Pro bono spotlight: Machen and Danny Bihrle

The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid provides free legal advice and representation for people with disabilities statewide. Married lawyers Machen and Danny Bihrle are volunteers with the MDLC’s special education clinic, where they advocate for children to receive appropriate educational services. (Danny is a senior associate at Fredrikson & Byron, where he focuses his practice on labor and employment law; Machen is senior attorney and chief litigation counsel at Graco Inc.) 

Despite their busy schedules balancing work and family, the Bihrles prioritize pro bono work. “Making time for pro bono is not always easy,” Danny avers, “but it reflects the values I was raised with and the kind of attorney and person I strive to be.” 

Volunteering with MDLC allows Machen to help clients tell their own story. “Regardless of the ultimate result, win or lose,” she notes, “there is value in using your skills to help somebody else feel like they have a voice. Also, drafting and filing a special education complaint doesn’t have to be a huge time investment, but it can make a big impact for the affected student and their family.” 

Danny’s background in secondary education informs his understanding of the systemic barriers families face in accessing support. This perspective drives his work representing clients in the Minnesota Department of Education complaint process. He says, “These experiences have shown me that, despite its complexity and burdens, the legal system often represents the best and sometimes only opportunity for people to assert and uphold their rights. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of advocacy and the need to make legal support accessible to those who need it most.”