By Mónica Dooner Lindgren
As I write this column for this week’s edition of the Barrister, I never would have imagined that as we approach the end of 2021, we would still be navigating life in a pandemic. We have all been hopeful that the uncertainties of the pandemic would subside. Instead, we’ve seen more deaths in 2021 than we saw in 2020 and new variants pose serious risks for the near future. The pandemic has forced us to learn new ways to connect with colleagues, family, and friends, and to adopt new practices to achieve equal justice as legal professionals. Yet, I am amazed at how the Ramsey County Bar Association continues to provide high quality, innovative and engaging opportunities for members. I would like to highlight just some of the ways we have come together as an Association to collectively become better legal professionals and positively impact our communities.
The pandemic has forced us to learn new ways to connect with colleagues, family, and friends, and to adopt new practices to achieve equal justice as legal professionals.
Continuing Legal Education
The RCBA has continued to offer practical and timely CLE opportunities highlighting legal issues to update and educate legal professionals on changes to the law. From taking the YWCA Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge, getting updated on Minnesota Guardianship Law, debating the 50/50 parenting time presumption, to defining legal ethics in probate and trust representations, participants advanced their legal careers by gaining important knowledge to enhance their ability to be legal advocates for their clients, represent their clients in legal proceedings, and carefully analyze the law in pursuit of equal justice. Participants continued to attend CLE seminars virtually, an approach that has proven to be a successful model to deliver critical information, as well as encourage meaningful engagement. Further, virtual options have resulted in increased attendance due to the removal of attendance barriers, such as the elimination of parking fees, transportation logistics, and simply allowing for time efficiency.
Committees & Sections
The RCBA has 11 dedicated committees and 6 legal interest area sections. The committees play an important role in the Association’s organization by creating dynamic events that have a direct impact on the quality and ethical delivery of justice in the communities the RCBA serves. Further, committees elevate our obligations as legal professionals to high ethical standards, promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the profession, and support judicial elections and appointments.
The Criminal Law, Trusts and Estates, Family Law, New Lawyers, Real Estate, Solo & Small Firm sections all work to open opportunities for members of the judiciary, lawyers, and legal professionals of all levels, to gain invaluable knowledge from others who share interests in specific areas of the law.
Some committees and sections have taken the initiative to collaborate with the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Association to share resources and meet collectively.
Attorney Referral Service & Placement Services
Our Minnesota Lawyer Referral & Information Service continues to connect litigants with lawyers and legal resources in their specific area of need. Attorney referrals have remained steady during the pandemic. The RCBA’s Placement Services has had a long history of screening and connecting non-attorney legal professionals with attorneys to support their work. This service has seen an increase in placements in recent months, as the need for legal representation has steadily risen.
Gatherings for the Good of our Community
We began the 2021 Bar year with the annual Ramsey County Bar Foundation Golf Classic. This was the first in-person event in many months. It was a beautiful summer day for a round of golf. The joy in simply connecting with colleagues and friends in-person was contagious!
Most recently, the annual Bench and Bar Benefit was held virtually. As the last major event of the year, it is known for the enormous impact it has on our legal services community by raising critical funds so that legal services in Ramsey County can continue to provide legal representation to low-income litigants. This year the event raised $40,000 for nonprofit legal services organizations. The Ramsey County Bar Foundation was honored to award Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. $20,000 to assist them as they to continuing to provide high-quality civil legal services to low-income persons.
The Ramsey County Bar Association’s mission is to:
- Provide legal education to members and the public
- Enhance members’ personal lives
- Promote professional excellence
- Work to improve the quality and accessibility to justice
- Promote the ideals of the profession through service to the community
Each aspect of our mission has continued to be at the forefront of our work. Our members have found ways to remain engaged in our mission. Moreover, we have continued to support each other, gained expertise in our respective areas of the law, and made a difference in the communities we serve. Advocating for access to justice, a balanced legal system as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession have been at the center of our programming.
Moreover, we have continued to support each other, gained expertise in our respective areas of the law, and made a difference in the communities we serve. Advocating for access to justice, a balanced legal system as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession have been at the center of our programming.
I hope you will all join me in celebrating the accomplishments of the RCBA during the first half of this Bar Association year. Our exceptional staff, volunteers, sponsors and partners have pivotal roles in offering the professional support needed for the legal community of Ramsey County. The uncertainties, the quick shifting methodologies from in-person to virtual platforms, and the care required to keep everyone safe has not prevented the RCBA from successfully accomplishing its mission. We are truly looking forward to continuing to serve our members and the community in 2022.
I wish each of you peace and a renewed sense of purpose during this season as we continue to pursue our mission in 2022!
Mónica Dooner Lindgren is an Immigration Law attorney in St. Paul, advocating for and representing Minnesota’s immigrant community for over 20 years. Prior to shifting to Immigration Law, she specialized in Family Law matters, with a special emphasis in working with victims fleeing from domestic violence and crime victims.
Mónica Dooner Lindgren
Mónica Dooner Lindgren