On February 22, 24 lawyers and 8 law student volunteers gathered at the Hmong American Partnership in East St. Paul to serve the community at a Legal Advice Day. MNAPABA Outreach Committee member Summra Shariff organized the event in partnership with the Volunteer Lawyers Network, Hmong American Bar Association and the Hmong American Partnership. A diverse group of clients received help on a variety of legal issues, including immigration, criminal, housing, civil, and family law matters. At the clinic, clients received help drafting pleadings, immigration forms, and accessing other legal resources. In addition, interpreters were on hand to makes sure all clients understood the advice provided.

Prior to the Legal Advice Day, all volunteers participated in a training at Robins Kaplan LLP. Moving forward, we hope to establish a regular monthly clinic to provide much needed legal services in east St. Paul, an area where there are few affordable legal resources and many people who need help.

MNAPABA member Victor Chan advises a client at the Legal Advice Day on February 22, 2017