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Jennifer Eichten, MSBA Pro Bono Development Director
Minnesota Professional Responsibility Rule 6.1 states, "A lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year."
Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) advances the pro bono ethic by engaging law students in pro bono work during law school so that they will continue to do such work after they graduate. MJF brings law students from the classroom to the community. MJF is a volunteer-driven organization founded by and for law students with a record of assisting low-income Minnesotans to gain access to legal advice and representation. Each law student is encouraged to perform at least 50 hours of law-related volunteer service during law school. One University of St. Thomas Law School student, Christina Davenport, has logged over 1,000 hours of law-related service. That's right, over 1,000 hours working for free, while law school debt continues to accumulate. When asked what motivates her, Davenport responded, "Pro Bono work should be about serving the community. Volunteering, for me, is serving my community."
As a first-year law student Davenport served her law school community by organizing the first Criminal Law Association at St. Thomas. She also served the larger community by participating in MJF's Street Law, a program designed to teach at-risk youth about legal rights and responsibilities. During her second and third year, Davenport participated in UST's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
More relevant to her future career goals though, was the time she volunteered at the U.S. District Attorney's office during the summer and fall of 2007. Davenport said the most significant moment came while she was researching terrorism policy. During the research process two terrorism related cases arose. "I saw, firsthand, the connection between policy and actual cases," she said.
View moreresources in the Civil Law Practice Area. Click on other practice areas to access other resources.
PRO BONO NEWS Some Stories Behind the Boost in Law Firm Pro Bono Efforts Last year, Laura Martella was looking for ways to help out Interval House, a non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence. She learned about the organization through its annual fundraising event and wanted to volunteer to answer its crisis hotline.
Important Information for Advocates Working with Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Recipients A settlement agreement which will end the Social Security Administration’s policy of denying or suspending benefits based on the mere existence of an outstanding arrest warrant was preliminarily approved by a federal judge in Oakland, CA earlier this week. Your clients stand to benefit immensely from this settlement. Approximately 80,000 beneficiaries are eligible for over $500 million in withheld benefits. Please help us get the word out and be on the lookout for potential class members.
Minnesota Legal Services Coalition launches legal resource for local Somalis A new online resource is available for Somali-speaking Minnesotans with civil legal issues. SomaliLawHelp.org is a library of information about the legal rights and responsibilities of low-income Minnesotans, and includes contact information for free and low-cost legal services providers throughout the state. Website users can find answers to their questions about divorce, custody, immigration, eviction, bankruptcy, small claims court, public assistance, and much more.
Sept. 18th: Overview Of Chapters 7 & 13 Consumer Bankruptcy & Select Business Bankruptcy Issues From The Creditor's Perspective Learn some basics about bankruptcy, to help advise your clients who are considering whether to file, or clients who find themselves as creditors in business bankruptcies. Consumer bankruptcy overview will include Chapters 7 & 13. Business bankruptcy issues will include reclamation rights/claims available to sellers of goods; assumption and rejection of unexpired commercial real estate leases; preferences and fraudulent transfers (the most common bankruptcy trustee avoidance actions); and set-off rights of creditors. Presented by: Ramsey County Bar Association
Sept. 27th: Family Law Series: Child Support (Webcast) The legislature has passed a major revision of the Child Support Guideline laws that went into effect in 2007. This Minnesota CLE Webcast will be an overview of the new child support laws. The program will cover how to calculate support and modify a support order, how custody affects child support, changes with the new income shares legislation along with an update as to how the courts have been using and interpreting the new child support law. Presented by: Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Sept. 28th: Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in Minnesota
This all day event will feature judges, legal-aid attorneys and members of the private bar. Topics to be covered include: Foreclosed Residential Rental Properties; Housing Rights for Domestic Violence Victims; A View from the Bench; Statutory and Case Law Changes; Fair Housing Fundamentals and more. Presented by: Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Oct. 7th – 9th: Statewide Conference - Taking a Stand Against Poverty The Minnesota Legal Services Coalition's bi-annual state conference brings together legal services and pro bono providers across the state for CLE, entertainment, and networking. The conference takes place at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria. The year, the conference features 9 hours of CLE, social activities, an awards banquet, the music of Sublevel 6, and special guest presenters Peter Edelman, Julia Dinsmore, and Craig Ball. Presented by: Minnesota Legal Services Coalition
Week of October 25th: Pro Bono Week CLE and topics include: Family Law Clinic in Rochester, Ethical Issues in Representation of Pro Bono Clients, CLE Pro Bono in a Down Economy: Challenges and Barriers, Minnesota Justice Foundation 27th Annual Award Celebration Dinner and much, much more. Presented by: A variety of organizations
View the full calendar of pro bono eventsand training opportunities.
OTHER NOTES
ProJusticeMN.org Usage on the Rise! ProJusticeMN.org saw a 23% increase in site usage from the first half of 2008 to the first half of 2009. Thank you for utilization ProJusticeMN.org on behalf of Minnesota’s low-income. And please let us know what we can do to make the site even better.
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