PR Rule 6.1 states, "A lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year."

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) has helped many attorneys aspire to; reach and meet; or go over the Pro Bono 5-0 mark annually for 100 years. SMRLS collaborates with different organizations to provide high level legal service to low income clients in civil matters.

One immigration/citizenship project involves SMRLS collaboration with Mayo Clinic in-house counsel in Rochester and attorneys at Briggs and Morgan, P.A. in Minneapolis.

Jessie Nicholson and Jennifer Stohl Powell from SMRLS matched the leadership of Mayo in-house counsel Jonathan Oviatt, Christopher Wendt, Jill Smith, Joanne Martin, Sherry Hubert and Kathy Meyerle together with the leadership of Briggs and Morgan attorneys John Degnan and Gabriela Reyes-Noyola.

"It's a win, win, win relationship between the three separate entities," said Briggs Shareholder John Degnan. "The collaboration makes the process more efficient for SMRLS, Mayo, Briggs and, most importantly, the client."

The process in the trifecta is:

First: Clients go to SMRLS;

Second: SMRLS clients from the Rochester area that are looking to gain U.S. citizenship are paired with an attorney from the area. One of several Pro Bono attorneys, from Mayo Clinic or one of the local Rochester, participating law firms, meets with the client to prepare and file all the necessary documentation with Unites States Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS). Several months later, the client receives an interview notice, and the Rochester Pro Bono Attorney meets with the client to prepare the client for the interview, and;

Third: There is a meeting or conference call from Rochester to Briggs and Morgan attorney Gabriela Reyes-Noyola so the client and she can discuss the case before they appear at the USCIS interview in Bloomington.

While the Briggs and Morgan participation in the program has just begun, so far all of the trifecta citizenship cases have been approved and every one of the clients has gained citizenship. The partnership between SMRLS, Mayo and the private bar has assisted over 100 individuals in the naturalization process.

"It's easy in this economy to withdraw into our bunkers," said Christopher Wendt. "However, we as the legal profession can step up, and need to step up, to the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and help our neighbors. Look at what lawyers did after 9/11 and Katrina. This economic crisis is no different and the legal community as a profession will earn its stripes."

Other private attorneys have stepped up to this particular partnership. The team players are JoMarie Morris and Anne Dennison from Klampe Law firm and John Beatty from Dunlap and Seeger.

The clients comprise of people from all over the world but the majority of clients are refugees from Somalia and Sudan.

"The SMRLS/Mayo/ Briggs collaboration represents a unique model for the delivery of legal services to those in need. This is a testimony to private bar's commitment to ensuring that those in need of civil legal services have meaningful access to our system of justice. And I couldn't be more pleased about how well the initiative is working, for SMRLS clients as well as the attorneys involved," observes Jessie Nicholson, SMRLS CEO.

If you want to volunteer or do pro bono work go to www.ProJusticeMN.org to access the MSBA Pro Bono Directory. You may also contact Jennifer Eichten, MSBA Pro Bono Development Director, at 612.278.6308/800.882.MSBA or jeichten@mnbar.org.