Volunteer Opportunities
Disability Law
Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA)
Disability Law- Assess voting precincts across the state of Minnesota for accessibility.
- Identify barriers to voter accessibility by conducting short interviews with election officials and assessing building features.
- Experience Level:
- No experience necessary
- Time Commitment:
- 2-3 hours
- Need:
- Every two years
Special Education Programs
Disability LawRepresent students by advocating for their educational needs in accordance with state and federal law, assisting families with MDE complaints, and defending students’ rights in expulsion hearings.
- Experience Level:
- Attorneys preferably with experience in Special Education law, Attorneys with background in education policy or advocacy
- Time Commitment:
- 10-20 hours
- Need:
- Significant
Housing Law
Fair Housing Tester
Housing LawVolunteer with the Housing Discrimination Law Project to act as a prospective tenant, document rental practices and help prove instances of housing discrimination. Volunteers must be objective, reliable, able to respond quickly to calls and emails, and comfortable with mobile and computer technology.
Most tests require some amount of outreach during weekday business hours, so testers should be open to occasionally completing some testing work on weekdays.
- Volunteers must be over 18 and have at least one year of rental experience.
- The fair housing testing program is not able to offer volunteer opportunities for academic credit or court-ordered community service.
- Experience Level:
- No experience necessary
- Time Commitment:
- 1-3 hours per test. (Test frequency based on volunteer availability and HDLP need.)
- Need:
- Significant
Immigration Law
In-Person Detention Intakes
Immigration LawTraveling to Elk River, Albert Lea, or Willmar to complete intakes with individuals in ICE custody.
- Experience Level:
- Attorneys, law students, or paralegals, bilingual or with access to Spanish interpreters
- Time Commitment:
- Full day
- Need:
- Significant
Remote Detention Intake
Immigration LawCompleting phone/videocall intakes with individuals in ICE custody.
- Experience Level:
- Attorneys, Bilingual or with access to Spanish interpreters
- Time Commitment:
- 2 hours per intake
- Need:
- Significant
Bond Cases
Immigration LawRepresenting an individual in a bond case with support from MMLA’s Immigration Law Project team.
- Experience Level:
- Attorney
- Time Commitment:
- Varies
- Need:
- Significant
Tax Law
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Tax LawAdvocate for low-income taxpayer rights. Provide guidance in tax disputes, debts, audits and other tax-related matters and proceedings.
- Experience Level:
- Tax attorneys, family law attorneys, tax professionals, legal advocates, paralegals, law students, educators, enrolled agents, financial advisors, finance and accounting students
- Time Commitment:
- 5-10 hours
- Need:
- Significant
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