Sharon Jones Recognized as 2023 Attorney of the Year

On February 8, 2024, outstanding individuals and teams were honored for their exemplary legal work by Minnesota Lawyer. The 2023 Attorney of the Year Awards were presented at the Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis, where the winners were celebrated for their contributions.

Sharon Jones, executive director of Legal Assistance of Dakota County (LADC), was among those individuals recognized as an Attorney of the Year. Since 2014, Jones has led LADC’s work in the provision of civil legal services to Minnesotans with low incomes, and with a focus on family law. Jones puts it succinctly, “the decisions that get made in family law cases ripple throughout our community.”

LADC recently expanded their scope of services and were able to hire and retain qualified staff due to increased funding from the state legislature last year. Additionally, LADC became part of the statewide coordinated intake process among legal services providers, a client-centered and streamlined referral system.

Reflecting on the positive impact of her organization’s work, Jones said, “I get to work for individual clients while also working toward systemic change statewide with other legal aid providers, private attorneys and courts around the state. It can be hard work, but it’s rewarding. Sometimes we get to see amazing outcomes and sometimes we are not fully aware of the long-term impact of our work, but the human connection is what keeps me doing this.” Read the article in Minnesota Lawyer.

Minnesota Debt Fairness Act to Help Consumers Struggling with Medical Debt

Katy Drahos, access to justice director at the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), spoke at a February 9th press conference about the Bar’s Consumer Debt Litigation Report alongside Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, legislators, and Minnesotans affected by the burden of unfair medical debt. The press conference was held to preview medical debt solution proposals, notably the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act discussed by AG Ellison. If passed, the Act would address medical debt, wage garnishment and collections, and would include unique provisions for medical debt. It would ban the denial of medical care based on outstanding patient debt, repeal the current law allowing transfer of medical debt to a patient’s spouse, ban charging interest on medical debt and reporting it to credit bureaus, and more.

Ellison shared that the impetus for the proposed bill was the MSBA’s Consumer Debt Litigation Report, and the stark picture it painted of how broken debt collection policies are in Minnesota. Drahos spoke on behalf of the Bar’s access to justice committee and explained how the group regularly looks at the biggest gaps in representation in the court system. They found that consumer debt litigation always rises to the top. Consumers rarely have representation in these cases and Drahos emphasized that the report’s data revealed over half of all civil cases in Minnesota are consumer debt cases. Medical debt is included in these cases.

KARE 11 news also spoke with Drahos who noted that debt collection cases are filed against Black and Latino Minnesotans at double the rate of white Minnesotans. Families in lower income areas are also more likely to be taken to court for debt and that the number of cases is probably higher than it appears because of the way the debt is handled and paid. "That debt has been sold to collectors, or individuals put medical debt on their credit cards and then default on those cards, or they prioritize paying their medical bills at the cost of other debts they owe,” Drahos said.

Milo Mumgaard Named Executive Director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)

Following a nationwide search that began in October, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Board of Directors has confirmed Milo Mumgaard as the organization’s pick to take the reins as executive director, effective Feb. 26.

Mumgaard, a native of Nebraska, will come to MMLA—the state’s largest nonprofit law firm—having helmed legal aid organizations in Nebraska and Arkansas. “Throughout my career in legal aid and public interest law,” Mumgaard says, “I’ve used MMLA’s high quality legal services as a model for equal justice in my own efforts to bring impactful change to people who need it most. I’ve long admired MMLA’s people, accomplishments and ideals. It’s truly an honor to know I’ll soon be part of the organization’s next chapter.”

Board Member, Bree Dalager, who led all phases of the search process adds, "Milo stood out for his depth and breadth of experience, having dedicated his entire career to the pursuit of justice for underserved communities. He is well-known in legal aid circles as an engaging, communicative leader focused on innovation, staff development, and above all, increasing access to justice.”

Prior to holding the executive director position at both the Center for Arkansas Legal Services since 2022 and Legal Aid of Nebraska since 2015, Mumgaard was the legal senior policy aide for the mayor of Lincoln, Neb.; regional director for Common Cause; associate general counsel for the AFL-CIO; and held posts as executive director and founder of Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, later serving as the Appleseed Foundation’s immigrant policy program director.

Mumgaard earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the school’s “Review of Law and Social Change.” He is currently licensed by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Nebraska State Bar.

Increased Awareness and Support for Civil Legal Aid

In recent coverage from Minnesota Lawyer, the overall gaps in the availability of legal aid nationally and in Minnesota were cited, as well as the nonexistence of the right to counsel in civil cases. These access issues, along with the well-known gap in coverage between rural and urban areas, were discussed at a recent webinar hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA). One of the panelists, Radhika Singh, vice president of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) said that legal aid attorneys should be thought of as “human services providers” because of the ripple effect that civil legal problems can have on the health and well-being of people.

In Minnesota specifically, Katy Drahos, access to justice director at the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), noted that statewide access mirrors the nation and that greater Minnesota faces different challenges. “In rural areas, there are fewer attorneys per population and larger service areas. Also, lack of broadband access in some areas can make court appearances challenging for both attorneys and clients. In the metro area, there is a higher volume of cases which makes it tough to meet the need at current funding levels,” Drahos said.

The lack of adequate funding for legal aid has been a perennial problem in Minnesota and throughout the county. A positive sign in Minnesota recently was the state’s historic 85% increase in funding for civil legal aid services, allowing programs to reasonably increase salaries, retain attorneys, and improve services.

Justice North, which serves 11 counties in northeastern Minnesota, has also leveraged resources that became available during the pandemic, such as virtual court. With a service area of about 27,000 square miles, and a staff of 40, virtual court has been a game-changer, according to executive director Dori Rapaport. So has the use of a network of community legal kiosks that allow financially eligible residents to seek legal information and aid in a setting outside their home. “The technology allows people to meaningfully engage with legal matters,” Rapaport said. “Now, we’re in a position where other states are looking to us for how we provide rural access.” Read more in “Civil legal aid draws greater attention, support” from Minnesota Lawyer.

Introducing Justice North: A Fresh New Era for Legal Aid in Northeastern Minnesota

Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNEM) is thrilled to announce its transformation and rebranding as "Justice North." Beginning today, October 30, 2023, LASNEM officially changes its name to “Justice North.”  

This new name reflects the organization's unwavering dedication to access to justice and its geographical scope in serving Northern Minnesota. This change represents a more accessible and modern identity, making it easier for clients to connect with the essential legal services they need. 

With a renewed commitment to providing accessible legal assistance, Justice North is ushering in this new era with a new name, a new website, and new office locations. To celebrate this exciting milestone, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and open houses are scheduled at new Justice North office locations throughout the region. 

Justice North invites community members, legal professionals, government representatives, and anyone interested in supporting Justice North and their community to join their ribbon-cutting and open house events. Justice North believes that access to justice is a fundamental right for all, and this new identity reflects their unwavering commitment to making this belief a reality. 

Ribbon-Cutting and Open House Events

Join us for the ribbon-cutting celebrations and enjoy refreshments while touring the newly rebranded office locations. 

Duluth: November 1, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. 
Wells Fargo Building, 230 W. Superior Street. Suite 200, Duluth, MN 55802 

Virginia: November 2, 2023, at 12:00 p.m.  
Olcott Plaza, 820 N. 9th Street, Suite 150, Virginia, MN 55792 

Brainerd: November 9, 2023, 3:00 p.m.  
603 Oak Street, Brainerd, MN 56401   

Grand Rapids: November 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 
111 Golf Course Road, Suite 5, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 

Justice North, formerly known as LASNEM, is a nonprofit civil law firm providing representation, limited services, advice, or information to individuals with issues that fall outside of the criminal justice system. For people facing civil legal challenges such as the threat of losing their home, safety, health care, income, or even their families, navigating the justice system without a lawyer can be nearly impossible. 

Justice North opens the doors of the justice system to the most vulnerable in our communities by providing critical legal assistance to preserve our clients’ safety, security, and stability.