September Tip of the Month-Criminal Expungement in Minnesota-A Step-by-Step Guide for Pro Se Petitioners
VLN Staff Directory
Tip of the Month August 2016 – VLN Staff Directory
Case Handling Protocols
To fulfill ethical requirements and best practices for avoiding malpractice claims, attorneys need systems for organizing the essential procedural parts of their services. While many different lists may be adequate, below is a list approved by VLN’s ethics advisor, Pat Burns (First Assistant Director, Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility) and VLN’s malpractice carrier. It also incorporates some steps that can be helpful when representing clients from poverty.
July Tip of the Month-Case Handling Protocols
CLE Credit for Pro Bono
Did you know that you can report one CLE credit for every six hours of pro bono work you do through VLN? Every three-year reporting cycle, you can claim up to six credits this way.
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June Tip of the Month –CLE Credit for Pro Bono
Immigration: Status of the 11/20/2014 Executive Orders
This month’s tip summarizes the status of last year’s executive actions impacting undocumented immigrants. Read more >>
Submitted by: Colleen Beebe and Gabriela Brunner, Co-Managing Attorneys, Spanish Legal Services, Volunteer Layers NetworkDownload the Tip of the Month:
September Tip of the Month –Immigration: Status of the 11/20/2014 Executive Orders
Notary Requirements for Court Documents
Effective July 1, 2015, most documents filed with the Minnesota Judicial Branch will no longer require a notarized signature. As a result of the changes to the statute and court rules, most documents signed by clients represented by VLN volunteers no longer need to be notarized. Read more >>
Submitted by: Tom Walsh, Resource AttorneyDownload the Tip of the Month:
August Tip of the Month –Notary Requirements for Court Documents
The Impact of Race on Pro Bono Services
Understanding the racial disparities that exist in our state provides critical context when working with pro bono clients. This article provides this background, as well as practical suggestions for lawyers in addressing this inherent subtext in providing pro bono services. Read more >>
Submitted by: Martha Delaney, Deputy DirectorDownload the Tip of the Month:
July Tip of the Month –The Impact of Race on Pro Bono Services
Introduction to Financial Coaching
May’s Tip of the Month focuses on financial coaching and how it can help VLN clients build a stable financial foundation for their future. This tip introduces what financial coaching is, how it can help low-income families, and how to refer clients to this new program. Read more >>
Submitted by: Don Fulton, Financial CoachDownload the Tip of the Month:
May Tip of the Month –Introduction to Financial Coaching
Vacating Default Judgments in Hennepin County Conciliation Court
Volunteer attorneys who do not normally practice in Conciliation Court may be unaware that there are two different processes for vacating default judgments entered in Hennepin County Conciliation Court, depending on the amount of time that has passed since entry of the default judgment. This month’s tip provides step-by-step suggestions for how to draft motions to vacate default judgments for each process.. Read more >>
Submitted by: Glen Drew, VLN Resource AttorneyDownload the Tip of the Month:
As more legal services clinics are co-located at social services agencies and schools, there are also greater opportunities for social workers and attorneys to collaborate to meet their client’s goals. While there are concerns raised with such collaborations, there are also tremendous benefits: for the client, the attorney and the social worker. January’s Tip of the Month focuses on the benefits of such collaborations and provides specific examples of when such collaborations are particularly helpful. This tip also identifies limitations and potential pitfalls of such collaborations and how they might be overcome. Read more >> February Tip of the Month –Attorney – Social Worker Collaborations
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January Tip of the Month – Attorney/Social Worker Collaboration