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.

Better Know a Program: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V)

Last summer, State Support began a monthly webinar series to share more about the work of legal services organizations statewide. The aim of the series is to foster connections and referrals between programs by taking a closer look at each program’s work.

On June 11, 2020, the series featured Sara Sommarstrom, director of the Vetlaw program at Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V). MAC-V’s mission is to end veteran homelessness in Minnesota. Here are excerpts from that conversation.

How did MAC-V get started and how does the Vetlaw program fit in?
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans started in January 1990 as a small housing program with some transitional housing at the Minneapolis VA Campus. It is now a statewide program with three main components: housing, employment and legal. The housing program can pay rent, utilities, mortgages or even buy a veteran a cord of wood in order to prevent homelessness. 2011 was the first year MAC-V got a grant that included legal services. Essentially, we do poverty law for veterans. The issues our clients face are very similar to those seen by other legal aid providers.

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CMLS and Hennepin County Establish Full-time Position at Domestic Abuse Service Center

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For the past year, lawyers from Central Minnesota Regional Legal Services (CMLS) have provided free legal advice and representation to those seeking orders for protection on three days each week at the Hennepin County Family Justice Center. By meeting with domestic violence victims on the day of their court hearing, CMLS attorneys are able to provide vital support that can make a profound difference.

Beginning in March, funding for a full-time attorney position will allow CMLS and the county attorney’s office to provide wrap-around services to victims and their families on an expanded basis from the current project.  With a lawyer based in the Domestic Abuse Service Center, much more time can be spent at the beginning of the legal process, which according to Lilo Schluender, supervising attorney with CMLS, “…can have a huge impact on whether a victim is going to be believed and get the protection they need.”