2024 State Conference

Join colleagues from around the state for a discussion of current practice issues, including legislative and case law updates, case trends, and strategies. Agenda suggestions can be submitted to the facilitator or State Support staff.

Facilitator: Julia Zwak, Managing Attorney, Housing Unit Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)
CLE: 1.0 hour of Standard CLE credit

Join colleagues from around the state to discuss hot topics in Immigration Benefits for Legal Service Providers. Discussion will include an overview of new pathways to status including Parole in Place, advanced advocacy for naturalization applicants with criminal histories and other barriers to citizenship, trends in benefits cases for youth and survivors of crime and trafficking, as well as strategic planning for the next four years of immigration policy.

Facilitators: Lou Her, Supervising Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS); Alison M. Griffith, Supervising Attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) 
CLE: 1.0 hour of Standard CLE credit

Join colleagues from around the state for a discussion of current Social Security practice issues, including trends in adjudications, a discussion of SSA program updates, and case strategies. Agenda suggestions can be submitted to the facilitator or State Support staff.  

Discussion topics:
1. Major updates from SSA in 2024 (including overpayments and collateral estoppel)
2. What types of social security cases are in your current caseload? What criteria do you use to choose cases?
3. SGA terminations, EXR, work subsidies
4. Communication problems with social security offices and how to escalate them

Facilitator: Nicole Mourgos, Lead Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
CLE: 1.0 hour of Standard CLE credit

Join celebrated author, educator, and Ojibwe culture carrier Anton Treuer for an exploration of how to connect with and serve Native clients dealing with our legal system. This talk will examine the cultural background critical for engineering healthy connections and professional relationships, historical experiences of Native people, navigating historical and contemporary trauma in fostering positive client relationships, and Indigenous ideas of justice.

CLE: 1.5 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credit

Hang out under the stars with your statewide colleagues and enjoy a crackling fire, hot chocolate, and the taste of an old-fashioned s’more.

The popular trivia contest is back! Get a team together and test your wits on all things sublime and ridiculous. Play for a prize!