On February 8, 2024, outstanding individuals and teams were honored for their exemplary legal work by Minnesota Lawyer. The 2023 Attorney of the Year Awards were presented at the Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis, where the winners were celebrated for their contributions. Sharon Jones, executive director of Legal Assistance of Dakota County (LADC), was among those individuals recognized as an Attorney of the Year.

Katy Drahos, access to justice director at the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), spoke at a February 9th press conference about the Bar’s Consumer Debt Litigation Report alongside Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, legislators, and Minnesotans affected by the burden of unfair medical debt. The press conference was held to preview medical debt solution proposals, notably the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act discussed by AG Ellison.

To celebrate and honor the achievements and contributions African Americans have made in the United States, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) will recognize some of the extraordinary Black attorneys who have made an impact in Minnesota.

In the latest issue of Minnesota Medicine, the frustration, fear, and anger resulting from “Medicaid unwinding” is discussed with Ralonda Mason, supervising attorney at the Saint Cloud office of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA). Along with others, Mason explains the complicated process of eligibility determinations and the toll on clients who were mistakenly denied coverage.

Following a nationwide search that began in October, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Board of Directors has confirmed Milo Mumgaard as the organization’s pick to take the reins as executive director, effective Feb. 26.

Mumgaard, a native of Nebraska, will come to MMLA—the state’s largest nonprofit law firm—having helmed legal aid organizations in Nebraska and Arkansas.