A Message from Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) provides free high quality legal assistance to low-income individuals in critical civil matters helping them to maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse. It is the oldest legal aid provider in Minnesota, founded in 1909 in St. Paul. There are 2900 eligible clients for every paid legal aid attorney in Minnesota. Thus, SMRLS relies on volunteers to help serve as many people as possible.

SMRLS currently has an urgent need for Ramsey County Housing Court Clinic volunteers to meet virtually with clients who are making their first appearances in Ramsey County Housing Court on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, and provide legal advice to them before they enter the virtual courtroom. Training is provided.

Other significant needs include attorneys to help clients with immigration cases (family reunification or naturalization) and full representation divorce cases involving domestic violence. There are many volunteer opportunities including brief service clinics like expungement, pro se divorce and wills clinics, and representing clients on individual cases such as tax, guardianship and other civil cases. If you are interested in volunteering at SMRLS please submit an application through our website or contact us at vap@smrls.com.