Policy champions for statewide change

Legal Aid’s policy advocates champion a wide range of issues that impact thousands of Minnesotans every year. We bring highly specialized legal, policy, and technical skills to bear at all stages of the legislative process to advocate for policies that improve the lives of Legal Aid’s clients.

Through our work, we will:

  • Improve state laws and rules that affect low-income Minnesotans
  • Represent low income clients on issues at the legislature and before administrative bodies
  • Educate our clients and groups that work with our clients about laws and issues

Providing effective policy
advocacy for legal justice

Legal Aid’s policy advocates cover many policy-making arenas. Most of our policy work is done through the Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP), a statewide division that is supported by all of the regional civil legal services programs in the state. LSAP advocates on behalf of low-income Minnesotans — including youth, elders, and persons with disabilities — in legislative and administrative forums. LSAP’s focus is on issues affecting housing, economic stability, food justice, families, consumer protection, and health.

Full yearly legislative summaries can be found here.

Our work has directly resulted in:

  • Protection and expansion of access to public programs
  • Better access to health care
  • Protection for older and vulnerable adults in assisted living
  • Increased protection for victims of violence and abuse
  • Improved access to hunger resources
  • Increased rights for homeowners in foreclosure
  • Improved tenants rights
  • Stronger protections against predatory lending and consumer scams
  • Stronger utility consumer protections
  • Increased training and employment opportunities.

Support our work.

Legal Aid could not exist without the generous support of volunteers, community partners, and financial supporters like you. Our federal and state support does not keep pace with the rapidly growing need for legal services. Your contributions are critical to providing access to justice for our neighbors who cannot afford a lawyer.

In the know.

Learn the latest on our work, upcoming events, community issues, and giving opportunities.

Celebrating 100 years.

Legal Aid began its second century of service in this community in 2013. Explore highlights of our first century of service here.