This week marked the Minnesota Justice Foundation's (MJF) Annual Awards Celebration at the Campus Club in Minneapolis, and remotely. Every year since 1991, MJF has honored the work of public interest attorneys, private pro bono attorneys, advocates, and law students whose commitment to service shines as a beacon of hope and embodies the very best of our profession. This year, MJF welcomed keynote speaker Justice Margaret Chutich, who presented in a conversational format moderated by MJF board member Jacob Harris.
The 2023 award winner for Outstanding Service by a Direct Legal Service Attorney is Muria Kruger, Housing Program manager and resource attorney at Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN).
As the Housing Program manager, Muria oversees a staff of 5 and several hundred volunteers to coordinate volunteer legal services at housing court clinics in Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. VLN’s housing court clinic presence expanded from Hennepin County to include Anoka and Ramsey counties as a result of Muria’s work. Under her leadership, the housing program has increased both the number of services provided to pro bono clients and the level of service received. Any tenant with a housing court hearing in one of these counties who qualifies for legal services through VLN can talk with a pro bono lawyer at their first appearance hearing. In addition to providing eviction defense and rent escrow services at housing court, the Housing Program also provides full representation legal assistance to tenants needing help with eviction expungement or getting landlords to make repairs.
Muria has always been a public interest attorney at heart. She started participating in MJF even before law school and has volunteered with VLN and other organizations since graduating from law school. Right out of law school, she did antitrust and securities work at a small, private law firm and then served as the director of International and Graduate Programs at the University of Minnesota Law School for several years. Muria joined VLN’s staff in 2017 after having coordinated a community legal clinic just outside of downtown Minneapolis for over 8 years.
When she is not working, Muria loves to run, make her children practice their instruments, grow giant pumpkins and read to expand her mind.
Mary Kaczorek, housing unit supervisor and managing attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, noted that “Muria is great at developing and fostering relationships and partnerships among providers. She has a knack for taking big picture views and thinking creatively about ways programs can work together to provide the best client experience possible. She cares deeply about housing issues and manages to be a bold and zealous advocate who is somehow always polite and kind at the same time.”
MJF's other awards for outstanding service went to the following deserving individuals:
Law Student Award, Mitchell Hamline School of Law – Ryan Boevers
Law Student Award, University of Minnesota Law School – Perry Keziah
Law Student Award, University of St. Thomas School of Law – Noor Dastagir
Advocate Award – Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, Maslon LLP’s UPLIFT Legal Institute for Teens
Private Practice Lawyer Award – Erica Holzer, Maslon LLP