direct legal services
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.
Continuing Legal Education
At the Minnesota Freedom Fund, our Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses focus on helping legal professionals better understand how law and policy shape people’s lives.
Each session brings together attorneys, advocates, and others working in the legal field for conversations grounded in practice, with space to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from one another.
These programs are built to encourage connection across roles and perspectives. Whether you’re a public defender, prosecutor, private attorney, judge, or policy advocate, you’ll be part of a group that cares about fairness and accountability in the legal system.




