Past and Future Structures of Judicial Branch Support for Civil Legal Aid in Minnesota
Change is upon us for the state’s approach to civil legal services. For 42 years, the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed members to the Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) to review and award grant funding that passed through the legislature to support Minnesota’s access to justice for civil matters. The grants made by LSAC were significant—comprising greater than 50% of revenue for civil legal aid statewide in FY25. In 2024, the legislature determined a new course for legal services with a statutory sunset of the LSAC, and a newly established State Board of Civil Legal Aid (BOCLA), effective July 1, 2025. BOCLA compliments the State Board of Public Defense by focusing on legal representation for low-income Minnesotans in the civil arena. Specifically, BOCLA operates as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch tasked with managing the civil legal services general fund appropriation and setting standards for the provision of civil legal aid.
Please join us in hearing first-hand from how this new agency supports the state’s important work of ensuring high quality legal services to Minnesotans unable to afford private counsel and reflecting on the ongoing importance of Minnesota Supreme Court leadership for making our state a leader in access to justice for all.
Presenter(s):
Bridget Gernander, Program Administrator
Randi Ilyse Roth, Past Chair of Legal Services Advisory Committee
Christopher Wendt, Chair of the State Board of Civil Legal Aid
CLE Credit:
1.0 Standard CLE Credit to be applied for
Location:
Minneapolis Club | 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Schedule:
4:30pm Reception
5pm-6pm CLE
6pm-7pm Reception
Cost:
MSCHS Members $40
Non-members $50
Judicial Officers $40
Law Students $20
Heavy appetizers provided | Cash bar
