Let’s Talk Legal! Legal Services of Northwest MN (LSNM) Brings “The Legal Table” and Virtual Legal Clinics to the Community
Legal Services of Northwest MN (LSNM) is harnessing the power of technology to connect with the local community, and beyond, through two new innovative services: The Legal Table and Virtual Legal Clinics.
Crystal Jamerson, community engagement & outreach coordinator for LSNM, launched The Legal Table virtual series earlier this year as a way to bring legal experts and community advocates together around a topic while inviting the public to “sit down” from the comfort of their home or office and join them. The hour-long “table” discussion includes brief presentations about the law, available community resources, and an opportunity to ask questions. The new series features panelists from LSNM’s 22 county service area, and presentations so far have included eviction law, fair housing, and disability benefits. The next installment on Tuesday, May 21 at 12:00 p.m., will tackle parenting rights in Minnesota with a focus on custody laws, available resources, and how to locate the proper information and documents needed. Register for upcoming events here.
For self-represented parties struggling to find a local legal clinic to help with court forms, LSNM has also launched a new Virtual Self-Help Legal Clinic. The online clinic is held every third Tuesday of the month from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Zoom and offers convenience and guidance accessible from anywhere. At the monthly clinic, participants get free help completing court forms for pro se civil cases such as divorce, custody, expungement, debt collection, conciliation court, eviction, protection orders, and more. There are no asset or income eligibility requirements so anyone can use the service and no appointment is necessary. Self-represented litigants who need help with a court form can register here for future clinic dates.
"Our new virtual programs for 2024 have significantly expanded our reach into our rural communities. It's exciting to see an increasing number of participants from the hardest-to-serve parts of our service area. I hope we can maintain this momentum throughout the year and continue to support more community members and organizations virtually," Jamerson said.