How did you get involved with MN Legal Advice Online (MLAO)?
I either read about it in the Legal Services Coalition monthly newsletter or received an email about it—maybe both!
How long have you provided pro bono services with MLAO?
I started volunteering with MLAO 10 years ago. I live in Fargo but I’m licensed in Minnesota. MLAO allows me to easily answer questions from anyone living in the state.
What types of questions have you helped people with and what resources have been valuable to your pro bono work?
I have a personal goal to answer all consumer debt questions. Sometimes people have a follow-up question but not very often. The online resources available at lawhelpmn.org are very helpful. Just pointing people in the right direction and providing information on where to find a form they might need, or more information on a particular topic, is commonly all that’s needed.
How do you find time for pro bono work with the many competing demands of life?
It’s not easy and that’s why I like MLAO. I can help at any time from anywhere, often typing a response in a quarter hour or less. I also take bankruptcy cases through the Judicare program at Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota. Judicare pays a small fee to attorneys for taking cases. These are obviously longer, more time-intensive cases, but as one of the few attorneys who represents debtors in northwestern Minnesota, I know I am helping people who are unlikely to receive any help otherwise. That motivation helps me find the time.
How does your work with MLAO address gaps in access to justice?
So many firms require payment for initial consultation time. With MLAO someone can receive a prompt answer and not have to invest money just to receive an answer to a simple question or find out what their legal options are. These are working people that don’t generally have access to attorneys.
What advice do you have for newer attorneys looking to get involved with
pro bono work?
Volunteering with MLAO is a terrific way to hone your ability to communicate clearly and concisely with clients in writing. While Judicare cases are not strictly pro bono in the sense that there is a small payment, you are still helping low-income people with critical legal needs and gaining experience communicating “legalese” in a way they understand.
Interested in using your skills to answer legal questions with MLAO? Visit mnlegaladvice.org to get started. For Judicare and volunteer opportunities with Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota, contact lsnmlaw.org/volunteer