Attorneys licensed in Minnesota can receive CLE credit for pro bono work. The CLE for Pro Bono Rule is primarily administered by the
Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education.
Under the rule, only pro bono work done through an "approved legal services provider" is eligible for CLE credit. The rule defines an "approved legal services provider" as:
- an organization funded by the Legal Services Corporation or the Minnesota Legal Services Advisory Committee, OR
- an organization designated by the Minnesota Legal Services Advisory Committee. Eligibility for designation is limited to: (a) programs providing pro bono legal representation within 501(c)(3) organizations that have as their primary purpose the furnishing of legal services to persons with limited means; (b) law firms, law libraries or bar associations that conduct programs that have as their primary purpose the furnishing of legal services to persons with limited means and are under the supervision of a pro bono coordinator or designated lawyer; (c) law firms that provide pro bono legal services on behalf of a Minnesota Judicial Branch program, including but not limited to, the Guardian ad Litem Program.
If an organization is not an "approved legal services provider" under the first part of the rule but meets the criteria under the second part of the rule, an
Application for Designation as Approved Legal Services Provider may be submitted to the Legal Services Advisory Committee. Applications are reviewed at the next regularly scheduled committee meeting and, if approved, are effective from the day of receipt.
The following organizations have submitted applications and been approved under Rule 2.B. as eligible for CLE credit for qualifying pro bono under the rule:
Nonprofit Organizations
- Innocence Project of Minnesota - Effective 4/1/09
- Institute for Justice Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 6/30/10
- Cancer Legal Care - Effective 9/28/10
- Twin Cities Christian Legal Aid - Effective 8/23/11
- Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans Pro Bono Program - Effective 11/29/11
- Disability Rights Oregon - Effective 10/17/14
- HOME Line - Effective 11/10/14
- Legal Rights Center - Effective 11/25/14
- Children's Law Center of Minnesota - Effective 7/1/16
- Domestic Abuse Legal Advocacy Center - Effective 7/5/16
- Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network - Effective 8/29/18
- Casa Corneilia Law Center - Effective 8/29/18
- Family Preservation Foundation - Effective 12/13/18
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project - Effective 6/22/20
- St. Croix Legal Services - Effective 10/17/22
- Isuroon Legal Center - Effective 3/1/23
Other Approved Legal Services Providers
- Dorsey & Whitney Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 10/13/08
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 8/29/08
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Judicial Branch Pro Bono Program - Effective 8/29/08
- Fredrikson & Byron Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 8/25/08
- Stinson Pro Bono Program (including Deinard Legal Clinic) - Effective 9/23/08
- Ballard Spahr Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 10/1/08
- Robins Kaplan Guardian ad Litem Pro Bono Program - Effective 2/18/09
- Robins Kaplan Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 8/12/09
- Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Pro Se Project - Effective 9/22/10
- Anoka County Law Library - Effective 7/1/13
- Carver County Law Library - Effective 7/1/13
- Ramsey County Law Library - Effective 7/1/13
- Scott County Law Library - Effective 7/1/13
- Washington County Law Library - Effective 7/1/13
- Minnesota State Law Library - Effective 7/1/13
- Minnesota State Law Library Appeals Clinic - Effective 7/19/16
- Nichols Kaster Low-Income Pro Bono Program - Effective 3/19/21
- Dakota County Law Library - Effective 3/15/23
- ABA Free Legal Answers - Effective 9/15/23