Free legal advice and basic services on a variety of civil issues including immigration, housing, and debt collection

Provides legal services including: - Creditor problems and harassment by bill collectors - Contract-for-Deed issues - Custody and visitation issues - Divorce - Evictions - Family issues - Fuel assistance - Garnishment - Housing code violations - Landlord-tenant issues including leases, evictions, denials of subsidized housing, fair housing, repair issues, etc. - Mortgage foreclosures - Representation for General Assistance, MFIP, Food Benefits, and Medical Assistance - Unemployment compensation - Utilities - Supplemental Security Income Legal Clinics: Virtual advice regarding Bankruptcy, Family Law, and Social Security is available Home visits may be possible Legal Aid does not handle adoption, paternity, or wills, but special circumstance cases are considered Assistance may involve representation, advice, or referral. The demand for services is high and Legal Aid is unable to handle all requests for assistance. There are established case priorities and, in some instances, waiting lists have become necessary to allocate services. Advice appointments may occur in person, on the phone, electronically, at clinics, or outreach.

A joint project of Legal Aid Society, HOME Line and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. Provides legal advice for tenants whose landlords are going through foreclosure and may be facing eviction. Can also provide legal representation to the tenants in court regarding the foreclosure and possible eviction.

Provides legal advice and/or representation in cases involving: - Denial of relocation benefits based on government displacement and non-return of security deposits - Discrimination - Eviction (Unlawful Detainer) - Illegal lockouts and utility terminations by landlords - Maintenance and repairs in rental housing - Mortgage foreclosures and cancellations of contracts for deed - Public and subsidized housing admissions and terminations

Provides legal assistance in criminal matters from petty misdemeanors to felonies, as well as many areas of civil law. Civil Law - General - Collections - Commitment - Expungement - Garnishment - General Assistance - Housing - Landlord/Tenant - Name Change - Native American Enrollment - Public Assistance - SSI - Unemployment - Unlawful Detainer ? Civil Law - Family - Child Support - CHIPS - Custody - Dissolution - Guardianship - Harassment - Long Term Foster Care - Orders for Protection - Paternity - Termination of Parental Rights - Visitation

Provides legal services including: - Creditor problems and harassment by bill collectors - Contract-for-Deed issues - Custody and visitation issues - Divorce - Evictions - Family issues - Fuel assistance - Garnishment - Housing code violations - Landlord-tenant issues including leases, evictions, denials of subsidized housing, fair housing, repair issues, etc. - Mortgage foreclosures - Representation for General Assistance, MFIP, Food Benefits, and Medical Assistance - Unemployment compensation - Utilities - Supplemental Security Income Legal Clinics: Virtual advice regarding Bankruptcy, Family Law, and Social Security is available Home visits may be possible Legal Aid does not handle adoption, paternity, or wills, but special circumstance cases are considered Assistance may involve representation, advice, or referral. The demand for services is high and Legal Aid is unable to handle all requests for assistance. There are established case priorities and, in some instances, waiting lists have become necessary to allocate services. Advice appointments may occur in person, on the phone, electronically, at clinics, or outreach.

Volunteer attorneys spend between 15 - 30 minutes per client providing legal advice and/or brief services and assistance in preparing forms on conciliation court claims up to $15,000. Attorneys can usually complete and print the conciliation court claim form and can help prepare for a hearing, draft demand letters, and prepare a counterclaim or cross-claim related to an existing conciliation court case. Conciliation court issues could include: - Back rent owed - Damage to property - Defective goods - Defective workmanship - Property recovery - Security deposits - Unpaid wage claims Note: Individuals receive free legal advice or brief services, not representation, from an attorney. The attorneys are volunteers and may have emergencies that may require them to cancel at the last minute.

Provides free legal advice and referrals on most civil legal issues, including: - Criminal expungement - Employment law - Family law (custody related to divorce) - Landlord/tenant - Legal Kiosk: Provides a private room with a computer and secure password login for use by youth to maintain court dates, appointments with the county, and other legal appointments. Must reserve the legal kiosk room. Volunteer Lawyers Network attorneys may or may not specialize in a given area but should be able to point clients towards resources if they are unable to offer assistance in a client's particular need.

Private attorneys agree to take cases for clients who have been screened through the intake process and either need representation in a matter that is not an area of Legal Assistance of Olmsted County's expertise, or where there is a conflict of interest. Areas of available legal assistance may include: - Consumer/financial law - Elder law/wills - Employment law - Family law - Guardianship/conservatorship law - Immigration law - Landlord/tenant housing law - Property/real estate law

Attorney representation on public benefit issues may include: - Cash Assistance: For families, single adults, people with disabilities - Child Care Assistance Program - Disqualification from work under Background Study Act - Emergency Assistance: Situations of utility shut-offs, unpaid rent, eviction - Expungement of past criminal record (limited situations) - Food Stamps (SNAP) - Garnishment of your paycheck or bank account - Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Diversionary Work Program (DWP) - Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, MNsure - Revocation of Child Care License - Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Situations of denial or termination - Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Situations of denial or termination - Unemployment Insurance

Consultation with attorney in regard to tenant/landlord issues. Depending on the circumstances, the attorney may provide legal advice only, brief service or extended court representation.

Administers legal programs and services through offices in Anoka, Minneapolis, Saint Cloud, and Wilmar. Helps eligible clients through direct representation, brief advice, and through participating in community legal education programs and clinics. Services include: - Family law - Housing issues - Public benefits - Employment - Criminal expungement - Consumer dept Does not provide representation in CRIMINAL law matters

Individuals representing themselves in Scott County Housing or Conciliation Court who need help filling out paperwork or preparing required forms are able to meet with a volunteer attorney (2 are available) for a 20-minute consultation to get questions answered. First come, first-served clinic.

Deals only with civil law issues, does not cover criminal law: - Attorneys will only advise on wills and do not draw them up - High priority for seniors with "consumer questions" since so many seniors are victims of consumer fraud Topics include: - Housing - Medical assistance - Powers of attorney - Healthcare directives - Harassing creditor phone calls - Garnishments - Long-term care - Income and benefits issues

Protective and Legal Services: - Temporary Restraining Order filing office - Issues warrants, subpoenas, and executions on judgments - Performs civil marriage ceremonies Court and Legal Information: - Landlord/tenant information - Law Library - Pro-se forms for self-representation - Information on other legal issues Coordination of Court Activities: - Coordination of public defender - Jury selection - Coordinates and schedules court's calendars - The department is responsible for processing and calendaring of Civil, Family/Probate, Criminal/Traffic, Juvenile, and Conciliation (small claims) cases through the court system. Court calendars reflect scheduled courtroom hearings, but they do not include all matters handled by the court each day. Confidential cases are not posted in this calendar, so if the case does not appear on the calendar, do not assume that court appearance has been cancelled or rescheduled. Fees and Filing: - Collection and receipt of fees, bonds and escrow funds - Notary Public - Files Notary Public registration - Wills - Minister credentials Licenses and Records: - Divorce/custody records - Other legal records

Attorneys from Volunteer Lawyers Network spend about 15 - 30 minutes per client providing legal advice and/or brief services including: - Debt and credit issues/bankruptcy - Consumer issues - Housing including tenant/landlord - General civil issues - divorce, child support, child custody - Labor and employment Please note that persons receive free legal advice, not representation, from an attorney. The attorneys are volunteers and may have emergencies that may require them to cancel at the last minute.

Assists agricultural workers with employment-related legal issues and improving the working and living conditions of agricultural workers. Cases that are generally accepted: - Employer-provided housing concerns - Employment discrimination and retaliation - H-2A contract violations - Labor trafficking - Limited public benefits assistance - Problems during the recruitment process - Wage theft - Workplace health and safety violations

Provides free civil and criminal legal services to enrolled Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members. services available: - Answer questions - Go to court - Notary services - Provide legal services - Resolve cases on behalf of clients Program does not accept all cases and may deny services based on criteria of the case and the client. Cases accepted: - Child Protection (CHIPS) - Consumer law and debt collection - Criminal law - Domestic abuse - Elder law (health care directives, powers of attorney, estate planning, probate, guardianships, grandchild adoption/guardianship/custody, Indian trust land/accounts) - Estate planning - Family law (divorce and custody/visitation) - Housing - Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - Juvenile delinquency - Probate - Public benefits (denial or termination of benefits such as Social Security) - Truancy cases Cannot accept cases such as: - 1st or 2nd degree drug possession - Bankruptcy - Commitments - Criminal or civil cases outside of the service area - Drug sales - Employment discrimination - Federal court cases - Personal injury - Suing other band members for money damages - Worker's compensation - Wrongful termination

Provides legal advice and/or representation in cases involving: - Denial of relocation benefits based on government displacement and non-return of security deposits - Discrimination - Eviction (Unlawful Detainer) - Illegal lockouts and utility terminations by landlords - Maintenance and repairs in rental housing - Mortgage foreclosures and cancellations of contracts for deed - Public and subsidized housing admissions and terminations

Attorney representation on public benefit issues may include: - Cash Assistance: For families, single adults, people with disabilities - Child Care Assistance Program - Disqualification from work under Background Study Act - Emergency Assistance: Situations of utility shut-offs, unpaid rent, eviction - Expungement of past criminal record (limited situations) - Food Stamps (SNAP) - Garnishment of your paycheck or bank account - Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Diversionary Work Program (DWP) - Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, MNsure - Revocation of Child Care License - Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Situations of denial or termination - Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Situations of denial or termination - Unemployment Insurance

Administers legal programs and services through offices in Anoka, Minneapolis, Saint Cloud, and Wilmar. Helps eligible clients through direct representation, brief advice, and through participating in community legal education programs and clinics. Services include: - Family law - Housing issues - Public benefits - Employment - Criminal expungement - Consumer dept Does not provide representation in CRIMINAL law matters

Provides legal advice and/or representation in cases involving: - Denial of relocation benefits based on government displacement and non-return of security deposits - Discrimination - Eviction (Unlawful Detainer) - Illegal lockouts and utility terminations by landlords - Maintenance and repairs in rental housing - Mortgage foreclosures and cancellations of contracts for deed - Public and subsidized housing admissions and terminations

Full representation on housing cases in Hennepin County court. Referral required from the Housing Court Project clinic or Legal Aid. Issues include: - Evictions - Lockouts - Non-emergency repair problems - Section 8 Housing and Public Housing terminations - Utility shut-offs

- Monthly CLE available to members of the Minnesota and Wisconsin State Bar - Internet access including Wi-Fi access - Photocopier and fax machine - Provides access to legal resources including statutes, legislative materials, court rules, court forms, WestLaw, regulations, ordinances, self-help materials, forms, case law, legal treatises, and encyclopedias Legal Clinic Services Civil Law Clinic: Automobile title transfer; conciliation court; consumer issues; creditor/debtor issues; default judgment, housing; housing eviction; eviction expungement; judgment collection Criminal Law Clinic: Traffic tickets, criminal process, criminal expungement, and DANCO orders Family Law Clinic: Child custody, child support, domestic abuse, marriage dissolution, name change, paternity issues, and spousal maintenance

Pre-eviction service to help divert nonpayment of rent, breach of lease and failure to vacate cases from the courtroom. Tenants have access to the services available through the Eviction Prevention Program without having to go to court, including legal advice, mediation/negotiation, and financial counseling and assistance.