New State Board of Civil Legal Aid to Launch Next Summer
A new and invigorating era for civil legal aid in Minnesota will begin next summer. During the 2024 state legislative session, Minnesota Statutes 480.24 et seq were amended to create the State Board of Civil Legal Aid, an independent Judicial Branch agency responsible for the management of the civil legal services general fund appropriation. Effective July 1, 2025, the new State Board of Civil Legal Aid will join the State Board of Public Defense as an access-to-justice institution for those unable to afford private attorney representation in Minnesota.
Currently, and for the past four decades, the Minnesota Supreme Court has supervised legislative funds passed through the Judicial Branch to civil legal aid organizations through the Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC), which reviews and awards grant funding. The new board is charged with ensuring access to high-quality civil legal services in every Minnesota county by carrying out the following duties as outlined in the new statute:
(1) approving and recommending to the Legislature a budget for the board and the civil legal services grants distributed subject to section 480.242;
(2) establishing procedures for distribution of funding under section 480.242; and
(3) establishing civil program standards, administrative policies, or procedures necessary to ensure quality advocacy for persons unable to afford private counsel. Minn. Stat. §480.2415, subd.2(b) (2024).
The Board of Civil Legal Aid will consist of 11 members, five to be appointed by the governor and six by the Supreme Court. According to the statute, “All candidates shall have demonstrated a commitment in maintaining high-quality civil legal services to people of low or moderate means. The appointing entities shall seek board members who reflect the diverse populations served by civil legal aid through attorney and non-attorney members.” Active judges and those “closely affiliated” with a grant applicant are not eligible.
The members of the inaugural State Board of Civil Legal Aid will play a pivotal role in the future of civil legal services in Minnesota. Applications to serve are currently being accepted through January 3, 2025, on the Secretary of State’s Boards and Commissions website. Read more in Bench and Bar of Minnesota.