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.

LSC's Model Practices & Innovations Report Features LSNM Contributions

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) recently featured data and best practices from Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM) in its Model Practices & Innovations series. In the report, LSNM shares how Legal Kiosks and Justice Buses helped the program bridge the digital divide and reach clients without reliable internet access.

LSNM’s executive director, Anne Hoefgen, and communications and outreach coordinator, Kelly Wencl, contributed to the publication, which covers challenges of the pre-existing digital divide in greater Minnesota. That divide was exacerbated when Minnesota courts shifted from in-person hearings to remote civil proceedings in March 2020 in compliance with public health orders.

In 2020 LSNM received LSC-provided COVID-19 funding to increase reach in their service area while awaiting CARES Act funding. Then, working with the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (MLSC), Reach Justice Minnesota was formed to leverage technology and staffing during the pandemic. Four legal aid organizations primarily comprise Reach Justice and collectively cover all 87 Minnesota counties. Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNEM), Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA), Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), and Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM) serve as the four regional hubs for the project’s initiatives. For more about the resulting innovations and current practices, read Dialing Up: How Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Expanded Its Services to Bridge the Digital Divide.

LASNEM Executive Director Dori Rapaport Featured on Talk Justice Podcast

Talk Justice, an LSC podcast that explores ways to expand access to justice, recently hosted a conversation with Dori Rapaport, executive director of Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota; David Estep, supervising attorney at Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV); and Jeanne Robison, Salt Lake City Justice Court Judge.

In the episode, Rapaport, Estep, and Robison each discuss their creative outreach methods to promote access to justice, in part by Holding Court Outside the Courtroom. Rapaport talks about the establishment of Minnesota’s statewide Reach Justice Project, and the use of Legal Kiosks and Justice Buses to meet clients where they are, as well as coordination with the courts for virtual hearings, all to enable legal aid to expand client services particularly in rural areas.

Talk Justice guests are leaders from the legal community, government, and business, who share their unique perspectives and explore strategies for addressing the justice gap. Recent episodes have examined the role of law schools and the benefits of medical-legal partnerships.

LSC recently became affiliated with Legal Talk Network to support Talk Justice and enhance the podcast's sound quality and reach. Listen to episode 47: Holding Court Outside the Courtroom.

MMLA St. Cloud Named Impact Organization of the Year

The United Way of Central Minnesota recently honored Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) - Saint Cloud with its Impact Organization of the Year award.

The United Way recognizes many outstanding individuals and organizations throughout the year for their contributions to local and regional communities. With the 2022 Impact Organization of the Year Award, MMLA - St. Cloud was recognized for staff responsiveness to pandemic challenges through its work to meet the housing eviction crisis, and the development of creative partnership responses with the court system to handle the wave of evictions after the moratorium was lifted.

The development of consolidated multi-county housing court calendars, direct community outreach via the Justice Bus and Legal Kiosks, and the work of staff to help people get access to much needed health insurance were also praised with the award. Additionally, a significant impact was made through medical/legal partnerships with clinics in five communities, and a community partnership with Promise Neighborhood, a grassroots organization which serves low-income families and children.

Ann Cofell, deputy director of MMLA - St. Cloud, noted that the pandemic years have been particularly difficult for both clients and staff, but that everyone has pulled together—tech staff, finance people, intake staff, secretaries, paralegals, attorneys, supervisors—to innovate and meet the need.

“This award is particularly gratifying because it recognizes our work serving individuals, and the impact of that work on the community as a whole. The understanding that the work of Legal Aid keeping people housed, and fed, and healthy, and safe really makes the whole community stronger, and this award recognizes that,” Cofell said.