Pro Bono Lawyers and Attorneys in Minnesota
Where to ask for pro bono legal services or a free attorney in Minnesota, including legal aid programs, who qualifies, and other free or low-cost help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
Where to ask for a free lawyer or attorney
| Pro bono and legal aid programs | Volunteer Lawyers Network, a non-profit listed in the LawHelpMN directory, connects "Minnesotans experiencing poverty with some of the top private lawyers in the state at no cost." Apply by phone at (612) 752-6677, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through its online intake form, or at a clinic (in-person clinics are in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties; there is also a virtual immigration clinic). The Minnesota State Bar Association points people to LawHelpMN, which has links to legal aid offices and free legal clinics. The directory lists Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Central Minnesota Legal Services and Legal Assistance of Dakota County, among others. VLN home page: https://www.vlnmn.org/ ; directory: https://www.lawhelpmn.org/providers-and-clinics ; bar page: https://mnbars.org/?pg=finding-legal-help |
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| Who qualifies | Volunteer Lawyers Network gives free legal help to "qualifying clients" in Minnesota and says you can find out whether you qualify by calling or using its online form. Its help page does not state an income limit. |
| Cases covered | Volunteer Lawyers Network lists bankruptcy, criminal expungement, debt collection, employment, family law (including divorce and custody), housing law (including eviction and eviction expungement), immigration, deportation preparedness and other general civil issues. It does not help with criminal defense, public benefits, wills and estates, fee-generating cases (such as medical malpractice and personal injury), or business and non-profit law. |
Other free or low-cost help
| Free legal aid | Minnesota's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Anishinabe Legal Services, Central Minnesota Legal Services, Justice North and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. |
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| Lawyer referral service | The Minnesota State Bar Association offers MN Find a Lawyer, a free online directory of attorneys searchable by practice area and location, and points people to Minnesota Lawyer Referral, "a non-profit public service of the Hennepin and Ramsey County Bar Associations." Minnesota Lawyer Referral offers guided assistance from referral counselors by phone or online self-referral to vetted attorneys (mainly in the Twin Cities metro area) in more than 40 practice areas: "Get a 30-minute consultation for $30 or less." Phone 612-752-6699; hours Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. MN Unbundled connects people statewide with attorneys for brief tasks. MSBA public page: https://mnbars.org/?pg=Public |
All legal help in Minnesota · What is a pro bono lawyer? · Pro bono lawyers in other states
Last verified against official sources: November 4, 2026.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.