As any licensed professional can attest, obtaining a professional license is no small task. However, certain circumstances can put your license at risk – sometimes due to events that are out of your hands.

If you have been contacted by your licensing board, the Attorney General’s office or another state agency, it is critical that you contact an experienced license defense attorney to avoid your license being restricted, suspended or revoked. The attorneys at the Law Office of Sivertson and Barrette, P.A., are here to assist you and aggressively defend your license and livelihood. Backed by more than 40 years of experience, our skilled lawyers are committed to advocating for professionals throughout Minnesota.

From our office in St. Paul, we represent a wide range of health care professionals and professionals in other fields which require a license, including:

• Nurses
• Physicians and surgeons
• Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants
• Pharmacists
• Chiropractors
• Psychologists
• Physical therapists
• Optometrists
• Marriage and family therapists
• Licensed counselors
• Social workers
• Occupational therapists
• Veterinarians
• Audiologists
• Acupuncturists
• Athletic trainers
• Naturopathic doctors
• Respiratory therapists
• Midwives

Every licensing board, such as the Minnesota Board of Nursing, or state agency defines the rules of the profession and license. An alleged violation can trigger an investigation, which can lead to possible discipline. Our clients face various allegations, including:

• Patient care issues
• Charting problems
• Documentation errors
• Perceived lack of professionalism/unprofessional conduct
• Falsifying orders
• Diversion of narcotics/theft of controlled substances
• Violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act
• Diagnosis of opioid or alcohol dependence
• Mental health diagnoses
• Practice of the profession while ability is impaired
• Conviction of a crime that has a connection to your fitness to practice
• Failure to report loss of employment in accordance with state mandatory reporting laws
• Violation of terms of probation

We take forceful action to protect professionals before their licensing entities by investigating all of the allegations and thoroughly preparing our clients prior to any conference. Before participating in an investigation or agreeing to a settlement for disciplinary action, you should understand how profoundly it can affect your life. You may have trouble securing future employment or board certification. You may be unable to get liability insurance. The allegations against you may become part of your permanent record and may be made available to the public on the Internet. It is critical that you take an investigation seriously and get legal help right away.