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LASNEM celebrates its 70th anniversary!


Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota was founded in 1952 as Legal Aid of Duluth. It was the first known organized civil legal assistance program in Minnesota. There have been many changes over the years, and LASNEM is now celebrating 70 years! We serve 11 counties with five regional offices.



Bill Maxwell Retires from LASNEM

Since 1995, LASNEM Staff Attorney, Bill Maxwell, has worked tirelessly to provide critical legal representation to people in our region. After a 26 year career working for LASNEM, Bill has made the decision to retire. We are grateful for Bill's dedication and service to our clients and our community, and wish him the very best in his retirement and future endeavors!

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How long have you worked for LASNEM?

I started August 14, 1995.


What is your job role?

Staff Attorney


What is the most rewarding / your favorite part of your job?

Being able to help someone with an issue that brought them to Legal Aid in the first place--knowing they are better off because of my involvement.


How do you spend your time outside of work?

Playing music.


If you could have dinner with any person dead or alive, who would it be and why?

William Shakespeare--I would ask him to talk about his creative process and his education, experiences that contributed to his vast and varied poems.

2021 LASNEM Staff Highlights

The highlight of 2021 was the ability to do distance learning in the first part of 2021 and keep my job. Without the ability to flex time, I believe that I would have had to choose between my kids and my job. I know how privileged I am to have been able to do both, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the empathy shown from a nonprofit that cares for its people as well as for its clients, as LASNEM does.


-- Kris Parendo, Managing Attorney of Duluth Office



When COVID hit, our attorneys started appearing at all eviction hearings to represent tenants who are at risk of losing their homes. I forget just how stressed out our clients can be and sometimes making a phone call may just be too much. They may be uncertain if we can help them and sometimes, the fear of being turned down again is just too much when they are in an eviction situation. By appearing at all eviction hearings and giving at least advice to people, it has turned out to be a life saver for so many people facing evictions.


-- Mary Russom, Paralegal



My highlight of 2021 was helping with Give to the Max Day MN in November. It was fun to work alongside different employees at LASNEM to make the fundraiser happen and to see the generous response of community members. We had the most successful Give to the Max Day to date and it was rewarding to see our hard work pay off!


-- Megan O'Brien, Community Outreach Specialist

Minnesota Legal Kiosk Project

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Legal kiosks are computers located across the state of Minnesota that provide access to legal aid services to individuals without access to wi-fi or technology. These Legal Kiosks are stationed in a variety of community locations offering the public the ability to apply for civil legal aid services, access legal resources, and, in some cases, attend online meetings and remote court hearings in privacy.

Find a Legal Kiosk

LASNEM in the News

  • Public defenders and legal aid attorneys plead for funding boost amid rising demand - Minnesota Reformer
  • Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota Welcomes New Staff Attorney, Laurie Bauerly - Duluth News Tribune
  • Providing Access to Justice Through Technology in Rural Communities - Equal Justice Works
  • New Staff Attorney, Elizabeth A. Polling, joins the Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota team - Duluth News Tribune

About Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota

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LASNEM is a non-profit law firm that seeks to open the doors of the justice system to the most vulnerable in our community. Our staff provide legal representation to low-income individuals in civil legal matters that impact their security, safety, and well-being. We have offices located in Brainerd, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Pine City, and Virginia. LASNEM’s service area encompasses Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis Counties. To learn more about us, visit us at LASNEM.org or call us at (800) 933-1112.

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