ID Document Corrections in Minnesota
2025-10-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
This CLE is hosted by MSBA, with VLN volunteer CB Baga as a co-presenter and representative of VLN.
Celebrating Pro Bono Week, October 20 – 24, join MSBA for a week of free CLES presented by the MSBA Access to Justice Committee and in collaboration with the American Bar Association.
Presentation:
Join Volunteer Lawyers Network’s LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic for a CLE that will cover everything you need to know to help folks through name changes, gender marker corrections on ID documents, understand the current policy landscape, and correctly identify any the common legal issues that arise. The session will also cover an introduction to skills for trauma-informed lawyering, working with trans and BIPOC clients, and the risk management concerns around legal strategy in today’s landscape. Written reference materials are available to assist you in issue spotting and correctly advising clients with potential ID document issues.
Presenters/Panelists:
CB Baga, Public Interest & DEI Counsel | Maslon, LLP
Rocío Iglesias McKenzie, Senior Associate | Baker McKenzie
Jacqueline Brant, Attorney | Bowman and Brooke
Brandon St. Germaine, Suicide Prevention Specialist | Greater Twin Cities United Way
Ashley Pattain, Law Clerk for Referee Jenese Larmouth | Second Judicial District
CLE Credits: 1.0 Standard CLE Credit | Event Code: 538528
Registration Deadline: October 22, 2025. Click here to register!

Family Law CLE and Reception
2025-10-23 15:00 - 17:00 | City Center – Apex Room, City Center, Apex Room, 33 S 6th St SE, Apex Training Room, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
VLN’s Family Law CLE and Reception is to thank our family law volunteers for their service and commitment to pro-bono legal work! Join us for a CLE on grandparent rights, presented by Sarah Hewitt, followed by light refreshments and appetizers.
This event is October 23 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at City Center’s Apex Room, located on the street level of 33 S 6th St SE, Apex Training Room, Minneapolis, MN 55402.
Registration is required. Register by clicking here.

Drag Queen Charity Bingo
2025-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Roxy’s Cabaret, 1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, 55403
Join us for drinks, laughs, chowing down, and, of course, bingo, all while raising money towards access to justice in Minnesota. This bingo is hosted by Minneapolis drag queens Nina DiAngelo and Monica West at Roxy’s Cabaret.
Reservations are free and highly recommended! Reserve your seats by visiting the EventBrite page! $10 suggested donation per bingo card to play. Win fun prizes! Doors open at 6pm, and bingo starts at 7pm. Bring cash!
This event includes mature humor.

Volunteer Orientation
2025-10-28 12:00 - 12:45, 2025-11-13 08:00 - 08:45, 2025-11-25 12:00 - 12:45, 2025-12-11 08:00 - 08:45, 2026-01-08 08:00 - 08:45, 2026-01-27 12:00 - 12:45, 2026-02-12 08:00 - 08:45, 2026-02-24 12:00 - 12:45 and 2 more dates | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
VLN is asking all new volunteers to participate in a 45-minute zoom orientation. This engaging and informative presentation will cover the basics of volunteering with VLN, including our different volunteer opportunities, what support we provide to volunteers, and tips for making the most of your volunteer experience.
This training will be offered twice a month. Please sign up for the day and time that works best for you.
Registration is required. Click here to register.
For questions, contact Deputy Director Muria Kruger at muria.kruger@vlnmn.org or by phone at (612) 752-6647.

VLN Core Trainings: An Introduction to Pro Bono Administrative Law Cases at VLN
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Details: Do you practice administrative law or want to learn administrative law and also have an interest in doing pro bono work? Volunteer attorneys from Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) advise and represent low-income clients in administrative law matters. Volunteer Lawyers Network provides free legal services to individuals who have been disqualified from working at facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) due to negative information appearing on background checks. DHS background checks are required in jobs where workers have access to vulnerable populations such as daycare providers, foster care providers, in-home personal care attendants, and nursing assistants at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Learn how to advise clients who have been disqualified from employment by DHS regarding their rights and whether or not they have a valid reason to request reconsideration or argue that they do not pose a risk of harm to vulnerable individuals served by programs that DHS licenses. If you are interested in doing this type of pro bono administrative law case, then this CLE is for you.
Presenters: Glen Drew is an attorney and the director of legal programs at Volunteer Lawyers Network. Glen previously coordinated and managed VLN’s civil law and administrative law programs for over a decade. Prior to joining VLN, Glen was a volunteer in the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps.
Sebastian Ellefson is the Program Manager and Resource attorney for the Civil and Administrative Law Program at VLN. Before this, he was a Housing Project Attorney with VLN, the Principal Elections Researcher at BallotReady, and a Mortgage Foreclosure Case Manager for the Cook County Court System.
Location: Zoom.
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1slkd7VaTSGZAfoRDNAqlw#/
CLE: 1 Standard CLE Credit to be applied for

Fall 2025 Immigration CLE Series: The Ins and Outs of Asylum Immigration Appeals
2025-10-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Join the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) for one or more of this 8-week noon-hour immigration CLE series on Thursdays between October 2 and November 20.
The series covers topics immigration practitioners and advocates address when providing advice, a brief service or pro se assistance in a legal clinic setting. What do we need to know in the fast-changing immigration system environment to better screen and advise clients? What should we advise pro se applicants and respondents? How can we transmit this information in an ethical and meaningful way? Each session includes where and how to refer persons for free legal help and how to volunteer.

October 30 Description: The CLE presentation will cover what happens if the I-589, Withholding and/or CAT claim is denied affirmatively by USCIS and defensively in immigration court, deadlines to be aware of, what can be appealed and how, what needs to be covered in the EOIR-26, how to pay fees, how to advise pro se appellants, what comes after the EOIR-26 is filed, how to appeal reasonable and credible fear determinations, are asylum appeals different from other types of immigration appeals and how, etc.
October 30 Presenter: Maria Miller, Attorney, Martin Law

The series covers relevant topics for today and has a great roster of immigration presenters:

October 2, The Ins and Outs of Master Calendar Hearings and Notices to Appear, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group
October 9, The Ins and Outs of Administrative Closure and Terminating Cases in Immigration Court, Sam Verner, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
October 16, The Ins and Outs of Motions and ICE Check-ins, Kelsey Allen, Attorney, Davis Immigration Lawyers; Eric O’Denius, Freelance Paralegal, Hero Associates MN LLC
October 23, The Ins and Outs of Immigration Proceedings and Pro Se Respondents: Tips from the Bench, Ryan Wood, Principal Founding Partner, Emeriti Law PLLC, former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for the EOIR
October 30, The Ins and Outs of Asylum Immigration Appeals, Maria Miller, Attorney, Martin Law
November 6, The Ins and Outs of Voluntary Departure, Kelly Clark, Associate Attorney, Heinz Law PLLC
November 13, The Ins and Outs of Screening for Naturalization, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
November 20, The Ins and Outs of Screening for U, T and SIJS, Danielle Hendrickson, Managing Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; Camila Pacheco-Fores, Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ojSflZGRP6XOKMWZrkhAg
Questions: immigration@vlnmn.org
VLN will apply for 1.0 Standard CLE credit for each session.

November Housing Law Sidebar
2025-11-03 12:00 - 12:45 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
The Housing Law Sidebar is a time for VLN housing staff and volunteers to eat a (virtual) lunch together, learn about a housing topic, and socialize with one another. This is an informal event. There will be no power point presentations, but instead a brief explanation of a topic by a VLN staff member, followed by questions about the topic, discussion, and time for questions or discussion on any topics of interest. Volunteers are encouraged to share stories of their experiences with housing cases with one another and maybe learn a little! This is casual and for all our volunteers – brand new and experienced alike!

Join our November Housing Law Sidebar to learn more about the Rent Escrow process. This session will cover filing procedures, answer legal questions, and provide practical tips for presenting your case in court.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ytVmcwh1RiqsnQzWsnCung

Fall 2025 Immigration CLE Series: The Ins and Outs of Voluntary Departure
2025-11-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Join the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) for one or more of this 8-week noon-hour immigration CLE series on Thursdays between October 2 and November 20.
The series covers topics immigration practitioners and advocates address when providing advice, a brief service or pro se assistance in a legal clinic setting. What do we need to know in the fast-changing immigration system environment to better screen and advise clients? What should we advise pro se applicants and respondents? How can we transmit this information in an ethical and meaningful way? Each session includes where and how to refer persons for free legal help and how to volunteer.

November 6 Description: The CLE presentation will cover what is Voluntary Departure (VD), who qualifies, and when a request for Voluntary Departure may happen in the immigration process including: to whom and how to make that request, the pros and cons of requesting voluntary departure, explaining how the process plays out for a pro se client and what pro se clients need to know, next steps if VD is denied or approved, etc.
November 6 Presenter: Kelly Clark, Associate Attorney, Heinz Law PLLC

The series covers relevant topics for today and has a great roster of immigration presenters:

October 2, The Ins and Outs of Master Calendar Hearings and Notices to Appear, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group
October 9, The Ins and Outs of Administrative Closure and Terminating Cases in Immigration Court, Sam Verner, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
October 16, The Ins and Outs of Motions and ICE Check-ins, Kelsey Allen, Attorney, Davis Immigration Lawyers; Eric O’Denius, Freelance Paralegal, Hero Associates MN LLC
October 23, The Ins and Outs of Immigration Proceedings and Pro Se Respondents: Tips from the Bench, Ryan Wood, Principal Founding Partner, Emeriti Law PLLC, former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for the EOIR
October 30, The Ins and Outs of Asylum Immigration Appeals, Maria Miller, Attorney, Martin Law
November 6, The Ins and Outs of Voluntary Departure, Kelly Clark, Associate Attorney, Heinz Law PLLC
November 13, The Ins and Outs of Screening for Naturalization, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
November 20, The Ins and Outs of Screening for U, T and SIJS, Danielle Hendrickson, Managing Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; Camila Pacheco-Fores, Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ojSflZGRP6XOKMWZrkhAg
Questions: immigration@vlnmn.org
VLN will apply for 1.0 Standard CLE credit for each session.

VLN Core Trainings: Using Bankruptcy Software to Prepare Chapter 7 Filings
2025-11-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Details: This session provides an introduction to the use of bankruptcy preparation software in Chapter 7 case filings. We will walk participants through the practical steps of preparing a Chapter 7 petition and related schedules using a software platform commonly employed by legal aid providers and private practitioners in Minnesota.
The training includes a live demonstration using the Jubilee Bankruptcy software by Legal Pro. The demonstration will illustrate how bankruptcy software can assist with client data entry, form generation, and electronic filing preparation. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how such tools can improve accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with local filing requirements.
Presenter: Seville Drewfs started with The Honorable John C. Akard in 1980 as a word processor. In 1985, Akard went on the Bankruptcy Bench in Lubbock, Texas and took Seville along as his secretary. Seville has gone on to work for Chapter 13 Trustees in El Paso, Texas and in Seattle, Washington. She arrived at LegalPRO in August 2000 and has been there ever since. She supported the desktop program BankruptcyPRO and now is on the support staff for Jubilee.
Location: Zoom
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fUAO5ICgQOSjpzZLNlGTPw
CLE: 1 hour of Standard CLE credit to be applied for

Fall 2025 Immigration CLE Series: The Ins and Outs of Screening for Naturalization
2025-11-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Join the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) for one or more of this 8-week noon-hour immigration CLE series on Thursdays between October 2 and November 20.
The series covers topics immigration practitioners and advocates address when providing advice, a brief service or pro se assistance in a legal clinic setting. What do we need to know in the fast-changing immigration system environment to better screen and advise clients? What should we advise pro se applicants and respondents? How can we transmit this information in an ethical and meaningful way? Each session includes where and how to refer persons for free legal help and how to volunteer.

November 13 Description: The CLE presentation will cover what is important to cover when screening clients for naturalization and why careful screening is important. Topics include how to address the new policies and procedures being implementing regarding the naturalization process, what evidence to include to meet the new good moral character standard, 3/5-year LPR requirement, joint I-751/N400 cases, N648’s, and more.
November 13 Presenter: Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC

The series covers relevant topics for today and has a great roster of immigration presenters:

October 2, The Ins and Outs of Master Calendar Hearings and Notices to Appear, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group
October 9, The Ins and Outs of Administrative Closure and Terminating Cases in Immigration Court, Sam Verner, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
October 16, The Ins and Outs of Motions and ICE Check-ins, Kelsey Allen, Attorney, Davis Immigration Lawyers; Eric O’Denius, Freelance Paralegal, Hero Associates MN LLC
October 23, The Ins and Outs of Immigration Proceedings and Pro Se Respondents: Tips from the Bench, Ryan Wood, Principal Founding Partner, Emeriti Law PLLC, former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for the EOIR
October 30, The Ins and Outs of Asylum Immigration Appeals, Maria Miller, Attorney, Martin Law
November 6, The Ins and Outs of Voluntary Departure, Kelly Clark, Associate Attorney, Heinz Law PLLC
November 13, The Ins and Outs of Screening for Naturalization, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
November 20, The Ins and Outs of Screening for U, T and SIJS, Danielle Hendrickson, Managing Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; Camila Pacheco-Fores, Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ojSflZGRP6XOKMWZrkhAg
Questions: immigration@vlnmn.org
VLN will apply for 1.0 Standard CLE credit for each session.

Fall 2025 Immigration CLE Series: The Ins and Outs of Screening for U, T and SIJS
2025-11-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Join the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) for one or more of this 8-week noon-hour immigration CLE series on Thursdays between October 2 and November 20.
The series covers topics immigration practitioners and advocates address when providing advice, a brief service or pro se assistance in a legal clinic setting. What do we need to know in the fast-changing immigration system environment to better screen and advise clients? What should we advise pro se applicants and respondents? How can we transmit this information in an ethical and meaningful way? Each session includes where and how to refer persons for free legal help and how to volunteer.

November 20 Description: The CLE presentation covers the important questions to ask to determine if someone may be eligible for certain types of humanitarian relief including U, T and SIJS visas, how current practice may affect such applications, identifying and counseling on the risks of applying, the ability to obtain work authorization, the steps and length of each process, etc.
November 20 Presenter: Danielle Hendrickson, Managing Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; Camila Pacheco-Fores, Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

The series covers relevant topics for today and has a great roster of immigration presenters:

October 2, The Ins and Outs of Master Calendar Hearings and Notices to Appear, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group
October 9, The Ins and Outs of Administrative Closure and Terminating Cases in Immigration Court, Sam Verner, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
October 16, The Ins and Outs of Motions and ICE Check-ins, Kelsey Allen, Attorney, Davis Immigration Lawyers; Eric O’Denius, Freelance Paralegal, Hero Associates MN LLC
October 23, The Ins and Outs of Immigration Proceedings and Pro Se Respondents: Tips from the Bench, Ryan Wood, Principal Founding Partner, Emeriti Law PLLC, former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for the EOIR
October 30, The Ins and Outs of Asylum Immigration Appeals, Maria Miller, Attorney, Martin Law
November 6, The Ins and Outs of Voluntary Departure, Kelly Clark, Associate Attorney, Heinz Law PLLC
November 13, The Ins and Outs of Screening for Naturalization, Patrick Hellier, Associate Attorney, Zimmer Law Group LLC
November 20, The Ins and Outs of Screening for U, T and SIJS, Danielle Hendrickson, Managing Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; Camila Pacheco-Fores, Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law Project, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ojSflZGRP6XOKMWZrkhAg
Questions: immigration@vlnmn.org
VLN will apply for 1.0 Standard CLE credit for each session.

December Housing Law Sidebar
2025-12-01 12:00 - 12:45 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
The Housing Law Sidebar is a time for VLN housing staff and volunteers to eat a (virtual) lunch together, learn about a housing topic, and socialize with one another. This is an informal event. There will be no power point presentations, but instead a brief explanation of a topic by a VLN staff member, followed by questions about the topic, discussion, and time for questions or discussion on any topics of interest. Volunteers are encouraged to share stories of their experiences with housing cases with one another and maybe learn a little! This is casual and for all our volunteers – brand new and experienced alike!

Ever wonder what it would be like to take on a phone advice shift? Taking on a phone advice shift is a way to volunteer where you assist 1-4 clients over a defined 2-hour period. You assess clients’ cases for merit and refer them back to VLN for full representation placement, provide advice on how the client can pursue the case on their own, or advise the client as to what the problems are in their case and help them decide if they should proceed, and how. This Housing Law Sidebar will discuss the types of cases typically encountered in phone advice sessions and provide some tips for making merit assessments. We will also provide information on what is coming up in the area of phone advice.
Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Gf3eCsyJR_6Vn8h_5Hvw4w

CLE: Deportation Preparedness
2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
CLE Description:
Are you an attorney interested in volunteering to help people who may be at risk of deportation to create a plan to take care of their family and property left behind in Minnesota? If so, this CLE will focus on how volunteer attorneys may advise clients to take potential actions that people who are at risk of deportation may wish to take to try to mitigate the disruption to their lives and the lives of family members remaining in Minnesota in the event of detention or deportation. This CLE will not address immigration legal issues but rather will focus on the myriad other legal issues that someone might encounter as a collateral consequence of being taken into detention or deported. This CLE will explore issues that people at risk of deportation may want to consider before they are taken into detention or deported. The CLE will cover an introduction to delegations of parental authority and power of attorney forms, as well as cover topics such as what might happen to someone’s personal property, unpaid debts, and automobiles in the event that they are taken into detention or deported.
Presenter:
Glen Drew, Program Director and Deputy Director, Volunteer Lawyers Network
Glen Drew has been an attorney since 2012 and is currently the director of legal programs and a deputy director at Volunteer Lawyers Network, Ltd., a nonprofit that provides free civil legal services to low-income people in Minnesota. Prior to joining VLN in his current capacity, Glen operated a medical-legal partnership for a legal aid organization and served as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps and AmeriCorps.
Registration:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vqThqwqySSaVMQ_oSMm-4Q#/registration

Best Practices for Providing Phone Advice to Housing Clients
2026-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Please join us for the Housing Program’s January CLE, which will focus on effective strategies for advising housing clients during phone advice shifts. The session will cover the core objectives of phone advice, expected outcomes, and practical approaches for addressing common issues that arise during these calls.
Topics Will Include:

Providing advice when a tenant has missed their eviction first appearance
Handling repair and habitability concerns
Navigating privacy and entry issues
Understanding eviction expungement options
Advising landlords seeking to evict their tenants

This CLE will provide practical guidance to help advocates deliver clear, accurate, and client-centered advice.
Register now at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X_B6hXVfRi-FajhikZRh-Q

February Housing Law Sidebar
2026-02-02 12:00 - 12:45 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
The Housing Law Sidebar is a time for VLN housing staff and volunteers to eat a (virtual) lunch together, learn about a housing topic, and socialize with one another. This is an informal event. There will be no power point presentations, but instead a brief explanation of a topic by a VLN staff member, followed by questions about the topic, discussion, and time for questions or discussion on any topics of interest. Volunteers are encouraged to share stories of their experiences with housing cases with one another and maybe learn a little! This is casual and for all our volunteers – brand new and experienced alike!

In this Housing Sidebar session we are going to discuss advising and representing landlords. What advice is appropriate for a family situation where the “tenant” – often a son or daughter – is paying no rent and the parent wants to evict them? What is the proper advice for an elderly landlord trying to evict a tenant from a duplex? How does an eviction case proceed from a landlord’s perspective? We will discuss these issues and answer any questions on this topic as well a general questions. Please join us!

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9Gs2FxxESq–9IkIYGTYug

March Housing Law Sidebar
2026-03-02 12:00 - 12:45 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Please join us for our monthly Housing Law Sidebar on Zoom! This informal virtual lunch brings together VLN housing staff and volunteers to discuss housing tops, ask questions, and share experiences – perfect for both new and seasoned volunteers.
In March, we will discuss the options, or lack thereof, for homeowners facing eviction due to foreclosure and the options for tenants where the home they are renting has been foreclosed upon.

Register now: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/1TBJsDVXSoGkD4jp0nrI1A

Beyond the DOPA: Supporting Families Impacted by Immigration Action
2026-03-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
1.5 CLE credits to be applied for
Register by clicking here.
This CLE will use practitioner-generated hypotheticals to explore the complex and overlapping legal issues facing Minnesota families impacted by recent immigration enforcement actions. Panelists with experience in immigration, family, and child protection law will respond to real-world scenarios and discuss core practice questions, including identifying the client, clarifying client goals, assessing available legal tools across practice areas, determining when to advise versus refer, and finding appropriate community and legal resources when direct representation is not possible. The session will emphasize cross-disciplinary issue spotting, practical strategies for supporting families in crisis, and avenues for consultation when issues fall outside an attorney’s primary area of expertise, with time for audience questions as available.
Presenters:
Professor Natalie Netzel serves as the director of clinical legal education, where she oversees Mitchell Hamline’s nationally recognized clinical program. Her teaching interests include criminal law, evidence, child welfare law, and resilient practice. Her scholarly interests include trauma-informed lawyering, trauma-informed pedagogy and law student and attorney mental health and well-being. She is involved with the American Association of Law Schools’ Section on Balance and Well-Being in Legal Education and the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Well-Being Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
Professor Netzel has extensive experience representing parents and relatives in child protection cases in district court and on appeal. She relies on that experience to train attorneys, judges, social workers, guardians ad litem, and other professionals on best practices in child protection proceedings. Professor Netzel joined the faculty as a staff attorney with the ITCP in August of 2016. In her time at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, she has served in a variety of roles including the education and advocacy director of the ITCP and the director of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Netzel was a judicial law clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She received her B.A. from Hamline University, her M.S.E. in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Anne Carlson is an attorney with Hennepin County Adult Representation Services (ARS). Anne leads ARS’ Community Impact practice area which provides holistic representation for noncitizens in a variety of immigration matters, and advocacy for parents who are being investigated by child protection or at risk of becoming child protection involved. Anne and her team also advise on CHIPS cases when the parents ARS represents have immigration-related legal needs.
Erin Johnson has been an Assistant County Attorney with Washington County in the Juvenile Division for since 2005. She graduated from St. Mary’s University with a BA in English Literature and received her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell-Hamline College of Law). She worked as a judicial law clerk in Dakota County immediately after law school. While at Washington County, Erin has specialized in child protection cases. In addition to her regular case load, Erin has been a member of the Minnesota County Attorney Association’s Juvenile Law Committee since 2011, serving as co-chair from 2015-2023. She continues to represent the MCAA on child protection policy issues and legislation. Erin previously served on the Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee and is currently serving as a county attorney representative on the Supreme Court Council on Child Protection and Maltreatment Prevention and the MAAFPCWDA Statewide Working Group.
Cathleen Sykes is the owner and principal attorney of Sykes Family Law, P.A. She is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, and has practiced exclusively in the area of family law for the past 15 years. Cathleen regularly volunteers with the Volunteer Lawyers Network, assisting families of immigrant children in obtaining predicate family court orders for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions.
This training is free.

State Support and VLN Present: Practical Guidance on Partition Actions
2026-03-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Date: Monday, March 16, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Webinar
Registration/More Info: Register by clicking here!
CLE: 1 CLE Credit to be applied for
Details: When co-owning a property becomes unworkable, a partition action may be the only path forward. Come learn a step-by-step approach to filing your first partition action. Participants will learn what pleadings to file, how courts divide property through partition in kind or by sale, what evidence is necessary to support each outcome, and how to address valuation, accounting, and related disputes between co-owners. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for effectively handling partition actions from initial filing through final resolution.
Presenters:
Christian Hokans represents clients in all stages of complex commercial litigation from motion practice
to trial, primarily focusing on real estate disputes. Christian has experience in both state and federal courts around the country. He works with individual clients and businesses of all sizes to provide a tailored approach to each case. Christian also maintains an active pro bono practice. He regularly represents clients in the courtroom in civil rights, housing and public benefits cases. Christian’s article on the new Minnesota Partition Act can be found by clicking here.
John Koneck is a real estate lawyer. Unique among his peers, he has handled both complex real estate transactions and real estate disputes. John has represented clients in transactions in many states, has tried cases in various state and federal courts, and has represented clients in arbitrations. He has handled real estate transactions and disputes involving commercial, industrial, and multi-family sales and acquisitions, brokerage agreements, commercial lease, tax and business planning, and construction and permanent real estate financing. He also has substantial experience in bankruptcy and debtor/creditor law and has represented borrowers and lenders in real estate workouts, and debtors and secured parties in real estate bankruptcy cases.
John is a Real Property Law Specialist certified by the Real Property Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, and a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. He frequently lectures and writes about real estate, real estate litigation and bankruptcy issues for professional groups, including lawyers, accountants, lenders and real estate professionals, and he has taught courses on real estate law for law students. For many years, John was President of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and its Board of Directors. He is a shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron’s Real Estate Group, and now serves as the firm’s Pro Bono Counsel, providing pro bono legal services to the disadvantaged on a full-time basis.
This training is free.

April Housing Law Sidebar
2026-04-06 12:00 - 12:45 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
Please join us for our monthly Housing Law Sidebar on Zoom! This informal virtual lunch brings together VLN housing staff and volunteers to discuss housing tops, ask questions, and share experiences – perfect for both new and seasoned volunteers. In this Housing Law Sidebar we will review tenant privacy rights – what privacy tenants are entitled to and what rights landlords have to enter a rental unit.

Register now: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/sjIwAw_MR-yw_cXBGC8PFA

Volunteer Orientation
2026-04-09 08:00 - 08:45 | Remote Via Webinar, 600 Nicollet Mall,, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
VLN is asking all new volunteers to participate in a 45-minute zoom orientation. This engaging and informative presentation will cover the basics of volunteering with VLN, including our different volunteer opportunities, what support we provide to volunteers, and tips for making the most of your volunteer experience.
This training will be offered twice a month. Please sign up for the day and time that works best for you.
The New Volunteer Orientation is CANCELLED on Thursday, April 9 at 8:00am. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please join us at our next regularly scheduled orientation instead!
For questions, contact Deputy Director Muria Kruger at muria.kruger@vlnmn.org or by phone at (612) 752-6647.

2026 Annual Housing Law Seminar
2026-04-14 08:00 - 13:00 | Lathrop GPM, IDS Center, IDS Center, 3rd Floor, Minneapolis, United States
Registration for the 2026 Annual Housing Law Seminar is closed. You can still find information about the seminar on the housing volunteer page, linked here.
We hope to share recordings of select CLE sessions on-demand soon, and we’ll be offering additional CLE opportunities throughout the year. Thank you for your continued support and volunteer service.
