free the people
legal Advocacy Programs.
Every year, numerous people fall through the cracks of our legal system because they make too much to qualify for public defense services yet make too little to hire a private attorney. Therefore, they end up representing themselves, often pleading guilty — resulting in negative impacts on housing, employment, education, and more, as they now have to acknowledge the conviction on official forms and applications.
Additionally, many people seeking assistance with their DACA Renewal, Asylum, and Naturalization cases similarly end up representing themselves because they cannot afford to hire private counsel.
Minnesota Freedom Fund’s “Free the People Legal Advocacy Program,” which includes criminal defense and immigration services, was built to address these gaps.
Community members have better outcomes when attorneys are present, active, and advocating on their behalf. Through direct and client-centered legal advocacy, our clients, their lives, and their stories will be humanized instead of criminalized.
To read more about this program, click here, and to apply for the programs, see the links below.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
The criminal defense arm of the Legal Advocacy Program will assist Hennepin and Ramsey County residents who make too much to qualify for public defense services yet make too little to hire a private attorney. In the first year, MFF will provide pro bono legal representation in five cases that have a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or low-level felony offense. The program will accept clients who meet the eligibility requirements on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Immigration
The immigration arm of the Legal Advocacy Program will assist all Minnesota residents. Each month, MFF will provide pro bono limited, immigration services for five clients who are representing themselves and are seeking legal assistance filling out application paperwork for their DACA Renewal, Asylum, and Naturalization cases. Like our criminal defense program, our immigration services are built to offer legal advice to clients who cannot afford to hire private counsel but still need legal advice. After applications are completed, the client would represent themselves in court or obtain immigration counsel for additional help.