Biography
As a senior attorney at Messick Law, PLLC, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Patricia Jean Stotzheim offers legal advice to individuals and families in matters involving trusts, estates and dispute resolution. Her practice areas include trust and estate litigation, probate and trust administration, alternative dispute resolution and wills. She works closely with clients to handle complicated legal and family dynamics, offering practical guidance tailored to their long-term goals.
Ms. Stotzheim represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and other interested parties in contested trust and probate cases. She also helps clients with the orderly administration of estates and trusts, helping them understand their responsibilities and comply with the law. Additionally, she serves as a mediator, facilitating productive discussions and negotiated resolutions in estate-related conflicts. Her approach emphasizes clarity, preparation and thoughtful advocacy, whether in litigation or collaborative settings.
Ms. Stotzheim completed her undergraduate studies at Hamline University School of Liberal Arts. After an impressive career coaching collegiate gymnastics, she then went on to attend the Hamline University School of Law, where she developed her legal principles and earned her Juris Doctor, graduating cum laude in 2006, an achievement that reflects her commitment to the study of law. She studied dispute resolution at Hamline’s Dispute Resolution Institute (DRI) and attended DRI courses offered in France, Budapest, and Israel.
An active member in the legal community, Ms. Stotzheim holds several leadership roles within professional organizations. She serves as a council member of the Minnesota State Bar Association for the Probate and Trust section, is a member of the section’s legislative committee, and was previously co-chair of the section’s Continuing Legal Education Committee. Since 2010, she has been a member of the Minnesota Women Lawyers. She formerly served as Continuing Legal Education co-chair for the Ramsey County Bar Association. As a proud Hamline Piper, she also frequently provides her time and energy to Hamline gymnastics and the athletic department.
Practice Areas
- Trust and Estate Litigation
- Probate and Trust Administration
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation)
Past Positions
- Stotzheim Law Office & Mediation, LLC, 2010 to 2024
- Roberts & Stotzheim Law Office, 2009 to 2010
- Honorable Mary Yunker, Sherburne County District Court Judge – Judicial Law Clerk
Education
- Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
- J.D.
- Honors: cum laude
- Hamline University School of Liberal Arts
- M.A.
Professional Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Council Member
- MSBA Co-chair Continuing Legal Education committee
- MSBA Legislative Committee member, 2023 to Present
- Ramsey County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Co-chair, 2020 to 2023
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, 2010 to Present
Pro-Bono Activities
- Minnesota Women Lawyers Mentor, 2014 to Present
- Hamline University School of Law
- Mitchell Hamline Moot Court Competition
- High School Mock Trial
- Hamline University Gymnastics Alumni Group
- Girls Softball Coach 2023
- Board Member of former Melpomene Institute


