025

We anticipate contracting with 9-10 CHIPS parent attorneys and three substitute attorneys. We anticipate contracting with seven paternity attorneys and three substitute attorneys. Substitute attorneys are engaged on an as-needed basis.

The contract fee will be a monthly retainer fee, as follows:

CHIPS Panel:

• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025: $7,500 per month.*
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026: $7,725 per month.*
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2027: $7,957 per month.*
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2028: $8,196 per month.*
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2029: $8,442 per month.*

Paternity Panel:

• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025: $1,500 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026: $1,545 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2027: $1,591 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2028: $1,639 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2029: $1,688 per month.

Substitutes (both CHIPS and Paternity):

• No automatic retainer fee. Any retainer fee must be agreed upon by the panel attorney that the substitute attorney will receive all or a portion of the monthly retainer fee in place of the panel member. Notification and documentation to Ramsey County are required.

All attorneys will be additionally compensated for appellate cases at the rate of $130 per hour up to a cap of $10,000 per case.

* CHIPS retainer fees were updated to reflect the rates in the Questions and Answers (PDF). The originally posted rates were:

• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025: $5,500 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026: $5,665 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2027: $5,835 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2028: $6,010 per month.
• Retainer fee from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2029: $6,190 per month.

All contracts will be awarded for one year starting in 2025 with opportunities for four additional one-year renewals.

CHIPS attorneys can expect to have approximately 3 to 3.5 half-day calendars per week consisting of regular court days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, and the possibility of Emergency Protective Care (EPC) hearings on Mondays and Fridays. Attorneys will personally attend all hearings in their assigned cases, which may be in addition to their regular rotation. The schedule will be developed and finalized in the fall of the preceding year. Most hearings are held remotely, however EPC hearings are anticipated to be in person starting in early 2025.

Paternity attorneys can expect to have court on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Occasionally there will be a court day on a Tuesday or Friday should a holiday fall on one of the normally scheduled days.

Substitution of another attorney from the panel may be allowed. When the need for substitution arises, substitutions shall be made by the attorney and confirmed in writing with the respective attorney agreeing to an exchange, as well as the court and the contract attorney unit manager. 

Generally, the attorney-client relationship will continue until the case is concluded or the client is no longer involved in the case. In some cases, however, the relationship may continue as long as the attorney provides services pursuant to the agreement, or any extension, renewal, amendment or successor agreement. In the case of paternity, the attorney-client relationship will conclude once parentage is established. 

The attorneys will meet with each client prior to hearings and as necessary to prepare cases. Attorneys may receive reports regarding their clients that require court review - attorneys must be available to discuss the contents of these reports with their clients. Attorneys are expected to respond in a timely manner to communication from clients, the County Attorney’s Office and any other person involved in a case. The attorneys are required to maintain regular contact with their clients. The attorneys are expected to receive and send all communication via email, sign up and use the court’s electronic file and serve (EFS) system and be able to document their time electronically. Attorneys may be asked to take on appellate cases as needed and will be paid an additional hourly rate.