Come join MMLA staff attorney Doug Clark as he trains volunteer attorneys to interview, draft and file motions for, and represent tenants in housing court.

Many attorneys know that thousands of Minnesotans face eviction and homelessness every year. Some of these evictions result from the non-payment of rent, but a substantial number of these evictions arise due to retaliatory actions by a landlord, discrimination, harassment, and even error. Tenants willing to contest their evictions, or negotiate with landlords, often appear in court to tell their side of the story- yet, even if they win, these individuals STILL have an eviction on their record. Under MN law, evictions appear on a tenant's record as soon as the case is filed with court- whether the tenant wins the action, negotiates a settlement, or even if the landlord IMPROPERLY filed the action. It is only after the grant of an expungement that the eviction will disappear from a tenant's record.

At this training, interested potential volunteer attorneys will learn how to draft expungement motions, argue those motions in Hennepin County housing court, and effectively represent clients in Housing Eviction Expungement hearings. (Client workshop follows approximately 1 week after the training.)