North Star Lawyers Deliver $17 Million in Pro Bono Services in One Year

685 North Star Lawyers provided more than 70,000 hours of pro bono service, for a total value of $17 million in free legal help during 2022. Each Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) member designated as a North Star Lawyer provided at least 50 hours of pro bono service to Minnesotans with low incomes.

The MSBA is also proud to announce that in a random drawing of all eligible organizations submitted, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) was selected as the recipient of the first $5,000 North Star Lawyer Award from the Minnesota State Bar Foundation. Thank you to all the North Star Lawyers who nominated their partner organizations, and to the organizations who make pro bono happen every day. 

See the full list of North Star Lawyers here and reach out to kdrahos@mnbars.org with any training, recruiting, or other pro bono needs. The MSBA is proud to support the legal aid and pro bono community in their efforts to increase justice access in our state.

LAOC Celebrates 50 Years of Service to Olmsted County

This spring, Legal Assistance of Olmsted County (LAOC) marks a major milestone: 50 years of providing meaningful access to justice for those who need it most. Since 1973, LAOC staff, volunteer lawyers, and board members have helped thousands of people navigate the legal system. LAOC is one of only two single-county legal organizations in Minnesota helping residents with low incomes resolve critical life-altering legal issues.

In recognition of its five decades of service, LAOC hosted a ribbon-cutting with the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce on March 23 and will also hold a year-long fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $50,000 to support its critical work. LAOC assisted more than 2,400 people in 2022 but continues to maintain a waitlist.

“Now more than ever legal aid is critical for those in need,” said executive director Karen Fairbairn Nath. “The pandemic impacted our communities of color, especially those in poverty disproportionately. The incredible increase in applications to LAOC since March 2020 reflects that.”

As part of the celebration, LAOC recently unveiled its new website and logo where applicants and the public can learn more about its services, eligibility criteria, volunteer opportunities and more.

LegalCORPS Pro Bono Project Provides Invaluable Service to Underserved Entrepreneurs

LegalCORPS, a partner organization of the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition, was recently lauded by Derrick Brent, U.S. deputy undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property, at the Pathways to Inclusive Innovation conference at the University of Minnesota. Brent recognized Minnesota’s dedication to the provision of pro bono services particularly through the Pro Bono Patent Program, which operates through 23 regional programs, including LegalCORPS.

For nearly 20 years, LegalCORPS has provided free assistance in non-litigation business law matters to low-income owners of small businesses, small nonprofit organizations and low-income innovators and entrepreneurs in Minnesota — through the services of volunteer attorneys. As a nonprofit organization, its mission is to expand access to the legal system in business law to those who could not otherwise afford legal consultation and/or representation.

This year, LegalCORPS reached a major milestone in the 11-year history of its Inventor Assistance Program with the issuance of its100th patent to a client.

On achieving this milestone, executive director Nicole Deters said, “We are a unique organization in the U.S as there are just not legal aid agencies offering the wholistic services that are offered here in Minnesota. When the United States Patent and Trademark Office decided to implement a patent pro bono program, they came to LegalCORPS to design the national program based on how we were doing things here. That is a proud history for LegalCORPS and reaching 100 patents with our clients is a significant program triumph for not just LegalCORPS but for the patent pro bono program across the country.”

Learn more about the Pro Bono Patent Program in Minnesota LegalCorps recognized for pro bono work supporting emerging entrepreneurs, from the Star Tribune.

Legal Assistance of Olmsted County Connects Seniors and Volunteer Lawyers

Started in 2017, a free wills clinic hosted by Legal Assistance of Olmsted County (LAOC) has been helping area seniors with legal paperwork. Volunteer attorneys review and update wills, powers of attorney and health care directives during the clinics. LAOC executive director Karen Fairbairn Nath said that seniors frequently think their wishes are covered, but it’s best to have a legal expert review and update documents. Pro bono attorneys with the program have seen the negative consequences of not having a valid will play out in court.

Chris Wendland of Rochester’s Wendland Utz law firm, and Alyssa Jerde of Wagner Oehler, both work with estate planning on a routine basis and volunteer regularly at the clinics.

“People attending the LAOC wills clinics are not that different from the clients I work with privately,” Wendland said. “They might not know as much about event planning coming in, but their needs are the same.”

Along with legal help, the wills clinics have begun including consultations with advocates from Elder Network, who can provide additional community resources and support. In collaboration with the Rochester Public Library, wills clinics provide a comfortable setting for what can be a difficult conversation.

The next clinic will be held in late April at the Rochester Public Library for income eligible residents who are at least 55 years old. LAOC is taking reservations for the available spaces, based on the number of volunteer attorneys on hand. For more details, read “Income-restricted seniors offered help with wills and other paperwork” in the Rochester Post Bulletin.

Volunteer Attorneys Make a Difference for Youth in Foster Care

For 26 years, Children’s Law Center (CLC) has provided free legal advocacy for foster care youth in Minnesota. CLC advocates for foster children through systemic reform and the provision of free legal representation services. CLC also trains volunteer attorneys to represent foster children in court.

A recent Minnesota Lawyer article discusses a court-ordered evaluation of Hennepin County’s foster care system, which outlines many shortcomings affecting the well-being of foster youth in Hennepin County and throughout the state. The article highlights CLC’s diligent, longstanding efforts to intervene for foster youth and the impact its pro bono attorneys have had on systemic problems exacerbated by the pandemic.

The need to grow its network of volunteer attorneys is greater than ever now, and executive director Lilia Panteleeva notes that experience is not the most important contribution. “The biggest thing is showing up for the kids,” Panteleeva said. “So many attorneys tell me that this is the most meaningful work that they have ever done, by far.” Read the full Minnesota Lawyer article.