Minnesota Paralegal Association upcoming events

From Chaos to Clarity: Mastering Discovery Review in Criminal Defense (April 28, 2026)

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: From Chaos to Clarity: Mastering Discovery Review in Criminal Defense

Join a practical, hands-on session designed to help criminal defense professionals transform overwhelming discovery into clear, actionable defense strategy. Attendees will learn how to organize and review discovery efficiently, how to develop defense theories by applying statutory and case law to the facts, and how to summarize findings into usable attorney work product. See how legal tech and AI tools can be leveraged to manage documents, audio/video files, and workflows that drive better case outcomes.

This is part one of a 3-part Criminal Law CLE series.

Speaker: Corrin Swintosky

Corrin Swintosky, a freelance criminal paralegal and owner of Lucid Legal Support, provides freelance paralegal services to solo and small criminal defense firms nationwide. With over 5 years of versatile criminal legal experience in probation, court operations, and public defense, she consults law firms on the best defense theories, trial strategies, and training for criminal defense teams.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15 (or register for all three for $40 - contact the MPA office for special bundle pricing!)

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by April 27, 2026.

Sponsored by: Litigation Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stefanie Lee at Stefanie.L.MPA@gmail.com.

Spring is Here - MPA St. Paul Saints Baseball Game (April 30, 2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:37:00 GMT

Spring is here - MPA Saints Baseball Game April 30th

The Minnesota Paralegal Association is celebrating spring with a St. Paul Saints baseball game. This event is free for MPA members. Guests are welcome. Bring your family and friends.

When: Thursday, April 30, 2026 @ 6:37pm

Where: CHS Field, Section 114

Game Details: St. Paul Saints vs. Iowa Cubs

Cost: Free to members and non-members, and up to two guests!

Seats are limited! Sign up now to secure your tickets!

Please RSVP by April 23, 2026.

Attendees will need to download the MiLB App to receive and access their tickets. More details will be provided to attendees in advance of the game.

*Guests are limited to two (2) per attendee

Intersections with Immigration: What Individuals Working in Family Law Should Know (May 04, 2026)

Mon, 04 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: Intersections with Immigration: What Individuals Working in Family Law Should Know

The presentation is about the intersection of basic family law and basic immigration law. We cover a variety of topics, including different statuses and the effect those statuses can have on people's ability to divorce and obtain financial support. We speak about a variety of topics related to marriages and adoptions involving people outside the United States. Finally, we discussed some practical tips for working with immigrant clients.

Speakers: Eva Rodelius and Kathleen Korniyenko

Eva Rodelius is a founding member of Caso Law. Eva served as an assistant city prosecutor in both Hennepin and Anoka counties before joining a metro firm focused on the immigrant community. Fluent in Spanish, Eva is practiced in representing Spanish speaking clients and helping clients navigate the criminal and family justice systems. Eva also served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Lawrence R. Johnson, Judge of Minnesota District Court.

Eva earned her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School with an emphasis in criminal law. Eva’s focus in law school was obtaining practical skills. Eva served as a supervising student attorney for both the William E. McGee Civil Rights Moot Court and the Civil Practice Clinic. Throughout her second and third years of law school, Eva worked as a certified student attorney for the 10th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office in both Anoka and Sherburn counties.

Eva graduated from Bethel University summa cum laude with a double major in Spanish and Philosophy. While in college, she worked as a teaching assistant in the modern world languages department, the philosophy department, and the liberal arts department. Eva studied abroad in Spain.

Eva serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota Law School where she teaches the Criminal Prosecution Clinic.

When not at work, you will find her with her husband and two small children.

Kathleen Korniyenko is a founding member of Caso Law. After a brief time practicing immigration law, she has dedicated her career to representing clients in family cases. Katheen has represented countless clients in divorce, custody, paternity and adoption cases. Prior to starting Caso Law, Kathleen worked as an attorney for a small firm in Minneapolis that largely catered to immigrants throughout Minnesota. Fluent in Spanish, many of Kathleen's cases involve an immigration or cultural aspect that can present unique challenges to resolve. Kathleen received her Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law, summa cum laude, where she participated in the Rosalie Wahl Moot Court, the Journal of Law and Practice, and was co-chair of the student chapter of the Minnesota Justice Foundation. Kathleen volunteered extensively during law school with the Volunteer Lawyers Network and received an AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works summer fellowship to help provide legal services to Spanish-speaking MN residents.

Prior to law school, Kathleen lived and worked for two years in Buenos Aires, Argentina, teaching English to Spanish-speakers. A graduate of Macalester College, cum laude, with a double major in Spanish and English, Kathleen also studied abroad in Argentina and frequently volunteered with English as a second language programs.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by May 3, 2026.

Sponsored by: Family Law Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Bean at amandab@hllawfirm.com.

Beyond the Power of Attorney & Health Care Directive: When Guardianship and Conservatorship Step In (May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: Beyond the Power of Attorney & Health Care Directive: When Guardianship and Conservatorship Step In

When an individual can no longer manage their own personal care or finances, and their estate plan fails or there is none, Minnesota law offers a structured path to protect them through guardianship and conservatorship—two distinct but complementary court-supervised arrangements governed by Chapter 524 of the Minnesota Statutes. This legal education course will offer you the basics of guardianship/conservatorship and provide you the tools you need to know to support the attorneys and clients you work with.

Speaker: Jessica Timmington Lindstrom, Esq.

Jessica Timmington Lindstrom is a shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. with a practice dedicated in elder law, estate planning, trust and estate administration, special needs, and fiduciary litigation. She graduated from Hamline Law School as a weekend law student in 2013 and has been practicing in the elder law space her entire career. Jessica is the current acting president of the Minnesota Association for Guardianship and Conservatorship, a position she has held since 2024. Jessica has been named a “Super Lawyer – Rising Star” in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. She has also been named, in 2026, as a Top Lawyer by Minnesota Monthly. Jessica is active in both the MSBA Elder Law Section and the MSBA Trust/Estate Litigation Committee, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is a regular speaker at Minnesota CLE. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family, showing her horses, and tending to her small zoo in her small St. Paul home.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by May 12, 2026.

Sponsored by: Probate & Tax Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Andrea MacLean at Andrea.MacLean@bravlaw.com.

2026 MPA Annual Convention (May 15, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

The Minnesota Paralegal Association’s Annual Convention returns this year on Friday, May 15, 2026!

Where:

Hamline University

1536 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104

When: 7:30am - 4:45pm

What to Expect:

CLE Sessions
Keynote Speakers
Workshops
Prizes & Swag
Vendors & Exhibitors

Full schedule and session details, as well as registration options are available to view on the Annual Convention page.

Early-Bird Registration Deadline: April 17, 2026 (5:00pm)

Registration Deadline: May 5, 2026

Registration Option	Half-Day Price	Full-Day Price
Member	$75.00 ($67.50)*	$125.00 ($112.50)*
Non-Member	$100.00 ($90.00)*	$175.00 ($157.50)*
Student	$50.00 ($45.00)*	$50.00 ($45.00)*

*EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL: Register by April 17th to receive 10% off your registration fee!

Cancellation Policy: Written notice must be received via email or mail by May 1 to receive a 15% refund. Late cancellations received May 2 or after will not be refunded.

CLE Notice: MPA will be applying for CLE credits through NFPA® for each keynote and breakout session that qualifies. A full day attendee can expect to earn up to 5 CLE credits, including 1 Ethics credit and 2 DEI credit. CLE certificates will be emailed post-event to each person requesting a CLE certificate. To request a CLE certificate, you will need to note down the code words given at the start and end of each presentation, and then submit those code words via the online CLE Request Form after the event.

Recorded Sessions: Some CLE sessions will be recorded for on-demand purchase post-event. Some CLE sessions will be presented live during the Annual Convention only.

Annual Convention Charity Fundraiser

In conjunction with the 2026 Annual Convention, Minnesota Paralegal Association has chosen Coco's Heart Dog Rescue as this year's charity fundraiser. Click for more information and to donate!

Exhibitors, Sponsors, & Advertisers...

Thank You For Your Support!

Whether exhibiting, sponsoring activities, advertising, or donating swag or door prizes, we extend a sincere 'Thank You!' for your continued support of MPA and the paralegal profession.

Adams & Martin Group

ALAMN

ArcherHall

Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala, P.A.

ARTRA Customs

Beacon Hill Legal

Capitol Lien

Coco's Heart Dog Rescue

Cogency Global

CSC

Expert Paralegal LLC

Exterro

Hamline University

Heimerl & Lammers

Kinney & Lange, P.A.

Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers

Lighthouse eDiscovery

Magna Legal Services

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Morae

NAEGELI Deposition and Trial

Nicolet Law

North Hennepin Community College

Onit, Inc.

OurFamilyWizard

Planet Depos

R & D Investigations

Robert Half

Securian Financial

Thomson Reuters

TransPerfect Legal

Veritext

Worldwide Litigation Services

Interested in Exhibiting/Sponsoring/Advertising? Click Here.

Preparing for Trial: Paralegal Strategies (May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: Preparing for Trial: Paralegal Strategies

This practical and litigation-focused presentation provides family law paralegals with the tools, systems, and strategies necessary to effectively prepare a case for trial. From exhibit organization and witness coordination to financial summaries and trial notebook creation, attendees will learn how to streamline trial preparation, anticipate evidentiary challenges, and support attorneys in presenting a clear and persuasive case.

The session will cover best practices for organizing complex financial documentation, preparing exhibit lists and subpoenas, coordinating courtroom logistics, and creating user-friendly summaries that judges appreciate. Emphasis will be placed on proactive planning, strategic organization, and avoiding common trial pitfalls.

Ideal for paralegals and legal support professionals involved in trial preparation, this presentation focuses on elevating efficiency, reducing last-minute stress, and strengthening the overall trial presentation.

Speakers: Jennifer Heinen, Michelle Swenson, and Amanda Bean

Jennifer Heinen: Jen is an experienced family law paralegal and supports the Henschel Moberg team of attorneys in a variety of needs and situations, including trial preparation and discovery support. She has extensive experience with and understanding of complex dissolution related financial and property issues, as well as custody and parenting time issues. Jen’s attention to detail, keen understanding of difficult legal issues, and eagerness to learn about new areas, make her an asset to any case. Jen also has experience working on International Family law issues. In 2012, Jen received the Distinguished Service Award from the International Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys.

Michelle Swenson: With over 20 years of experience in family law, she is dedicated to providing clients with compassionate and dependable support. Her role involves assisting attorneys and clients through all phases of family law matters, including marriage dissolution, child custody, paternity, and related issues. She focuses on making challenging processes more manageable by bringing organization and a calm, practical approach to each case.

As a member of Henson Efron’s family law team, her responsibilities include drafting motions, affidavits, and other pleadings; managing discovery preparation and review; and preparing detailed financial analyses, including income summaries, budgets, and property division spreadsheets. She also assists with mediation preparation, business and asset valuations, and coordination with experts for custody and psychological evaluations. Additionally, she handles trial and appellate preparation, ensuring all aspects of a case are managed thoroughly and efficiently.

She is passionate about treating clients with respect and providing non-judgmental support throughout their legal journey. By fostering trust and maintaining careful attention to detail, she helps clients feel informed and supported as they navigate significant life transitions.

Amanda Bean: Amanda is a family, juvenile, and adoption law paralegal with Heimerl and Lammers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bringing over 20 years of experience in the legal profession. In addition to managing day-to-day tasks, Amanda assists with any ‘fires’ that arise for those in need and always puts her organizational skills to use for the clients and her team. Amanda’s attention to detail, genuine compassion for clients, and extensive knowledge in the legal field are just a few of the qualities that clients routinely compliment her on.

Amanda enjoys interacting with clients and assisting them through all steps of the legal process. She takes pleasure in being there for clients in their time of need by discussing procedures in plain language and ensuring they know what to expect as their process unfolds. Amanda is involved in all aspects of a case from beginning to end, which allows clients to feel comfortable with her and confident in the guidance she provides.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by May 21, 2026.

Sponsored by: Family Law Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Bean at amandab@hllawfirm.com.

Pretrial Investigations, Trial Logistics, and Everything in Between Criminal Defense Cases (May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: Pretrial Investigations, Trial Logistics, and Everything in Between Criminal Defense Cases

Turn discovery red flags into strong legal arguments and seamless trial preparation. Learn how to conduct targeted legal research based on discovery issues, and translate that research into effective motions, briefs, and pretrial strategies. The session walks through end to end trial prep while tracking issues in real time during hearings and trial. Explore how legal tech and cloud based systems can streamline research, document management, exhibit control, and trial support for more effective advocacy.

This is part two of a 3-part Criminal Law CLE series.

Speaker: Corrin Swintosky

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by May 26, 2026.

Sponsored by: Litigation Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stefanie Lee at Stefanie.L.MPA@gmail.com.

Unlocking Opportunities: The Modern Movement for Criminal Record Reform (June 23, 2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: Unlocking Opportunities: The Modern Movement for Criminal Record Reform

Sharpen your client-centered approach with a session focused on demystifying criminal records and expanding access to second chances. Learn the critical differences between arrests, charges, and convictions, and how criminal records impact employment, housing, and education. The session provides a practical overview of Minnesota record relief options. Grounded in a trauma informed lens, this presentation also explores how poverty, systemic pressure, and lived experience shape client outcomes and advocacy strategies.

This is part three of a 3-part Criminal Law CLE series.

Speaker: Corrin Swintosky

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by June 22, 2026.

Sponsored by: Litigation Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stefanie Lee at Stefanie.L.MPA@gmail.com.