About Minnesota’s New State Board of Civil Legal Aid—a Civil Companion to the Board of Public Defense
Change is upon us for the state’s approach to 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 (“the State Board”), effective July 1, 2025. The State Board compliments the State Board of Public Defense by focusing on access-to-justice in the civil arena. Specifically, the State Board operates as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch tasked with managing the civil legal services general fund appropriation.
Please join us in hearing first-hand from the State Board’s Program Administrator how this new agency has the potential to change the state’s important work of ensuring high quality legal services to Minnesotans unable to afford private counsel. What is different than before and what to expect in the future.
Presenter(s):
Bridget Gernander, Program Administrator for 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
