Legal Services: Know Your Rights. Get the Help You Deserve.
Legal problems can derail housing, employment, and family stability. Free and low-cost legal help is available in Minnesota for those who need it most — and you don’t need money to access justice.
Why Legal Help Changes Lives
An unresolved legal problem — an eviction, a criminal record, an immigration issue — can block someone from housing, employment, and stability for years. Legal aid levels the playing field.
Find free legal help by topic or connect with Minnesota’s legal aid network.
LawHelpMN.org →Mid-Minnesota Legal AidSix Key Areas of Legal Help
Different organizations specialize in different legal needs. Here are the most common areas where free or low-cost legal help is available in Minnesota.
- Housing & Eviction Defense: Tenants facing eviction have the right to a court hearing. Free legal help is available to respond to eviction notices and challenge illegal evictions.
- Criminal Record Expungement: Many criminal records can be sealed or expunged in Minnesota, making it easier to find housing and jobs. Free clinics help determine eligibility.
- Immigration & DACA: Accredited representatives and immigration attorneys help with green cards, DACA renewals, asylum, visas, and deportation defense.
- Domestic Violence & Orders for Protection: Survivors can get free legal help filing Orders for Protection (OFPs). An OFP can be obtained within 24 hours.
- Family Law: Help with divorce, child custody, parenting plans, child support modifications, and guardianship. Free clinics are available at many courthouses.
- Benefits Appeals & Advocacy: If you’ve been denied Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, or disability benefits, a legal advocate can help you appeal — often successfully.
Find free legal help by topic through LawHelpMN or connect with a volunteer attorney.
LawHelpMN — Find Help by Topic →MN State Bar Lawyer ReferralHow to Get Free or Low-Cost Legal Help
Legal help is more accessible than most people realize. Here is a step-by-step guide to finding and working with an attorney or advocate in Minnesota.
- 1
Identify your legal issue clearly
Is it an eviction? A criminal record? An immigration matter? Different organizations specialize in different areas — knowing your issue helps you find the right help faster.
- 2
Contact Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Call 612-334-5970 or apply at mylegalaid.org. Free for qualifying low-income clients in civil matters including housing, family, and benefits.
- 3
Try the Volunteer Lawyers Network
VLN (vlnmn.org) connects low-income Minnesotans with pro bono attorneys and runs walk-in legal clinics throughout the Twin Cities.
- 4
Visit the courthouse self-help center
Hennepin County District Court has a Self-Help Center (Room C-600) for people representing themselves in civil matters.
- 5
Document everything
Keep all notices, letters, and documents. Write down dates and conversations. Good documentation dramatically strengthens your legal case.
⚠️ Court deadline approaching?
If you have a court date in the next 48 hours, call the Volunteer Lawyers Network immediately at 612-752-6677. Emergency legal help may be available.
Connect with free legal aid or pro bono attorneys in the Twin Cities.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid →Volunteer Lawyers Network MNKnow Your Rights: Key Protections in Minnesota
You have more legal protections than you may realize. Here are some of the most important rights every Minnesota resident should know.
- Right to a hearing before eviction: A landlord cannot remove you without a court order. Showing up to court dramatically improves outcomes.
- Ban the Box: Most employers cannot ask about criminal records on job applications in Minnesota.
- Expungement: Many criminal records can be sealed after a waiting period — misdemeanors after 2 years, gross misdemeanors after 4, felonies after 5.
- Wage theft protection: Employers must pay all earned wages on time. Wage theft is a criminal offense in Minnesota.
- Right to remain silent: You have the right to remain silent with immigration enforcement and to request a lawyer before answering questions.
- Order for Protection: Domestic violence survivors can get an OFP within 24 hours — a free, court-issued legal protection.
- Right to appeal benefits denials: Any denial of public benefits must include an explanation and information about your right to appeal.
Learn more about your legal rights and find self-help resources through these organizations.
LawHelpMN — Full Directory →MN Courts Self-Help CenterLocal Legal Resources — Quick Reference
Trusted legal aid organizations and advocacy groups serving low-income residents across Minneapolis and Hennepin County.
| Organization | Type of Help | Who It Serves | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid | Housing, Family, Benefits | Low-income individuals | 612-334-5970 |
| Volunteer Lawyers Network MN | Pro Bono & Clinics | Low-income individuals | 612-752-6677 |
| HomelineMN | Tenant Rights & Eviction | All MN renters | 612-728-5767 |
| LawHelpMN | Self-Help & All Civil | All income levels | lawhelpmn.org |
| Immigrant Law Center of MN | Immigration & DACA | Immigrants & refugees | 651-641-1011 |
| MN State Bar Lawyer Referral | Referral Service | All individuals | 612-333-1183 |
Find legal help for any civil matter through these trusted Minnesota resources.
LawHelpMN — Full Directory →MN Courts Self-Help Center