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9:45am CST
A Year Later: Legislative Changes to Housing Law in Minnesota
Thursday November 7, 2024 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Speakers
Supervising Attorney Housing Unit, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)
Evan Gelles is a Supervising Attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid's housing unit. He represents low-income tenants and supervises the housing team in providing direct representation to low-income tenants in eviction proceedings, subsidized housing terminations, housing discrimination...
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Managing Attorney, Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM)
Sarah Moore has been an attorney with Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Managing Attorney for LSNM’s Alexandria Office and as Lead Housing Attorney for the program. In her career at LSNM, Sarah has focused primarily on representing...
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9:45am CST
Clean Slate: How Minnesota’s Evolving Landscape of Criminal Expungement Processes Offers Opportunity and Hope for Criminal Offenders
Thursday November 7, 2024 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Speakers AK
Minnesota Legal Paraprofessional, Justice North
Anna Koller is a Paralegal and Minnesota Legal Paraprofessional with Justice North. Anna joined Justice North in 2008 and specializes in family law and criminal expungements. She is enthusiastic about legislative changes making expungement more available and expeditious; she believes...
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Supervising Attorney, Justice North
Jim Vollstaedt is a Supervising Attorney at Justice North, joining the organization in 2018, and is focused on casework and supervising the legal staff in Justice North’s Virginia and Grand Rapids offices. Jim graduated summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 2012...
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9:45am CST
Concepts in Capacity: Exploring Decision Making in the Legal Realm
Thursday November 7, 2024 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Speakers MA
Associate Director, Minnesota Elder Justice Center
Marit Anne Peterson is the associate director for the Minnesota Elder Justice Center. Prior to joining the Elder Justice Center, Marit practiced estate planning and elder law in the twin cities metro area. Marit is a past chair and current member of the governing council of the...
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9:45am CST
Understanding Tribal Relations in Minnesota: Historical Context and Jurisdictional Complexities
Thursday November 7, 2024 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Speakers VF
Litigation Director, Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS)
Valerie Field is Litigation Director at ALS. She grew up in northern Minnesota. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University and her law degree from the University of Cincinnati School of Law in 2003. Valerie became a licensed attorney in 2004. She has...
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Tribal Court Attorney, Justice North
Lori has been a lawyer since 1999. She attended law school at Stetson Law and she earned her LLM in Native American and Indigenous Peoples’ Law at the University of Tulsa College of Law. Lori is of Cherokee and Choctaw descent. She is a Board Member of the American Indian...
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11:00am CST
A Conversation About Cultural Literacy Working in NDN Country
Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Speakers JD
Associate General Counsel, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Jason Decker is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. He received an A.A.S. in Law Enforcement at the Leech Lake Tribal College in 2010. While working on his law enforcement degree, Jason took a Federal Indian Law survey course. It was during that course that he realized...
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Lead Attorney and Owner, Skullnah Legal Services
Christine grew up on a Native American-owned, family-run farm in Worley, ID. She has extensive experience as an In-house Counsel for the Coeur d'alene, Tohono O'odham and Kalispel Tribes. Additionally, she is well-versed in the legal issues that arise in Indian Country. Christine...
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2L Student, University of Minnesota Law School
Liddy is a 2nd year law student at the University of Minnesota Law School. She is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended undergrad at Oklahoma State University where she double majored in sociology and psychology. Liddy is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. This past summer...
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Supervising Attorney, Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS)
Taylor L. R. Burdick is the supervising attorney at Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS). He received his Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law is 2017. He is also a member of the 2014 PLSI (Pre-Law Summer Institute) Class. He began his career with ALS in...
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11:00am CST
Immigration Relief for Youth: Navigating Unfamiliar Waters
Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Speakers
Supervising Attorney, The Advocates for Human Rights
Kim is a Supervising Attorney for The Advocates for Human Rights' Refugee & Immigrant Program. They provide crucial support to pro bono attorneys and staff attorneys handling children’s asylum cases before the asylum office and the Immigration Court. Kim’s commitment to justice...
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11:00am CST
Impact Litigation on Heavily Politicized Issues
Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Speakers
Legal Director, Gender Justice
Jess Braverman is the legal director at Gender Justice where she ensures that their litigation strategy not only promotes the dignity of her clients but also advances Gender Justice’s mission of removing barriers to gender equity. Jess engages in impact litigation on issues such...
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11:00am CST
Navigating Conflicts of Interest: Essential Guidelines for Support Staff and Intake Specialists in Legal Aid Organizations
Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Speakers
Lead Attorney, Hotline Attorney Unit, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Linda Morrison is currently the Lead of the Hotline Attorney Unit at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. Linda came to SMRLS after 19 years in private practice with a focus on pro bono work and low fee services in areas of criminal law, family law, and bankruptcy. She...
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Lead Attorney, Consumer Law Unit, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Nicholas Morrison is currently the Lead for the Consumer Law Unit at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. Prior to SMRLS, Nicholas was in private practice for 17 years, with a focus on family, consumer, and criminal law. He was on the Board for St. Croix Legal Services...
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2:45pm CST
Consumer Law Legislative Update
Thursday November 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CST
Speakers
Staff Attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)
Mary Kaczorek practices consumer law with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA). Mary started her public interest legal career in college with Central Minnesota Legal Services in St. Cloud. Mary earned her JD at the University of Minnesota Law School in 2009 and worked with MMLA’s...
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Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection, Minnesota Attorney General’s Office
Bennett Hartz is a Minnesota Assistant Attorney General in Consumer Protection, regulating financial industries, emerging technologies, and health care. He wrote and led the passage of 2024’s Minnesota Debt Fairness Act.
2:45pm CST
2:45pm CST
Homelessness and the Law
Thursday November 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CST
Speakers
Senior Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Ben Weiss is a Senior Attorney in the Economic Justice unit of SMRLS' St. Paul office. His practice focuses on homelessness prevention and response, and he pioneered the field of legal advocacy for families facing eviction from emergency shelter in SMRLS' five-county metro service...
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Litigation Director, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)
Luke Grundman has defended the rights of homeowners and tenants with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid since law school, beginning in 2007. He started as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, spent five years fighting foreclosures and predatory lending, and then staffed a medical-legal partnership...
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2:45pm CST
9:00am CST
Data is Power – Data is Knowledge – Data is Fun!
Friday November 8, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Speakers
Founder & Principal, Strategic Data Analytics
Rachel J. Perry is Founder and Principal at Strategic Data Analytics. SDA is a data analysis consulting firm, which helps organizations use data to analyze client service effectiveness, increase organizational efficiency, impress funders, and measure progress toward strategic goals...
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9:00am CST
Handling the Social Security Disability Hearing: A Guide for Representatives
Friday November 8, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Speakers
Paralegal, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Jenna Saverynski has been a paralegal with SMRLS for five years. In that time, she has helped dozens of clients seeking disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. She has assisted clients with initial applications and several levels of appeal, including hearings...
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Lead Attorney, Economic Justice Unit, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Nicole Mourgos is a lead attorney in the Economic Justice unit with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) in its Mankato office and has been at SMRLS since 2015. Nicole represents clients throughout the 17 counties the Southwest Region covers. Nicole represents clients...
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9:00am CST
Helpful Tips for Order for Protection Hearings
Friday November 8, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Speakers
Paralegal B.S., Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)
Heather Helmer has been a paralegal in MMLA’s St. Cloud office for 17 years providing paralegal support to the Stearns County Domestic Violence Partnership and advocating for Social Security clients at the local field offices and ALJ hearings. Prior to becoming a paralegal, she...
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Supervising Attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)
Sarah McGuire graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 with a degree in sociology. She worked at a psychiatric hospital for children and as a social worker before attending Hamline University School of Law, graduating in 2015. Sarah clerked for the Honorable James H...
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9:00am CST
Navigating a Disability Diagnosis in Law School or Practice
Friday November 8, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Speakers AM
Senior Counsel, Bowman and Brooke LLP
Ann Motl concentrates her product liability litigation practice defending products for pharmaceutical and drug and medical device manufacturers. Ann has appeared in state and federal courts across the country on behalf of her clients. She is well-versed in eDiscovery and handles...
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Public Benefits Law Lead Attorney, Justice North
Jude Schmit is the Public Benefits Lead Attorney at Justice North, focusing on benefits and housing law for Justice North out of the Duluth and Brainerd offices but covers the entire eleven-county region. Jude recently authored an article for the Mitchell Hamline Law Review, Witnessed...
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Attorney, Robins Kaplan LLP
Prateek is a trial lawyer working in intellectual property litigation, particularly on patent matters. Before joining Robins Kaplan, he served for two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable C.J. Williams for the Northern District of Iowa, an experience invaluable to his...
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Associate, Cohen Millstein
Eleanor Frisch, an associate in Cohen Milstein’s Employee Benefits/ERISA practice, represents the interests of employees, retirees, plan participants and beneficiaries in ERISA class-action lawsuits across the country. Prior to joining Cohen Milstein, Eleanor spent several years...
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9:00am CST
Persuasion Versus Coercion: Getting Clients to Do What We Think Is Best for Them
Friday November 8, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Speakers JA
Assistant Director, Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility
Joe Ambroson is an Assistant Director in the OLPR, where he’s worked for three years. He previously worked as a family law attorney at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. He was also appointed as a member of the Second Judicial District Family Violence Coordinating Council...
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