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.

LegalCORPS Debuts New and Improved Online Experience

LegalCORPS, legal assistance for entrepreneurs and small business owners with low-incomes, debuted its new website in mid-December 2023 offering an improved experience to visitors. After a yearlong process lead by Sarah Lewis, small business and nonprofit programs manager, and with the expertise of pro bono partner SKOL Marketing, LegalCORPS is excited to have a fresh and more navigable website that helps make business law more accessible.

In addition to a range of updated information, the new site makes it easier for both clients (entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and inventors) and supporters (community partners, volunteers, and donors) to access other useful resources. A new contact form will allow LegalCORPS to better serve clients, and the new site has already seen an uptick in requests for assistance since its introduction.

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.

New State Laws Give More Protections to Minnesota Tenants

Effective January 1, 2024, tenants in Minnesota now have new protections and rights thanks to laws passed during 2023’s historic legislative session. Statewide legal aid offices, and partner program HOME Line, are gearing up to help tenants understand and utilize their new rights. These provisions and regulations impact evictions, disclosure of fees, heat, emergency repairs, inspections, privacy, leases, pets, and more.

Mike Vraa, managing attorney of HOME Line, said the new laws represent "the most substantial change in Minnesota tenant/landlord law in a single session of the Legislature in the 165-year history of the state." Read more.

Minnesota Lawyer Spotlights Award Winning Attorney Mary Kaczorek

This summer, Mary Kaczorek was honored by the Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA) with its 2023 Excellence Award for Improving Access to Justice. The award was in recognition of Kaczorek’s outstanding leadership of the housing unit at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) during the height of the pandemic, as well as her legislative advocacy for remote court hearings and eviction reform.

This fall, Kaczorek transitioned to MMLA’s consumer unit and will turn her attention to the prevention of home foreclosures on Minnesotans who’ve lost home equity in scams or are dealing with predatory financing terms.

In its Breaking the Ice series, Minnesota Lawyer gets to know one of legal aid’s most passionate advocates a little better. Read Breaking the Ice: Housing advocacy brings award, gratitude.