For the first time in 33 years, Minnesota’s most vulnerable will see an increase in their Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefit. Minnesota was one of 3 states that hadn’t increased its cash assistance benefit to low-income families since 1986 (Oklahoma and Arizona being the others). The historic increase of $100 per month will take effect in February of next year, thanks in part to the long-standing efforts of Jessica Webster and the Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP), Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota, other community advocates and bipartisan state legislators. Read more.

As we enter the long-awaited summer months, State Support staff are working behind the scenes to prepare for this fall’s Legal Services Statewide Conference: Addressing Disparity: A Way Forward. The conference will be held Wednesday, October 23 to Friday, October 25, 2019 at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria, MN.

The conference will kick-off on Wednesday evening, October 23, with special guest Emily Baxter, founder and executive director of We Are All Criminals (WAAC), a non-profit organization and storytelling project about privilege and dignity, helping us think about criminality with more nuance, going beyond just good guys and bad guys by challenging perceptions of what it means to be “criminal.” Read more.

In a brief and insightful interview with Bench & Bar of Minnesota, Jessie Nicholson, chief executive officer of Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), talks about her decision to pursue a legal career and the youthful inspiration that still influences her today. Read Meet Jessie Nicholson: ‘Never forget where you came from.’

A recent Star Tribune article lauds the dedicated and exemplary work of Minnesota’s pro bono attorneys and explains the activism that led to its strength. Minnesota is leading the country with pro bono stewardship from firms like Faegre Baker Daniels — honored in May by the American Bar Association — Fredrikson & Byron and Dorsey & Whitney, to name a few. Read more.

Drew Schaffer, executive director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, recently participated in an experts forum on the quandary of how to address evictions and what is being done to prevent them. The panel discussion was convened last month by Minnesota Lawyer Magazine and along with Schaffer, the stakeholders included Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General, John Guthmann, Second Judicial District Judge, Brittany Lewis, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Colleen Ebinger, Family Housing Fund, and Joseph Abraham, Pergola Management. More information about each panelist, and their discussion, can be read at Minnesota Lawyer.

State Support held a training last month for legal services staff who work with intake and make referrals using the new LawHelpMN.org and it’s powerful LOON (Legal Services Online Network) database. One of the training components was a presentation by panelists from four of Minnesota’s newer legal services programs for people who aren’t financially eligible for traditional legal aid services or those needing service beyond the scope of legal aid. This one-hour segment was recorded and is now available as a free webinar for advocates wanting to familiarize themselves with these new programs. Read more and watch the webinar.

By Sherri Knuth, MSBA Access to Justice Director

A delegation of five Minnesota State Bar Association officers attended ABA Day in Washington D.C. to advocate for funding of Legal Services Corporation and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Despite the president’s call to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the delegation found strong bipartisan congressional support for LSC. In fact, this month an additional $15 million was allocated to LSC for disaster-related services.

Shown here with Representative Tom Emmer, a strong advocate for civil legal services, are MSBA President-Elect Tom Nelson, President Paul Godfrey, and Judge Cara Lee Neville.