About VLN
What We Do
Established in 1966, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Ltd. (VLN) is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides civil legal services to low-income Minnesotans through volunteer attorneys. VLN’s mission is to protect and promote the basic human needs of people in poverty through the power of legal volunteers.
VLN Makes Pro Bono Happen
VLN promotes access to justice by offering free legal advice, representation, education, and referrals to Minnesotans experiencing poverty. Our hundreds of trained volunteers work with thousands of clients each year, helping them navigate a complex legal system to protect their rights, their families, and their hard-earned income. As a result of our work, tenants avoid homelessness; families are reunited, and people can find better employment. We partner with myriad local and national organizations dedicated to fighting poverty and protecting the rights of marginalized people, including immigrants, refugees, the LGBTQ+ community, people experiencing homelessness, the working poor, tenants, single parents, and more.
Potential clients connect with VLN through various channels, including calling our intake line, filling out our online intake form, or participating in one of our community legal clinics. Our dedicated staff evaluates each potential client’s case, income, assets, and household size to determine the level of service, if any, that we can offer. Depending on their legal issue and income, qualifying clients are matched with an attorney who can provide advice, answer questions, fill out paperwork, make phone calls or write letters on their behalf, help them prepare for trial, represent them in court, and provide other services.
Volunteers start working with VLN either through their employer’s pro bono coordinator or directly. Volunteer opportunities include meeting clients during a regular clinic shift, offering phone advice, taking on full representation cases, or providing mentorship to fellow volunteers, among other specialized opportunities. Volunteers receive free trainings in substantive legal topics and soft skills such as working with clients experiencing poverty. Volunteers also receive free professional liability insurance coverage for VLN cases, CLE credits for pro bono work, invitations to social events, waived license fees for retired attorneys, and many more benefits.
Annual Reports
You can view our most recent annual report below. For previous annual reports, please email the Development and Events Manager.
Board of Directors
Anne Haaland
Chair
Henson & Efron, P.A.
Jade Johnson
Vice-chair/Treasurer
Gapen, Johnson, & Larson LLC
Mardell Pressler
Secretary
Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney
Esther Agbaje
Public Health Law Center
Joy Roepelle Anderson
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Amanda Decker Barnhouse
Thomson Reuters
Matt Bazzano
Wells Fargo
Hon. Kristien Butler
Office of Administrative Hearings
Jon Bye
Ballard Spahr LLP
Mark Carter
Carter Legal Services, P.A.
Dan Dvorak
Huntington National Bank
Paul Fling
Fox Rothschild LLP
Autumn Gear
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Peter Goss
Pentair
Lindsey Hanson
Robins Kaplan LLP
Hon. JaPaul Harris
2nd Judicial District
Cynthia Hegarty
Winthrop & Weinstein, P.A.
Karl Johnson
Taft, Stenninius & Holster, LLP
Ron Lundquist
Roger Maldonado
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (Ret.)
Kwame Osafo-Addo
Kwame’s Law Firm
Thomas Powell
Mardell Pressler
Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney
Norm Pentelovitch
3M Legal Affairs
Dennis Ryan
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (Ret.)
Hon. Christian Sande
4th Judicial District
Michael L. Skoglund
Cargill, Incorporated
Shawn Sorrell
Hennepin County MN
Kiri Somermeyer
University of Minnesota Law School
Mike Stinson
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Peter Stiteler
Strategic Education
Tom Tinkham
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Jake Vandelist
Target Corp
Karen Yashar
RBC Global Asset Management
Julian Zebot
Maslon LLP
Alysia Zens
Dorsey & Whitney LLP