Central MN Legal Services Volunteer Attorney Program/Western Area
- To Volunteer, Contact:
- Location:
302 SW 5th St., #201Willmar, MN 56201
- Map: maps.google.com
- Phone: 320/235-7662; 800/622-4011
- Fax: 320/235-9496
- Email: jrking@centralmnlegalwlm.org
The Central Minnesota Legal Services Volunteer Attorney Program-Western area covers Big Stone, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, Renville, Swift, Yellow Medicine, and Wright counties. Attorneys agree to represent clients who are financially eligible for the local legal services program but are outside the program priorities or who represent a conflict of interest for those offices. The biggest need for representation is in the family law area; however, wills, housing law cases, debt collection, and other consumer problems are also referred. The program provides malpractice coverage for VAP cases, one full-day free CLEs a year in Willmar (both live and video), other CLEs in the Twin Cities, and a program newsletter. Written material is also available, as well as the option to get information from legal service staff on various poverty law issues. Some clerical support is also available. Volunteers take as many cases per year as they feel comfortable taking. Law students may volunteer to do writing and research projects.
- Location of Volunteer Opportunity: Big Stone, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, Renville, Swift, Wright, Yellow Medicine
- Area of law: Consumer, Family & Juvenile, Housing, Wills, Guardianship, Powers of Attorney, Step parent adoption
- Populations Served: Low Income, persons who meet the CMLS financial and problem eligible guidelines
- Projects For: Lawyers, Mentors
- Need for non-English services: Somali, Spanish
- Hours for Pro Bono Opportunities: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
- Malpractice Insurance for Volunteer Lawyers: Yes
- Training Provided: No
- Training Required: No
- CLE credit for trainings: No
- CLE credit for pro bono: Yes
- CLE pro bono comments: Varies- The program usually provides at least six CLE credits a year.
- Mentoring or supervision offered: No
- Volunteer lawyers need to meet a caseload or hours requirement: No
- Volunteers may participate long-distance: No
