Training and CLE
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Better Know a Program: SMRLS' Social Worker Program
This session introduces SMRLS' innovative Social Worker Program, designed to address the complex needs of low-income clients through a holistic, multidisciplinary approach. Attendees will learn why the program was created, how social workers collaborate with attorneys, and the program’s impact on client outcomes. Discover how integrating social work into legal services can improve advocacy and promote long-term client stability.
Better Know A Program: Minnesota Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative
This training introduces participants to the Minnesota Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative. The Initiative is a robust response to the emergent legal needs of Minnesota nonprofits as they navigate a broad and shifting federal legal landscape. This partnership between the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and LegalCORPS helps to reduce the high-cost barriers of legal support and features a Nonprofit Legal Help Desk, a Legal Resource Library, and Compliance Support. Attendees will learn how and why the Initiative was created, how attorneys can engage with the Initiative, and the types of support provided to nonprofits. Presenters will share recent examples of nonprofits that have benefitted from the Initiative, as well as LegalCORPS' other programs. This training is ideal for legal professionals interested in engaging with nonprofits that are being impacted by increased scrutiny, evolving compliance requirements, contractual challenges, and the many executive actions that impact funding, operations, and advocacy work.
2025 Statewide Intake Mini Conference: Opening Doors - Strengthening the Work and Wellness of Intake Staff
Legal Services State Support is excited to announce a statewide mini conference: Opening Doors: Strengthening the Work and Wellness of Intake Staff. This one-day conference will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the offices of Fredrikson & Byron in downtown Minneapolis, MN.
2025 Policy Review: Key State and Federal Policy Changes Affecting Legal Aid Clients
The 2025 Minnesota legislative session brought new policy changes that will impact Legal Aid clients statewide. Congress has made deep cuts in funding for services affecting Legal Aid clients. This CLE will provide an overview of what passed in the 2025 Minnesota Legislature and will also discuss the impacts of the federal cuts, with a focus on how these new laws will affect low-income individuals and families. Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP) attorneys, who provide Legal Aid’s policy advocacy, will highlight the changes and answer questions. Join us to stay up to date on the latest policy developments and prepare for changes in client advocacy and service delivery.
Cultivating Resilience: Mindfulness for Legal Aid and Client Service Professionals
Attorneys working in client-focused areas face constant stress: demanding caseloads, exposure to trauma, systemic pressures, and difficult ethical decisions. These challenges can take a real toll on well-being while also affecting professional competence, decision-making, and ethical responsibilities.
This session introduces mindfulness as a practical tool to build resilience and manage stress. Participants will learn how stress impacts the brain, explore accessible practices such as mindful breathing and movement, and consider how mindfulness can support sleep, empathy, boundaries, and overall health. Resources for attorney well-being, including services from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Minnesota, will also be highlighted.
Justice North Litigation Training: Early-Stage Motion Practice in Family Law Cases
Motion practice in the early stages of family law cases can greatly impact the trajectory of litigation and the ultimate result of a case. This program will address initiating and responding to early-stage motion practice in family law cases, specifically discussing substantive content and strategy considerations for ex parte, emergency, priority, and temporary motions.
State Support and VLN Present: Legal Tools for Families at Risk of Deportation
This CLE will focus on potential actions that people who are at risk of deportation may wish to take to try to mitigate the disruption to their lives and the lives of family members remaining in Minnesota in the event of detention or deportation. We will not address immigration legal issues but rather will focus on the myriad other legal issues that someone might encounter as a collateral consequence of being taken into detention or deported. We will explore issues that people at risk of deportation may want to consider before they are taken into detention or deported. The CLE will cover an introduction to delegations of parental authority and power of attorney forms, as well as cover topics such as what might happen to someone's rental unit, personal property, unpaid debts, and automobiles in the event that they are taken into detention or deported.
Meeting Clients Where They Are: Professional and Compassionate Legal Advice Online
In this training, volunteer attorneys will learn how to effectively respond to legal questions submitted through online legal advice platforms. The session will focus on real-world examples, demonstrating how to craft clear, thorough, and helpful answers—even when questions seem vague, incomplete, or unanswerable.
VLN Core Training: Eviction 201
If you have been volunteering in Housing Court for a while or are just starting, this training will help you spot and work effectively on issues for the benefit of your clients. We will explain defenses to eviction actions for non-payment, breach, and holdover. We will go over the requirements to properly start an eviction action, how to read a ledger, the Fritz defense, shared meter issues, and domestic violence lease terminations.
Finding Your Wellness Whys
Why do we struggle to stick with wellness goals? This engaging session explores the deeper motivations behind our wellness intentions using the “5 Whys” method. Participants will learn how to reframe wellness practices as meaningful opportunities—not just tasks on a to-do list—and gain practical tips for incorporating well-being into even the busiest schedules. For legal aid professionals and volunteers whose work often involves high stress and emotional intensity, caring for our own well-being is essential to sustainably serving others. Discover how aligning your wellness efforts with your core values can lead to lasting, positive change.
SMRLS Litigation Training: The Ethics of Working with Pro Se Parties
Dealing with a pro se opposing party is very common in legal aid practice. It can be tricky for attorneys to ethically navigate dealing with a pro se opposing party in case communications, negotiations, and discovery disputes. When an opposing party is difficult to work with, it makes it even harder to navigate these situations. This training will provide an overview of the applicable rules of professional responsibility and best practices attorneys should follow when dealing with pro se opposing parties. It will also review several hypothetical scenarios common in legal aid practice and go over how attorneys could respond to such situations.
Innovating Injustice: How AI Harms Low-Income Communities
Artificial intelligence (AI), algorithms, and related technologies are used extensively by governments, employers, landlords, educators, and others to make key decisions about the lives of low-income people, usually with devastating consequences. This session will explore the ways AI is determining how low-income people work, live, learn, and survive--implicating substantive issue areas of benefits, employment, housing, education, domestic violence, and child welfare--and introduce ways advocates can identify and oppose them.
VLN Core Training: ID Document Corrections in Minnesota
Join VLN’s LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic for a CLE that will cover everything you need to know to help folks through name changes, gender marker corrections on ID documents, understand the current policy landscape, and correctly identify any the common legal issues that arise. The session will also cover an introduction to skills for trauma-informed lawyering, working with trans and BIPOC clients, and the risk management concerns around legal strategy in today’s landscape. At the end of the session, you will receive written reference materials to assist you in issue spotting and correctly advising clients with potential ID Document issues.
Please note: the views expressed by the panelists are entirely their own and do not express the views or opinions of their employers.
Better Know a Program: SMRLS' Agricultural Worker Project
In this training, you will gain valuable insights into the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services' Agricultural Worker Project - a critical initiative dedicated to supporting the unique legal needs of agricultural workers. This training will cover the program's case priorities, affirmative litigation efforts, and outreach strategies. Enhance your understanding of agricultural worker rights through discussion-based scenarios.
VLN Core Training: Introduction to Merit-Screening Criminal Expungement Cases
This introductory CLE will explain how you can volunteer through Volunteer Lawyers Network to advise clients regarding the basics of criminal records expungement in Minnesota, including the differences between statutory expungement, inherent authority expungement, and prosecutor-led expungement. This CLE will cover come crime-free waiting periods that former defendants are required to meet in order to be eligible for statutory expungement. The focus of this CLE will be on how Volunteer Lawyers Network operates our criminal expungement merit-screening services and how you can volunteer with VLN to help our clients!
Manufactured Housing 101
Manufactured housing provides a path to homeownership for many Minnesotans. Yet these transactions can result in many legal problems for manufactured housing renters and homeowners such as evictions, repossessions, habitability problems, and even consumer fraud. Luckily, the Housing Justice Center is a national expert in manufactured housing law and is partnering with Legal Aid to tell you all you need to know about representing Minnesotans living in these communities. Training participants will leave with a basic understanding of federal and state laws and advocacy tools to better serve our clients living in manufactured housing.
VLN and State Support Present: Chapter 7 Bankruptcies for Low-Income Clients, Part 2
Volunteer Lawyers Network and Legal Services State Support present a two-part webinar on Chapter 7 bankruptcies for low-income Minnesotans.
VLN and State Support Present: Chapter 7 Bankruptcies for Low-Income Clients, Part 1
Volunteer Lawyers Network and Legal Services State Support present a two-part webinar on Chapter 7 bankruptcies for low-income Minnesotans.
VLN Core Training: Conciliation Court Basics
This presentation will give you the knowledge to give advice to and represent clients in conciliation court. Topics include differences between conciliation court and district court, basic questions for all clients, and some example scenarios. Come learn how to navigate this unique venue within our court system.
Exploring the Complexities of Coerced Debt for Survivor Safety
Recent legislative changes in Minnesota provide remedies for survivors of coerced debt, but how do attorneys and support staff issue spot for coerced debt in a safe and meaningful way? This comprehensive training will provide attendees with a clear understanding of coerced debt, explore coerced debt within wide-ranging economic abuse and coercive control, and provide tools for assessing the harm caused by debt incurred through fraud or coercion. Through complex hypotheticals and discussions, participants will refine strategies for issue-spotting and explore key partnerships to enhance survivor safety.
VLN Core Training: Housing Court Basics
This CLE will provide an overview of volunteering in Housing Court and the legal framework for representing clients in typical cases in Housing Court and navigating through Zoom Court efficiently.
SMRLS Litigation Training: Trial Notebooks
This training provides a comprehensive guide to preparing trial notebooks, focusing on how to organize and present case materials for maximum efficiency in court. Attendees will learn the key components of both physical and digital trial notebooks, including the benefits and challenges of each format. The session will cover best practices for organizing exhibits, witness lists, and legal documents to ensure quick access and seamless courtroom use. Whether you prefer traditional binders or digital solutions, this training will help you streamline trial preparation and stay organized throughout litigation.
VLN Core Training: Immigration 101 and Post Election Updates
This training will cover immigration basics for non-immigration practitioners, how to identify clients who should be referred to an immigration attorney, updates in immigration law, policy and practice post-election, and how non-immigration attorneys can volunteer to do an immigration case with VLN.
VLN Core Training: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status - The First Step of Obtaining the Predicate Order
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a form of immigration relief for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned by a parent. SIJS provides a pathway to become lawful permanent residents. For a child to apply for SIJS, they first need to have a state court or “predicate” order. During this training, we will walk through obtaining a predicate order in different venues.
Installment Contracts in Housing
A lease is a lease... except when it’s not. While rent-to-own agreements, leases with option to purchase, and contracts for deed provide an alternative path to homeownership, these contracts also have high potential for predatory and illegal terms that can seriously harm our clients. Trainees will learn to differentiate between each kind of contract and learn key federal and state consumer protections along the way, including our new state laws governing contracts for deed. This knowledge is particularly useful for the housing practitioner defending evictions – part of the training will include workshopping a “lease” that is really an installment contract in disguise!
VLN and State Support Present: Working Successfully with your Bankruptcy Client
This training includes a panel of three bankruptcy attorneys who have track records of successfully working with low-income clients to effectively discharge their debts via a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. While the primary focus of the training will be on how getting the case off to a good start is essential to working successfully with your bankruptcy client, the panel will also share best practices for getting the case across the finish line and receiving a Discharge Order. Additionally, it will include a brief review of the state and federal exemptions available to protect a debtor's property in bankruptcy. This training is appropriate for volunteers who are interested in taking their first bankruptcy case or newer bankruptcy volunteers who are interested in honing their practice.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch’s New Hearing Framework
After nearly three years of hard work, the Minnesota Judicial Branch has formally approved a new, long-term hearing framework for district courts. This new hearing framework builds on all of the lessons learned and feedback received both during and after the pandemic. It aims to bring statewide consistency to how our district courts hold hearings in both criminal and non-criminal matters, while at the same time respecting the need for case-by-case discretion and providing focused local flexibility.
With the MJB’s new hearing framework going into effect on February 3rd, the objectives of this training are to review the framework and answer questions participants may have about the new framework and discuss practices that support remote hearing professionalism and decorum. Join us to learn how you can effectively prepare for these new changes and represent your clients remotely.
State Support and VLN Present: The Basics of your First Dissolution without Children
This “core” training will prepare volunteers to take their first full representation family law case from start to finish - a dissolution without children. This training covers the applicable rules and statutes, the procedure of the case from start to finish, and practical pointers such as what documents to file and what a trial looks like.
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention is AFSP’s flagship suicide prevention education program that covers the scope of this leading cause of death, what the research has found to be the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, and the strategies that prevent it. In 2024, this presentation was refreshed based on feedback from presenters, content experts, and people with lived experience, resulting in a more inclusive presentation and design with additional strategies and examples for how to have a conversation about suicide.
Legal Services Statewide Conference
See the full schedule for the 2024 Statewide Conference!
Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access and the Voting Rights Access Project
The Voting Rights Access Project (VRAP) is a program created by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid's Minnesota Disability Law Center to support the broader government initiative known as the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program. PAVA was established under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities can fully participate in the electoral process, including registering to vote, casting ballots, and accessing polling sites. This CLE will educate individuals regarding Voting Accessibility Rights and train participants to serve as volunteers (Accessibility Advocates) able to effectively evaluate polling precincts across Minnesota.
Better Know a Program: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)
State Support's long-running Better Know a Program series continues with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) and its Vetlaw Program.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on the Work of the AG’s Office and Access to Justice
Join Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison as he gives remarks about the work of the Attorney General’s office and access to justice.
On-Demand Training
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The 2025 Minnesota legislative session brought new policy changes that will impact Legal Aid clients statewide. Learn the latest policy developments and prepare for changes in client advocacy and service delivery.
The 2025 Minnesota legislative session brought new policy changes that will impact Legal Aid clients statewide. Congress has made deep cuts in funding for services affecting Legal Aid clients. This CLE will provide an overview of what passed in the 2025 Minnesota Legislature and will also discuss the impacts of the federal cuts, with a focus on how these new laws will affect low-income individuals and families. Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP) attorneys, who provide Legal Aid’s policy advocacy, will highlight the changes and answer questions. Join us to stay up to date on the latest policy developments and prepare for changes in client advocacy and service delivery.
Presenters:
Ron Elwood is the Supervising Attorney at the Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP), a statewide division of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. He supervises a small team of attorneys who advocate on behalf of Legal Aid’s clients at the State Capitol and before administrative agencies. Ron has been with LSAP and Legal Aid for 26 years, covering a wide range of issues including consumer law, landlord-tenant and housing law, energy and telecommunications law, health law, tax law, and family law. He has successfully developed and advocated for statutes protecting consumers, tenants, manufactured home park residents, agricultural and food processing workers, energy consumers, new Americans, taxpayers, and homeowners. Before joining Legal Aid in 1996, Ron worked in staff and management positions at the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and the New York State Public Service Commission; as a consultant on energy matters for the Minnesota State Legislature; and as a planner on housing and homelessness for the Ramsey County Human Services Department.
Ellen Smart is a staff attorney with the Legal Services Advocacy Project. She has been with LSAP since 2022 and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid since 2000. At the legislature, Ellen works closely with the Minnesota Disability Law Center to protect and expand the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities to live as independently as possible. She also focuses on unemployment insurance and how workers with multiple jobs and lower incomes have more difficulty accessing benefits. Prior to joining LSAP, Ellen was in the benefits unit and focused on MFIP family violence waivers, SSI cases, and unemployment law. While in the benefits unit, she taught the unemployment law clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School for four years.
Jessica Webster is a staff attorney with the Legal Services Advocacy Project. She has been with LSAP since 2006. At LSAP, Jess is focused on government benefits and public education law where she advocates for families, children, and seniors at the Minnesota Legislature and with several state agencies. Jess recently helped pave the way to end school lunch shaming practices statewide through universal school meals. She is also striving to and end out-of-school suspensions and in-school solitary confinements for all Minnesota children. Before joining LSAP, Jess worked on public interest issues related to poverty, affordable housing, public education, gender equity, HIV/AIDS, and environmental protection. Outside of LSAP, Jess tries to keep up on road and mountain bikes with her family. Her dog’s name is Senator Nola Biscuits.
Approved for: 1 standard MN On Demand CLE
Event Code: 534483
Expires: 9/15/2027
Training Materials: Handout, PowerPoint