Legal Advice Clinics & Self-Help Centers

10 Judicial Districts in Minnesota

Minnesota has 10 judicial Districts, with certain counties belonging to each District. The county where a case is located determines the judicial District for the case. There is a courthouse in each of the 87 counties in the state. For contact information, go to MN Courthouse Directory.

Look up a City to Find the County

Dakota County

• Dakota County Consumer Law Clinic
  Free legal advice clinic for people who live in Dakota County. Topics include bankruptcy, debt collection, garnishment, mortgages, foreclosures, conciliation court or other consumer problems. The clinic is held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 1:00p –4:00p at the Galaxie Public Library in Apple Valley. You must schedule an appointment by calling (952)431-3200.
• Dakota County Family Court Self-Help Center
  Free family law advice consults with volunteer attorneys available by appointment only. Please visit their website for more details.
• Dakota County Law Library: Legal Information Sessions (open to the public)

Scott County

• Scott County Law Library Legal Advice Clinic & Workshops
  Free family law advice consults with volunteer attorneys available by appointment only on the second Monday of each month from 4:00p - 6:00p. Call (952)496-8713 to schedule an appointment. Please visit the Scott County Law Library website for more details on the clinic and other legal workshops.
• Scott and Carver County Family Law Advice by Phone (.pdf)
  Low-income people who live in Carver, Scott or Hennepin Counties can get a free 20-minute consult on family law matters from the Volunteer Lawyers Network. For contact information, appointments, and more details, please view the brochure.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Ramsey County

• Criminal Defense Services, Inc.
  Low-income defendants in Ramsey County who are not eligible for a Public Defender can see if they qualify for legal help by talking with an attorney from CDSI at their arraignment (first hearing) at the Ramsey County Courthouse.
• Ramsey County Criminal Expungement Clinic
  A free clinic that describes the criminal expungement process and provides help completing the forms for anyone filing an expungement for a criminal case in Ramsey County. The clinic is on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month (except holidays) at 1:00 p.m. in the Ramsey County Law Library on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
• Ramsey County Domestic Abuse/Harassment Office
  Victims can access resources and get help with the process of getting a court Order for Protection.
• Ramsey County Family Court Self-Help Service Center
  A free family law advice clinic is available Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:00n - 3:00p, by appointment only, for people who have an existing Family case in Ramsey County, or who are considering filing a Family case in Ramsey County. Call (651) 266-5125 to schedule an appointment.
• Ramsey County Housing & Conciliation Court Self-Help Center (brochure)
  Free legal advice consults with volunteer attorneys are available on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesdays from 1:00p - 4:00p. Sign-up starts at 12:00n. Located in the Ramsey County Law Library on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Olmsted County

The Olmsted County Law Library - Free Legal Clinics Program is offered in partnership with Legal Assistance of Olmsted County. The free advice clinics are for people representing themselves in court in Olmsted County. People can meet with a volunteer attorney for a brief consult up to 30 minutes. Topic areas may include Family Law, Financial Cases (debtor/creditor, pre-bankruptcy), and Criminal Expungement. You must schedule an appointment to meet with the volunteer attorney by calling the Law Library at (507)328-7605.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Hennepin County

• Conciliation Court Legal Advice Clinic
  People with low incomes can meet with a volunteer attorney for 15-20 minutes who will answer questions and/or refer you to other places for help. This is a free service.
• District Court Self-Help Center (Hennepin County)
  Please visit their website for more details on Legal Advice Clinics, forms, workshops & more.
• Domestic Abuse Service Center (Hennepin County)
  Victims can access resources and get help with the process of getting a court Order for Protection.
• Housing Court Project (Hennepin County)
  Free walk-in legal advice for low-income tenants and landlords. Income must be less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

All Counties in the 5th District

Westbrook Legal Self-Help Center (.pdf)
Free legal advice clinic with a volunteer attorney is available the 2nd Thursday of the month from 2:30p - 4:30p. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted as time allows. For appointments, please call (507) 822-5735 or email vbarronlawoffice@gmail.com. The advice clinic is located in the Westbrook Public Library, at 556 1st Ave., Westbrook, MN.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

All Counties in the 6th District

Volunteer Attorney Program offers a free "Ask an Attorney" service located in the 6th District Courthouse listed below. People can get legal advice and get help completing court forms. Services are available on a first-come, first-served basis unless noted. For more in-depth help, contact the "Ask an Attorney" program.

Carlton County

Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota offers a free legal advice clinic on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 1:30p - 4:30p on a first-come, first-served basis. The clinic is located on the 4th floor of the Carlton County Courthouse. Advice is available for landlord/tenant, family law, and government assistance cases.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Select Counties in the 7th District

Online Legal Advice - Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota offers free legal advice online for low-income residents in select counties in the 7th District. For details, visit their LION website.

Becker County

The Becker County Law Library is open Monday – Friday, 8:30a – 4:30p (except legal holidays) and is located in the basement of the Becker County Courthouse in Detroit Lakes. Visitors can use the self-help legal books and online resources while at the library, and they can take pamphlets available on a range of legal topics.

Stearns County

• Stearns County Court Service Center - Links to self-help information.
• The Stearns County Law Library and Central Minnesota Legal Services provide a Self-Help Program which is staffed by a full-time attorney and a part-time paralegal who are employed by CMLS. The Program is open from 8:00a - 4:30p, Monday-Friday and is located in the law library in the Stearns County Courthouse.
• The St. Cloud Public Library hosts a a free legal advice clinic with a volunteer attorney from Central Minnesota Legal Services who offers advice on family law, probate, and real property matters the fourth Tuesday of the month (exept legal holidays), from 12:00p - 1:00p. Please call (320)257-4872 to pre-register and for more details.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Select Counties in the 8th District

Online Legal Advice - Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota offers free legal advice online for low-income residents in select counties in the 8th District. For details, visit their LION website.

Kandiyohi County

Kandiyohi County Court Self-Help Links - see the links on the right side of their website

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Select Counties in the 9th District

Online Legal Advice - Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota offers free legal advice online for low-income residents in select counties in the 9th District. For details, visit their LION website.

Aitkin County

Volunteer Attorney Program offers general legal advice and help completing court forms the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12:00 noon in the Aitkin County Courthouse. This is a first-come, first-served program. No appointments are scheduled. NOTE: Residents from any Minnesota county may use this legal advice clinic.

Crow Wing County

Volunteer Attorney Program offers general legal advice and help completing court forms the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Crow Wing County Courthouse. This is a first-come, first-served program. No appointments are scheduled. NOTE: Residents from any Minnesota county may use this legal advice clinic.

Itasca County

Volunteer Attorney Program offers general legal advice and help completing court forms the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12:00 noon in the Itasca County Courthouse. This is a first-come, first-served program. No appointments are scheduled. NOTE: Residents from any Minnesota county may use this legal advice clinic.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community

Anoka County

• Anoka County Court Administration - Links to Services
• Anoka County Law Library and Central Minnesota Legal Services provide the following legal advice clinics:
  • Family Law Clinic (flyer): One Thursday each month (see Clinic Calendar), people can meet with an attorney on divorce, custody, child support, Orders for Protection, and other family law matters. Please call (763)422-7487 for an appointment. The law library is on the 1st floor of the Anoka County Courthouse.
  • Housing Law Clinic: On certain Mondays each month (see Clinic Calendar), people can meet with an attorney on eviction, lock-outs, lease violations, and other housing law matters. This is a walk-in service located in the Anoka County Courthouse.
• Central Minnesota Legal Services offers a free legal advice clinic with a volunteer attorney on family law, probate, and real property matters the fourth Tuesday of the month (except legal holidays), from 12:00p - 1:00p at the St. Cloud Public Library. Call (320)257-4872 to pre-register and for more details.

Kanabec County

Volunteer Attorney Program offers general legal advice and help completing court forms the 2nd Mondays of each month at 12:00 noon in the Kanabec County Courthouse. This is a first-come, first-served program. No appointments are scheduled. NOTE: Residents from ANY Minnesota county may use this legal advice clinic.

Pine County

Volunteer Attorney Program offers general legal advice and help completing court forms the 1st Thursday of each month at 12:00p - 3:00p at the Pine County Courthouse. For more details, contact the Volunteer Attorney Program.

Sherburne County

The Sherburne County Law Library and Central Minnesota Legal Services offers a free legal advice clinic with a volunteer attorney the first and third Wednesday of the month (except legal holidays), from 12:00p - 1:00p. Call (763)765-4800 for more details.

Washington County

• Washington County Criminal Defense Panel Program
  People charged with a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony in Washington County may get some brief legal help from a private attorney in this program free of charge. Call (651) 748-9373 for details.
• Washington County Legal Advice Clinic: Civil Law, Family Law & Criminal Law
  In partnership with Legal Assistance of Washington County, the Washington County Law Library offers a free 30-minute consult with a volunteer attorney for people who live in or have a court case in Washington County. You must complete an intake form to get an appointment. Family Law appointments are available every Tuesday from 1:00p - 3:00p and Civil Law appointments are available once per month from 1:00p - 3:00p. Please call (651)430-6330 with questions.

Wright County

The Wright County Law Library and Central Minnesota Legal Services offer a free legal advice clinic with a volunteer attorney every Thursday (except legal holidays), from 12:00p - 1:00p. Call (763)682-7592 for more details.

Other Legal Advice Clinics in the Community