VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK
We make pro bono happen!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
People in poverty with legal problems who need legal help to protect their basic human needs.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Spanish Legal Services
Spanish Legal Services is a service for low-income Spanish speaking individuals. Its mission is to provide efficient legal advice, brief services and referrals to Spanish-speaking individuals who have little or no access to legal advice. Bi-lingual attorneys provide legal advice and brief services in Spanish and, when appropriate, refer callers to government agencies or legal service providers (including VLN) for further assistance.
SLS provides services on a state-wide basis, though delivery of these services has concentrated in the seven-county metropolitan area. We provide a coordinated legal "first responder” system so Spanish speaking individuals receive legal help quickly and efficiently – without being bounced from provider to provider. We operate in full partnership with Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES) and other service providers helping the Spanish speaking community receive critical legal assistance. SLS commenced services in September of 2005.
Bankruptcy/Consumer
VLN provides bankruptcy services on a state-wide basis, though delivery of these services has concentrated in the seven-county metropolitan area.
The services provided fall into four main categories:
In cooperation with the Bankruptcy Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the United States Bankruptcy Court, this clinic is a free service at which low income Minnesota residents contemplating bankruptcy, as well as those already involved in pending bankruptcy cases, can receive basic information and bankruptcy-related advice from attorneys who are specialists in this area.
VLN will represent clients in Chapter 7 bankruptcies, but not in Chapter 13. Clients are referred to the Bankruptcy Screening Project (BSP) to determine the best course of action for them, and if creditors are able to collect income from the client. An experienced bankruptcy attorney speaks with each client to assess their situation and advise them as to the most appropriate legal action. If it is determined that the client does not have collectable income, they may be advised against filing bankruptcy and instead recommended for the 4) . If the attorney deems bankruptcy is the best legal option, the clients are advised of such and referred back to VLN for placement with a volunteer attorney for full representation.
VLN will screen any client who is a Minnesota resident.
Housing Law Program
VLN helps prevent homelessness by advising and representing tenants on their rental issues, addressing the serious foreclosure crisis by providing advice and screening potential cases at the Real Estate Clinic, located at the Minneapolis Urban League in North Minneapolis, assisting homeowners who can no longer afford their home loans to secure fair and affordable loan modification and providing services to approximately 800 clients annually at the Housing Court Project in Hennepin County (annual average since 2003).
Family Law Program
VLN helps parents get custody of theirchildren, provide non-custodial parents with access to theirchildren, establish child support orders providing families financialstability and protect victims of domestic abuse.VLN provides advice in every area of family law to both custodialand non-custodial parents. VLN provides full representationservices in the following areas:* Divorces with and without children* Adoption* Child Custody (including third-party custody)* Issues of both custodial & non-custodial parent* Parenting time access for non custodial parents
Where we work
External reviews
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Increase number of services and increase number of clients in a better position in life.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Improve clinic services.
2. Improve phone services.
3. Improve extended services.
4. Increase outcomes in housing and criminal expungement programs.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
VLN currently has approximately 700 active volunteer legal professionals with access to an additional 8,000 local attorneys from which to recruit. With solid infrastructure already in place and a wide network of support from law firm and corporate legal departments, community partners and bar associations, and an award-winning staff of 23, our capabilities to achieve our goals are deep and strong.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have just commenced our work on these goals and strategies. Thus far we have created 3 new legal clinics and are actively recruiting for new volunteers.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK
Board of directorsas of 11/27/2023
Anne Haaland
Henson & Efron, P.A.
Term: 2023 - 2024
Peter Goss
Pentair plc
Jon Bye
Ballard Spahr LLP
Michael Skoglund
Cargill
Alysia Zens
Dorsey & Whitney
Julian Zebot
Maslon LLP
Matt Bazzano
Wells Fargo
Mark Carter
Carter Legal Services
Dennis Ryan
Retired, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Karl Johnson
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Anne Haaland
Henson & Efron, P.A.
Esther Agbaje
Ciresi Conlin, LLC
Joy Anderson
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Dan Dvorak
Huntington National Bank
Paul Fling
Fox Rothschild, LLP
Autumn Gear
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
Lindsey Hanson
Robins Kaplan, LLP
Hon. JaPaul Harris
Minnesota State Courts
Jade Johnson
Gapen, Larson & Johnson, LLC
Ron Lundquist
Lundquist Law Firm
Kwame Osafo-Addo
Kwame's Law Firm
Mardell Presler
Presler Law Office
Peter Stiteler
Strategic Education Inc.
Thomas Powell
Hon. Christian Sande
Karen Yashar
RBC Global Asset Management
Jacob Vandelist
Target Corp
Tom Tinkham
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Kiri Somermeyer
University of Minnesota Law School
Amanda Decker Barnhouse
Thomson Reuters
Mike Stinson
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Shawn Sorrell
Hennepin County
Roger Maldonado
Faegre Drinker
Cynthia Hegarty
Winthrop & Weinstein, P.A.
Hon. Kristien Butler
MN Office of Administrative Hearings
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Disability
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