Pro Bono services are defined as:
"Pro Bono Publico" means providing or assisting to provide quality legal services in order to enhance access to justice for persons of limited means; charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the legal needs of persons with limited means; or individuals, groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights.
Community Service is defined as:
“Community Service” is defined as volunteer activities that would not meet the definition of pro bono, as adopted by the delegates in Resolution 99F-4 and is further defined as unpaid services that are volunteered by individuals to benefit an organization, community, or its institutions that are provided through the direction of a non-profit organization as defined under the Internal Revenue Code. The definition focuses on volunteer services that improve the quality of life for community residents, or to solve particular problems related to their needs.
Opportunities
Fourth Judicial District Ethics Committee
Volunteer as an investigator with the 4th District Ethics Committee (DEC). The purpose of the 4th DEC is to investigate ethics complaints against attorneys who have their primary practice in Hennepin County. The 4th DEC meets on alternating Wednesdays at 8:00am, meetings typically run 1-2 hours. You are not expected to attend every meeting. The Committee hears investigators’ reports, discusses them, and recommends to the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility whether or not discipline is warranted. Investigators receive approximately two investigations per year; all investigations are due 90 days after their assignment. We ask that people commit to at least one year on the Committee. Applicants must work, attend school, or reside in Hennepin County. Individuals of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All professional/educational backgrounds are welcome; no prior legal training is necessary. New investigators must attend a training session (held at the HCBA, approximately 2.5 hours long) before receiving their first investigation. For further information and to download an application, please visit https://hcba.site-ym.com/page/Professionalism.
Got Golf? Parkers Lake Golf Center - Customer Service Volunteer: Assist with cashiering and customer service at the Parkers Lake Golf Center. Golf center volunteers are allowed one free bucket of balls to hit on the driving range, every time they volunteer. Shifts available: Location: 1050 Vicksburg Lane, Plymouth, MN 55447 – adjacent to the Adult Corrections Facility's campus Wills For Heroes http://www.mnbar.org/about-msba/related-organizations/wills-for-heroes#.WncgnbpFzIU This project is designed to provide free legal services to prepare estate planning documents for Minnesota first responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, etc.). Watch.org Become a Volunteer or Intern with WATCH. Making the Criminal Justice System more effective and responsive in handling cases of violence against women and children. Click here for more information. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ellen at ellen@watchmn.org or visit their website. Volunteer Lawyers Network VLN is a volunteer based nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low income persons with legal clinics focusing on Family Law, Housing and General Civil, Conciliation, and Immigration Law. Hennepin County Guardian ad Litem Program Hennepin County has training available to become a Guardian ad Litem. For more information on training courses and the Hennepin County Program or visit their website at Hennepin County Guardian ad Litem. Ramsey County Guardian ad Litem Program Ramsey County has training available to become a Guardian ad Litem. For more information on training courses and the Ramsey County Program visit their website at Ramsey County Gaurdian ad Litem. Victim Services Crisis Line Advocates - Dodge, Filmore, Olmsted Counties
| MN LAWYERS PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BOARD The MN Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board invites members of the Minnesota Paralegal Association to serve on local District Ethics Committees. These Committees are charged with investigating complaints of lawyer alleged unprofessional conduct and submitting reports and recommendations about those complaints. This is a great opportunity to contribute to your community, to help safeguard high ethical standards for Minnesota attorneys, and to help ensure the integrity of the judicial system. Candidates should have an interest in justice, the law, and/or legal procedures. Candidates do not need to be lawyers or to work in the legal profession to qualify – members of the Minnesota Paralegal Association, including students, are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates must also be comfortable investigating claims thoroughly and impartially (which will include interviewing people by phone and in person), be able to adhere to strict confidentiality rules, be comfortable working under deadlines, and be able to write clearly and concisely. Training and support are provided. District Ethics Committee volunteers are appointed to a three-year term and can expect to investigate one to two complaints a year. The time commitment is flexible and varies. There are 21 District Ethics Committees throughout Minnesota. Candidates will be appointed by the District Bar Association in their area. If you are interested, please submit your resume to the Volunteer Coordinator Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility Hennepin County Family Court Services (FCS) Volunteer with the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation Current openings: Counselor Aide to assist Family Court Services staff with a variety of functions, such as, responding to busy phone lines, assisting with in-person intakes, and navigating families through the court system adding a touch of care and empathy to the complexities of the divorce and custody process. Wednesday, Thursday (full day or half a day 8:30-4:30) and Friday mornings at the Justice Center, 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis MN 55401. Contact: Tatiana.Przytula@hennepin.us; 612-348-6893 LegalCORPS Seeks Spanish Speaking Volunteers LegalCORPS is a non-profit organization with a roster of 500 volunteer business law attorneys who help Minnesota’s low-income entrepreneurs get the legal advice they need for their businesses at no cost. LegalCORPS and the Latino Economic Development Center have partnered on a monthly business legal advice clinic which is held every 3rd Tuesday of the month for 2 hours in the evening at the East Side Enterprise Center in St. Paul. They are searching for Spanish speakers, both attorneys and interpreters for English speaking attorneys to volunteer at the clinic. Bilingual, Spanish-speaking paralegals would be ideal for this position given their knowledge of the legal field and their ability to translate legal language from English to Spanish. If interested, please contact LegalCORPS’ Entrepreneurs of Color Program Development Coordinator, Louis Enriquez-Sarano at lsarano@legalcorps.org or 612.278.6347. |
Do you want to add a new pro bono or community service opportunities?
Email probono@mnparalegals.org