Office of General Counsel

Scott Goings

General Counsel Scott Goings joined the General Counsel’s Office in 2008 after previously representing the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as an Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.  Scott became Interim General Counsel in May 2022 and then was appointed General Counsel in November 2022.  His years working in higher education law have been focused on student affairs, athletics, litigation and litigation management and foundations. 

Scott previously practiced law with the Minneapolis firm of Leonard, Street and Deinard and clerked for the Honorable Harold D. Vietor, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.  He received his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and his B.A. (Philosophy) from Grinnell College.

Mary Al Balber

Assistant General Counsel has an extensive background representing state, tribal and municipal governments.

Mary Al was  with the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office in the civil division where she advised city officials, departments, boards and commissions. She was also Solicitor General for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and a former Assistant General Counsel for the Prairie Island Dakota Indian Community.

In addition, she was an Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office where she represented state agencies in construction, contract and environmental matters for more than six years. In her new position, Mary Al's primary focus is transactional matters including construction, contracts and intellectual property.

Mary Al received her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, and her B.S. (Mass Communications) from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan.

Daniel McCabe

Daniel McCabe, Assistant General Counsel, joined the Office of General Counsel in 2016.  He specializes in the areas of data privacy & security, business transactions, intellectual property, other areas in higher education.

Previously, Daniel was in house counsel at Howard University, where he specialized in university business transactions, intellectual property, technology transfer, commercial radio, public television, and several related areas.

Daniel received his J.D. from The American University in Washington, DC.  He received his B.A., summa cum laude, (History and English) from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Kevin Finnerty

Assistant General Counsel Kevin Finnerty joined the Office of General Counsel as an Assistant General Counsel in 2023 after spending nearly 15 years at the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, where he worked in the Education division representing Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in judicial proceedings and contested case hearings.  In the Office of General Counsel, Kevin advises on employment law, immigration and study abroad matters, litigation, student issues, and other issues in higher education.

Kevin previously practiced law in the Labor and Employment group at Dorsey & Whitney and clerked for the Honorable Richard C. Tallman, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, his M.F.A. (creative writing) from Columbia College Chicago, and his B.A. (philosophy/pre-law), summa cum laude, from St. Bonaventure University.

Melitta Drechsler

Melitta Drechsler joined the Office of General Counsel as an Assistant General Counsel in 2023.  Melitta is experienced in advising private and public sector clients on important transactions, as well as providing support for ongoing business operations.  Melitta began her legal career in private practice at Briggs and Morgan, P.A., and as in-house counsel at Taylor Corporation in Mankato. 

She subsequently joined the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office in 2014 where she served in the office’s Civil Division.  She advised various Ramsey County departments, including Information Services, Emergency Communications, Property Tax and Workforce Solutions, on their day-to-day legal needs and providing contract review.

In the Office of General Counsel, Melitta advises on the legal and policy aspects of government business practices, including negotiating and drafting contracts and other business arrangements, procurement, information technology, software licensing and software-as-a service, bankruptcy, and other issues in higher education.

Melitta received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul (now known as Mitchell Hamline School of Law).

Heidi Slegers

Legal Analyst works with contracts, real estate transactions, intellectual property and copyright, data practices, and other areas.

A graduate of Minnesota State University, Moorhead with a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Assistant, Heidi has paralegal experience in various legal areas for governmental agencies.

Amanda Bohnhoff

Legal Analyst

Liz Hegman

Legal Analyst

We are always looking for comments, suggestions and tips. If you have questions or comments, feel free to call 651-201-1676 or e-mail Amanda.Bohnhoff@minnstate.edu.

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The Office of the Minnesota Attorney General represents the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

To effectuate proper service under Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure 4.03(d), documents are to be served at:

Office of the Minnesota Attorney General
Attn: Counsel for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
445 Minnesota St., Suite 1400
St. Paul, MN 55101