Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project Background
March 2019: Minnesota Supreme Court
Order ADM19-8002 established the Implementation Committee for the Proposed Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project to assess Pilot Project options and provide recommendations for implementing and evaluating the Pilot. Minnesota Supreme Court
Associate Justice Paul C. Thissen and Minnesota Court of Appeals
Judge John R. Rodenberg co-chaired the Implementation Committee, and members included legal experts from throughout Minnesota.
Also, see the March 2020 Judicial Branch News Item,
Supreme Court authorizes new pilot to expand role of legal paraprofessionals, for more information.
March 2020: The Implementation Committee filed its
report with the Supreme Court, recommending rule amendments and that the Pilot Project focus on both housing and family disputes.
April 2020: The Supreme Court issued an
Order establishing a public comment period and hearing.
July 2020: Following the public comment period, the Court issued the
Order Regarding Public Hearing on Proposed Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project, which set the schedule for the public hearing held on August 11, 2020.
September 2020: Order Implementing Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project
Pilot Project Overview
The Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project Standing Committee, established in November 2020, will oversee the Pilot effort and evaluate its success in meeting the goal of improving access to legal services. Minnesota’s Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project is intended to increase access to civil legal representation in case types where one or both parties typically appear without legal representation. The Minnesota Supreme Court
adopted Court Rule amendments on September 29, 2020, which authorizes the Pilot Project, effective March 1, 2021 through March 2023.
See the Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project site for information about the Pilot, including the application process and publc roster of approved participants.