Advocates for Human Rights
The Advocates mobilizes volunteers to address some of the most pressing issues of our time because we believe that everyone has the power to advance human rights. We are looking for volunteers to provide pro bono representation to asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, victims of human trafficking, and individuals in immigration detention. Training, mentoring, and resources are provided.
Contact: Theresa Dykoschak
tdykoschak@advrights.org
www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/volunteer
Cancer Legal Care
Cancer Legal Care provides free legal services to Minnesotans affected by cancer and the many legal issues that come along with diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship: employment, disability, financial, housing, and estate planning. Our volunteer attorneys live and work all over the state, and understand the connection between getting timely and effective legal help and the peace of mind it brings our clients. Because cancer patients face so many different legal issues, our volunteers work in the areas of law with which they are already familiar from their practice.
Contact: Erin Hartung
erin@cancerlegalcare.org
www.cancerlegalcare.org
Central Minnesota Legal Services
The CMLS Volunteer Attorney Program serves 19 counties by assisting eligible clients with various civil legal issues. Volunteer opportunities can range from presenting a community education seminar to residents on a specific legal topic, mentoring new attorneys, giving brief advice by phone for a legal advice clinic, or accepting individual referrals for extended representation cases. CMLS also operates a contract program, which pays a reduced hourly rate to the volunteer attorney for representing clients in certain family law matters.
Contact: Marcia Day
mday@centralmnlegal.org
www.centralmnlegal.org/volunteer-attorney-program/new-attorneys
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
ILCM provides free legal services to low-income immigrants Statewide. Our pro bono program currently focuses on naturalization, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Temporary Protected Status, and U Visas for victims of crimes. No immigration experience is required to volunteer for ILCM, and training and mentoring are provided throughout client representation.
Contact: Tracy Roy
tracy.roy@ilcm.org
www.ilcm.org
Justice North
Justice North’s Private Attorney Involvement Program (PAI) offers high quality legal services to eligible low-income clients in civil matters. Case priorities are those areas of law that impact an individual’s safety, stability or security. Services include opportunities for both full representation and legal advice. In addition to pro bono opportunities, volunteer attorneys can also sign up for the Judicare panel that consists of private attorneys who are compensated by Justice North at a reduced hourly rate.
Contact: Eve Utyro
eve.utyro@justicenorth.org
www.justicenorth.org/pro-bono
LegalCORPS
LegalCORPS is Minnesota’s only pro bono nonprofit that provide transactional legal services to low-income entrepreneurs, business owners, inventors, and low-revenue nonprofit organizations via our volunteer attorneys. We provide non-litigation brief advice and limited scope representation in matters of business law, nonprofit law, and intellectual property law. We rely heavily on our wonderful pool of attorneys and partners who volunteer with us on schedules that work for them and their busy calendars.
Contact: Sarah Lewis
legalcorps.org/volunteers
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota delivers crucial civil legal support to those in need across 22 counties, offering a unique chance for Pro Bono Attorneys to allow LSNM to serve more clients in an attempt to fill the justice gap, throughout our coverage area. From family law, civil law, employment, estate, bankruptcy and landlord-tenant matters, our attorneys can make a significant impact through brief consultations ranging from 15 to 30 minutes, addressing a wide array of civil legal needs. Join us today!
Contact: Dawn Wheeler
dawnwheeler@lsnmlaw.org
lsnmlaw.org/volunteer
Minnesota Justice Foundation
Request a law student volunteer for research assistance, case support, or other involvement in your pro bono matters. Students gain valuable learning experience about pro bono service delivery models and benefit from mentorship from attorneys.
Volunteer Form: mnjustice.org/for-attorneys/volunteer-request-form-2
www.mnjustice.org
Minnesota State Law Library
Appeals Clinic – Brief advice for people who have appealed (or are considering an appeal) to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. Probate Clinic – Brief advice for people with questions about the probate process in Minnesota. Unemployment Appeal Clinic – Brief advice for people who have filed an appeal (or are considering filing an appeal) of denial of benefits to the Court of Appeals.
Contact: Liz Reppe
liz.reppe@courts.state.mn.us
mn.gov/law-library/services/clinics
Misdemeanor Defense Panel
The Misdemeanor Defense Project is a public service program of the Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Inforation Service that provides legal advice and direction to persons appearing in Hennepin County misdemeanor courts. Project attorneys speak with members of the public who are over income for public defenders but have not retained private counsel. Volunteer attorneys may obtain clients as a result of their participation, but this must not detract from the attorney’s primary role as an information source.
Dana Miner
dminer@mnbars.org
www.mnlawyerreferral.org/attorneys/misdemeanor-defense-project
The Pro Se Project
The Pro Se Project is an important initiative of the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association to improve the administration of justice. The Project strives to provide civil pro se litigants who receive a judicial referral with the opportunity to have a meaningful consultation with volunteer counsel and thereby enhance access to justice in our federal courts. Thanks to the generous contribution of time and talent by more than 450 volunteer lawyers, the Project has served over 1,400 pro se litigants.
Contact: Jackie Bailey
coordinator@proseproject.org
www.mnfedbar.org/initiatives
Standpoint
The Standpoint Labor Trafficking Program provides legal advice, advocacy, and direct legal representation to help victim/survivors of labor trafficking. People who experience labor trafficking face a wide range of complex issues, made all the more difficult because they are often made to feel like they have nowhere to turn. People experiencing labor trafficking are in dire need of pro bono attorneys willing to help them navigate the justice system as they seek to reclaim their safety and autonomy.
Contact: Andy Low
andy@standpointmn.org
www.standpointmn.org
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
SMRLS provides free, high quality legal help to help low-income people in critical civil matters. Since 1909, SMRLS has helped individuals and families secure and protect their basic needs, maintaining freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse. SMRLS serves 33 counties including the east metro, southeastern and southwestern counties of Minnesota and has offices in Albert Lea, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester, St. Paul, Shakopee, Winona and Worthington.
Metro Region: Emily Bowen
SW Region: Forrest McKnight
SE Region: Anna Dolde
www.smrls.org
Volunteer Lawyers Network
Join VLN and make a difference! We connect Minnesotans experiencing poverty with pro bono volunteers who are passionately committed to justice. As a volunteer attorney, you’ll have the chance to work on a wide variety of legal topics, including bankruptcy, consumer law, criminal expungement, family law, housing, and real estate. VLN supports our volunteers through mentoring, shadowing opportunities, sample forms and pleadings, free trainings, and provides malpractice insurance. Whether you’re looking to gain courtroom experience or prefer answering phone calls in your office, we have rewarding opportunities waiting for you.
Contact: Glen Drew
glen.drew@vlnmn.org
www.vlnmn.org/volunteer-registration
Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD)
WILD envisions communities free of anti-Black racism and all forms of racism. Working within an anti-racist framework, WILD provides direct support to community-based organizations and coalitions that are already doing the important work to make the Twin Cities more equitable. WILD works under four key program areas- 1.) Economic Justice, 2.) Education Equity, 3.) Voting Rights, and 4.) Community Safety, Healing, and Justice.
Contact: LaLinda Xiong
lxiong@diversityinpractice.org
www.wildmn.org