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Volunteer Attorney Program
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- What is the Volunteer Attorney Program?
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. (SMRLS) does not have enough attorneys to handle all of the cases of everyone who is financially eligible for our services. This means we must turn down some people who who need an attorney but cannot afford an attorney. We set up the Volunteer Attorney Program to help at least some of those we must turn down. Through this program, we refer cases to local attorneys in private practice who agree to handle a limited number of cases for free each year.
- Will SMRLS find a volunteer attorney for me?
- If you are financially eligible and you are referred to our Volunteer Attorney Program, our Volunteer Attorney Coordinator will try to find a volunteer attorney to assist you. However, sometimes we are unable to find an attorney for you. If that happens, it will be up to you to get your own attorney.
- How long will it take to find a volunteer attorney for me?
- It may take several months to find a volunteer attorney to handle your case if we can even find an attorney for you.
- Will I have to pay SMRLS or the volunteer attorney if I participate in the Volunteer Attorney Program?
- No, SMRLS no longer charges a fee for the Volunteer Attorney Program.
- How do I ask for a volunteer attorney?
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Call our intake number at 1-888-575-2954 if you reside in southeast or southwest Minnesota; or call (651) 222-4731 if you live in Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott or Washington counties.
- Self Help Divorce Clinics
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It is also possible to qualify to attend one of our "self help" divorce clinics held in different locations in southeastern and southwestern Minnesota. To attend a divorce clinic, your divorce must be uncontested (you and your spouse are in agreement on all issues in the divorce) or it is unlikely that your spouse will even respond to the divorce papers. You must own no real estate other than your home and have no siginificant assets including pensions and retirement savings.
In this process, you are not represented by an attorney but are representing yourself. Private attorneys attend the divorce clinicis to explain the legal process and answer your questions. You are assisted in the completion of the divorce forms, service of the documents upon your spouse, and filing the papers with the court.
To be screened for eligibility to attend a divorce clinic, please call out intake line at 1-888-575-2954.
- Where can I get more information about the Volunteer Attorney Program?
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SMRLS 2010 Volunteer Attorney Plan
SMRLS 2010 Rural Volunteer Attorney Plan
SMRLS 2010 Metro Volunteer Attorney Plan
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Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
