IN RE: Petition for Disciplinary Action against Jessica L. Wassenberg (2026)

ORDER

The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed an amended petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Jessica L. Wassenberg has committed professional misconduct warranting public discipline—namely, failing to act with diligence in two client matters, including by failing to appear for several court dates and failing to comply with court orders; failing to communicate in three client matters; providing incompetent representation and disclosing confidential client information in a client matter; failing to provide a timely refund of unearned fees to a client after the representation ended; failing to file a notice of withdrawal; and using a misleading firm name. Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a)(3)–(4), 1.4(b), 1.5(b)(3), 1.15(h), as interpreted by Appendix 1 thereto, 1.6(a), 1.16(d), 3.2, 3.4(c), 7.1.

Respondent and the Director have entered into an amended stipulation for discipline. In it, respondent withdraws her previously filed answer, unconditionally admits the allegations of the amended petition, and waives her procedural rights under Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR). The parties jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a 60-day suspension, followed by two years of unsupervised probation.

The court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly recommended disposition.

Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. Respondent Jessica L. Wassenberg is suspended from the practice of law for a minimum of 60 days, effective 14 days from the date of this order.

2. Respondent must comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals), and must pay $900 in costs under Rule 24(a), RLPR.

3. Respondent will be eligible for reinstatement to the practice of law following the expiration of the suspension period provided that, not less than 15 days before the end of the suspension period, respondent files with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts and serves upon the Director an affidavit establishing that she is current in continuing legal education requirements, has complied with Rules 24 and 26, RLPR, and has complied with any other conditions for reinstatement imposed by the court.

4. Within 1 year of the date of this order, respondent must file with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts and serve upon the Director proof of successful completion of the written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility. See Rule 4.A.(5), Rules for Admission to the Bar (requiring evidence that an applicant has successfully completed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination). Failure to timely file the required documentation will result in automatic suspension, as provided in Rule 18(e)(3), RLPR.

5. Upon reinstatement to the practice of law, respondent will be placed on probation for a period of two years, subject to the following terms and conditions:

a. Respondent must abide by the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.

b. Respondent must cooperate fully with the Director's Office in its efforts to monitor compliance with this probation. Respondent must promptly respond to the Director's correspondence by its due date. Respondent must provide the Director with a current mailing address and must immediately notify the Director of any change of address. Respondent must cooperate with the Director's investigation of any allegations of unprofessional conduct that may come to the Director's attention. Upon the Director's request, respondent must provide authorization for release of information and documentation to verify compliance with the terms of this probation.

BY THE COURT:

Gordon L. Moore, III Associate Justice