Legal Referrals: Partner Agencies

Asylum, Detention

Phone: 612-341-3302 
National Asylum Help Line: 612-746-4674 
Detainees: 612-341-9845 OR 612-746-4674 
Hours: Monday- Friday 9am-4pm 

The largest provider in the Upper Midwest of free legal services to low-income asylum  seekers. Thanks to our powerhouse of volunteer and staff attorneys, paralegals, and law  students, we represent refugees and immigrants who cannot afford to hire an attorney.  

Contact If You Are:

• Afraid to return to your home country
• Seeking asylum 
• A detained immigrant or someone trying to help a person who is detained 
• Trafficked for either labor or sex 
• Suffered harm while in detention or was unfairly detained 
• A former client with an immigration question/issue 
• LGBTQ+ rights 
• Death Penalty 

Immigration Legal

Direct Immigration Line: 612-243-2961 
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-5pm 

A Department of Justice recognized agency that provides immigration legal services to  the immigrant community in the Twin Cities. Primary legal services include: Green card  applications, family-based visas, travel documents, and citizenship applications. Arrive  Ministries serves over 1,300 immigrants annually in immigration legal services such as: 

• I-485 permanent residence (green card) 

• I-751 removing conditions on residence 

• 245(i) Life Act Lawful Perm Residence 

• N-400 naturalization (US Citizenship) 

• N-600 Certificate of US Citizenship (for children deriving citizenship from parents)

• I-130 family based petitions for family members of U.S. citizens or green card holders I-730 family based petitions for family members of refugees or asylees AOR – Affidavit of Relationship – a special family sponsorship program for refugees I-129F fiancé of a U.S. Citizen petition 

• I-131 refugee travel document 

• I-765 employment authorization (work permit) (renewal) 

• Document replacement for I-94 and green cards 

Civil Legal Advice

Phone: 612-338-5282
Hours: Mondays: 9:30 am – 4 pm
Tuesdays: 9:30 am – 4 pm
Wednesdays: Not open
Thursdays: Every 2nd Thursday/month from 12:30-2 pm, *by appointment only
Fridays: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Founded to serve the “Ellis Island of the Midwest,” Brian Coyle is among the city’s busiest social service centers with a continuum of programs designed around the neighborhood’s rapidly changing immigrant communities.

Free legal advice and basic services on a variety of civil issues including immigration, housing, and debt collection. Days and times vary. Call your neighborhood center for details.

Torture Survivor Rehab Services

St. Paul Office Phone: 612-436-4800
New client intake: 612-436-4855
St. Cloud Office Phone: 320-217-5052

St. Paul Healing Center
If you are interested in services, the first step is to come to our walk-in social work clinic. You will meet with a social worker or a social work student to talk about your needs and learn about community resources and our services. We are closed on U.S. federal holidays. If you speak a language not listed here, we will obtain an interpreter for you. Walk-ins accepted Wednesday 9am-4pm. Languages available: French, Spanish

At the Center for Victims of Torture, we are forging new ways to advance human rights and build a future free from torture. Through research, training, advocacy and our healing services for survivors, each initiative we undertake plays a role in building a larger vision for the torture rehabilitation movement. We provide a bridge between torture victims, the local community and society as a whole, working to restore the dignity of the human spirit one survivor at a time.

Latino Resource Hub

St. Paul Phone: 651-379-4200
Minneapolis Phone: 612-746-3500

A linguistically and culturally relevant resource and service nonprofit organization by Latinos for Latinos. Our programs and services connect families to resources, skills, institutions, and systems and create an environment for people to be engaged and empowered. CLUES programs are designed to provide access to resources and opportunities for Latino families and individuals to be healthier, prosperous and engaged.

Behavioral Health
Family Wellbeing
Community Resource Navigation
Financial Empowerment
Employment & Workforce
Adult Education
Children’s Education
Youth Engagement & Enrichment
Parent Engagement
In-School Partnerships
Public Policy
Civic Engagement
Cultural & Community Engagement

Somali Youth Development

Phone: (612) 605-3222

Education and Youth Development: CSCM is Minnesota’s leading Somali education and youth development agency. We focus on building skills, creating safe spaces for young people to express themselves, and educating youth.

Education
Youth Development
Youth Leadership
Connecting Generations
CSCM through our partners connect individuals and families to wraparound support that meet a wide variety of needs, including education, employment, housing, and legal assistance.
CSCM’s Shaqodoon (job seeker in Somali) program creates empowerment through employment. Our employment programs and services serve the Twin Cities metro region and are targeted at Somali youth ages 14-24.

Public Legal Resources

As a leader in the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Bar Association strives to improve the law and equal administration of justice for all. The MSBA offers resources for Minnesotans seeking legal guidance.

The MSBA offers a free online referral service called MN Find a Lawyer. This directory is available to anyone looking for legal help anywhere in Minnesota and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thousands of attorneys across all practice areas are available. Search by location, language, keywords, fee structures and more.

For those pursuing pro bono legal representation, there are several statewide resources. Legal forms, fact sheets and self-help clinics are also available to the public at no cost.

The Minnesota State Bar Association is unable to provide advice, counsel or representation to members of the public concerning specific legal matters.

Employee Rights

The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER), enforces the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b. Regulations for this law are found at 28 C.F.R. Part 44. 

This federal law prohibits: 1) citizenship status discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, 2) national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, 3) unfair documentary practices during the employment eligibility verification, Form I-9 and E-Verify, and 4) retaliation or intimidation.

If you feel you have suffered one of these forms of discrimination, call the Worker Hotline: 1-800-255-7688

Domestic Violence Resources for Latinas

24-Hour Crisis Line: (651) 772-1611

A leader in the domestic violence movement and a national resource center for organizations working with Latinas in the United States. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota Casa de Esperanza’s mission is to “mobilize Latinas and Latina communities to end domestic violence.” Founded in 1982 to provide emergency shelter for Latinas and other women and children experiencing domestic violence, the organization has grown to become the largest Latina organization in the country focused on domestic violence. Casa de Esperanza is also committed to becoming a greater resource to organizations and communities in the areas of sexual assault and trafficking.

• Mostly in the Twin Cities
• 24 hour crisis line
• Shelter
• Find local shelters
• Order of protections
• Assists minors in some cases

Resources for Children with Incarcerated Parents
 

In response to the harmful effects of mass parental incarceration on children and their communities, Children of Incarcerated Caregivers (CIC) researches and disseminates information to policy makers, legal professionals, and community representatives to support the evidence-based creation of policies, laws, and programs that promote the best interests of the child in relation to parental or caregiver incarceration.

Using applied research, we aim to reduce the number of parents sent to prisons and jails. We urge those working in the Minnesota legal system to consider the child-parent relationship during sentencing and advocate for alternatives to separating children from parents. We provide legal professionals with resources to support systematic consideration of the best interests of the child during sentencing and other hearings including bond, probation violation, and parole hearings. 

We directly support the development and well-being of children impacted by a parent’s incarceration by connecting families with resources, information, and opportunities. We raise funds to provide free enrichment opportunities to children that are facilitated by our community partners, such as the YMCA. 

Workers' Rights

CTUL organizes low-wage workers from across the Twin Cities to develop leadership and educate one another to build power and lead the struggle for fair wages, better working conditions, basic respect, and a voice in our workplaces. CTUL is an organization of workers and for workers, committed to securing fair working conditions for present and future generations.

Latino Family Resources

Phone: (612) 872-6165

Serving the Twin Cities since 1987, La Oportunidad’s mission is to champion the development of Latino individuals and families to create a strong, peaceful community. Our ultimate goal is to close the achievement gap and to break the cycle of poverty and violence.

Programas:
Programa para niños ‘El Camino’
Programa para Jóvenes Latinos
Jóvenes Profesionales
Programa para Padres
Alfabetización Temprana
Programa para Latinos Eliminando el Abuso (LEAP)
Programa de Televisión ‘En Familia’
La Conferencia Anual de Paz y Liderazgo
Voluntarios
Programa para Jovenes,”Latino Power”

Economic and Legal Resources for New Immigrants

Phone: 651-647-0191, press 2, ext. 305

The Institute delivers services and resources to assist New Americans in the transition to a new life leading to economic self-sufficiency. Working together, New Americans, volunteers, and staff create not only a new home, but also a new future for those who have been displaced. From language learning and job training to citizenship classes and the celebration of cultural traditions, the Institute offers New Americans a pathway for a strong start to a new life in our community – something we all benefit from.

Refugee Services:
Refugee Resettlement, Housing Services, Medical Services, Refugee Employment Services and Secondary Arrivals

Workforce Development:
Refugee Employment Services

Hospitality Careers Pathway: 
Hotel Housekeeping, Dietary Aide and Supervisor Training

Medical Careers Pathway: 
Nursing Assistant Training Program, College Readiness Academy, Intro to Human Body Systems, Academic Advantage at Saint Paul College and Medical Career Advancement

Education:
English for Work, Evening English, Advanced English, Evening Spanish, College Readiness Academy, Intro to Human Body Systems, Academic Advantage at Saint Paul College and Diversity in Social Work Advancement Program

Immigration & Citizenship:
Citizenship Filing Assistance, Anti-Human Trafficking, Unaccompanied Minors and Citizenship Classes

Immigration Services:
Citizenship through Naturalization (N-400)
Citizenship through Parent (N-600)
Lawful Permanent Residency (I-485) for Refugees and Asylees
Replacement of Green Card (I-90)
Petition to Remove Conditions on Green Card (I-751)
Employment Authorization (I-765)
Replacement of Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization (N-565)
(DACA) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (I-821D)
Refugee/Asylee Family Petitions for less than 5 years (I-730)
Replacement of I-94 (I-102)

Diversity Visa Lottery: 
Please visit the State Department website for more information

Criminal Defense

Phone: 612-337-0030

The Legal Rights Center is a community-driven nonprofit law firm, specializing in adult and juvenile criminal defense, and restorative justice practices and advocacy.

The Legal Rights Center runs two programs: Community Defense Program and Youth: Education, Advocacy & Restorative Services. While each program has distinct goals and methods, collectively they point to the overall vision of improving the experience of the justice system for communities of color, if not proactively solving problems that prevent involvement in the justice system in the first place.

Community Defense Program:
Attorney representation in criminal or juvenile court (Hennepin County only) 
Legal advice regarding potential criminal charges 
Information and legal advice regarding criminal records problems 
Information and referral for non-criminal legal problems

Youth: Education, Advocacy & Restorative Services (YEARS):
Families have the ability to build on strengths, address harm, and move towards reconciliation and healing. They are in the best position to determine the course of their own restoration.

As much as possible, our communities and families should come together to solve problems before intervention from the court system becomes nec
essary.

Restorative justice brings healing not only to individuals but to their communities as well.
Restoring offenders and healing victims is of greater value than punishment and vengeance.

Immigration Legal

Phone: 651-642-5990
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm

Refugee and Immigration Services: Offers Immigration Legal Services for a nominal fee to help refugees, asylees and other immigrants living in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud complete immigration documents – including Permanent Resident, Naturalization, Employment Authorization, and family visa applications.

Due to the complexity of the immigration process, LSS Refugee Services provides free consultation and screening services during walk-in hours every Tuesday at the Minneapolis office and every Wednesday at the St. Cloud office.

Immigrant services included:
• Alien Address Change
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request
• Application for Replacement of Arrival/Departure Document
• Travel Document
• Adjustment of Status Form
• Employment Authorization Document Application
• Replacement Permanent Resident Card
• Application for Naturalization
• Application for Certificate of Citizenship
• Additional Copy Requests- For individuals who were resettled by LSS and require additional copies of documentation.
• Application to Remove Conditions on a Green Card
• Application for Immediate Family Visa
• Application to Replace Naturalization Certificate

Immigration Legal

Intake for potential client (immigration): 612-332-1441
General Intake: 1-800-292-4150
Hours: Monday 10:30am-12:30pm, Thursday 1:30pm-3:30pm
Email: MPLSImmigrationintake@mylegalaid.org

Immigration legal services for residents of Hennepin and Anoka counties. No detention services.

Immigration Services:
• Citizenship
• Delegation of parental authority
• Permanent resident status
• Asylum and protection
• Crime and trafficking victims
• ‘Domestic abuse protection
• Government benefits for immigrants
• Removal defense
• Detention
• Adjustment of status
• SIJS
• Housing
• Tax unit
• Family law unit

Refugee Legal Services

Phone: 612-874-8605

MCC Refugee Services provides the following low-cost immigration services for refugees and asylees:

Family Reunification
Green Card
Citizenship
Other Immigration Services:
I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) for Green Cards that are expired, lost, or stolen
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization to obtain or renew the Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
I-131 Application for Travel Document
Reentry Permit: Permanent Residents to reenter the US
Refugee Travel Document: For refugees to travel abroad
Advance Parole Document: to authorize the temporary parole of a person into the US
 

survivor Crisis Resources

Crisis Line: 1866-223-1111
Text: 612-399-9995
Hours: 24/7
MN Victim support line: 1866-385-2699 or Text: 612-399-9977

MN Day One networks with over 80 victim service and youth serving agencies to provide immediate access to safety and services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Help is available to you no matter where you’re located in the state of Minnesota. Regardless of the time of day, you can get connected to resources and learn about your options. Whether you’re experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking or simply questioning aspects of your relationship, advocates are ready to listen and provide information.

The Minnesota Day One Crisis Line is staffed around the clock, seven days a week. When you call, you’ll connect with an advocate who can provide options and help you access safe housing and other resources you need.

Civil Rights Enforcement

Hours (Saint Paul office Walk-ins): Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00am - 4:30pm

The Minnesota Human Rights Act -- passed into law in 1967 -- protects the civil rights of all Minnesotans, in every county of the state. The Act protects Minnesotans in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education, credit, and business based on their protected class, such as: race, religion, disability, national origin, sex, martial status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

The Minnesota Human Rights Act states that the Department will:
Investigate and eliminate discrimination;
Educate Minnesotans about their civil rights; and
Ensure a more equitable and inclusive workforce in Minnesota.

MDHR takes walk-ins on a first come, first serve basis.

Online Legal Advice

Free confidential legal advice from volunteer lawyers. Must be a Minnesota resident, 14 years or older, and low-income.

When you ask a question on our site, it is private. Your question is only seen by the volunteer lawyers. You are the only one who sees the advice you get from the lawyer. This way you can be totally honest and know that the highest standards of privacy apply to your conversation with the lawyer.

The advice on this site is provided personally to you by volunteer lawyers who are committed to helping low-income people. We verify that all the lawyers giving advice on this site are licensed to practice law in Minnesota. The lawyers here volunteer to answer questions for free because they believe it is important that everyone is able to get legal advice, whether or not they can afford to pay.

We are here to provide free advice because we are committed to the rights of all Minnesotans. We are part of the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition, which provides free legal help on civil legal issues. If you qualify to use this site, all the advice and information you receive is free.

Basic Needs

Phone: (651) 789-2500
Neighborhood House offers services in the areas of basic needs and lifelong learning. We have six Family Centers to help people with food support and housing. Our lifelong learning programming takes place at our West Side location in the Paul & Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building. All of our programs and services are offered free of charge to our participants.

Parent and Early Childhood Education
Youth Leadership Programs
Adult Education
Food Support Program
Family Centers:
Crisis Intervention, Eligibility, Life Skills Education, Cultural and Social Engagement, and Basic Needs Program Events

Criminal Defense

Phone: 651-222-4703
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Email: info@njcinc.org

Neighborhood Justice Center (NJC) is one of the longest-standing public defense organizations in Minnesota providing comprehensive criminal defense representation to ensure everyone—regardless of income, race, or immigration status—receives fair treatment in Minnesota’s legal system. 

NJC has been providing services to low-income and indigent people in the East Metro area with a focus on communities of color since 1973. The agency focuses its work in St. Paul, Minnesota and the surrounding East Metro area.

South Asian Immigrant Programs

Phone: 763-234-8301

SEWA-AIFW is a nonprofit organization committed to serving, supporting, and enhancing family wellness for the South Asian community. Especially the vulnerable and underserved, in the Twin Cities and around Minnesota, by providing health care access and wellness information and resources; access to family violence resources and supports; and elder socialization activities.

Available services:
Health Initiatives
Women's Programs
Nerurodiveristy
LGBTQ+ Programs
Youth Programs
Senior Programs
Afghanistani Programs
Men's Programs
Research
Economic Empowerment
 

Civil Legal

Phone: 651-291-2837
Intake line: 1-888-575-2954 
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services provides free, high-quality legal help to low-income people in critical civil matters. For 110 years, we’ve helped individuals and families secure and protect their basic needs, maintaining freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness, and abuse.

Immigration Services:
Applications for permanent residence
Naturalization and Citizenship applications
Applications for victims of domestic violence and violent crimes
Replacement of lost, stolen or expiring documents
Family visa petitions (limited)

Family Law:
Protection order, divorce, custody matter, or Indian Child Welfare Act

Government Benefits:
People who have been denied government benefits or have had grants reduced or terminated

Housing:
People whose landlord is trying to evict them, raising rent, shutting off utilities, refusing to give back a security deposit, or not making necessary repairs

Education:
Families with children struggling in school or not receiving a fair and appropriate early childhood to high school public education

Seniors:
Seniors 60+ who have a problem with Social Security's SSI program, Medical Assistance, or nursing home

Agricultural Worker Project/El Proyecto Para Trabajadores Agrícolas:
Assist agricultural workers with employment-related legal issues

Education Services

Phone: 651-632-8927 
Email: communication@vssmn.org

Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota (VSS MN) serves immigrants and refugees from all over the world. VSS MN is a direct service organization, serving low-income families, welcoming newly arrived immigrants and refugees, and supporting youth, adults, and seniors on their journey as new Americans.

The mission of Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota is to maintain the identity of Minnesota’s Vietnamese community while addressing the basic economic, education, and health needs of refugees and immigrants statewide and promoting healthy and thriving communities.

Free Legal Assistance

Phone: 612-752-6677 
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am-1pm

Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to connecting Minnesotans experiencing poverty with some of the top private lawyers in the state at no cost. Some issues VLN helps with:

Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support and more
Civil Law: Unpaid wages, garnishment, debt collection, security deposits, property damage and more\
Housing: Eviction, rent escrow, eviction expungement, repairs, landlord/tenant issues and more
Immigration: Most kinds of immigration issues
Criminal expungement: Sealing of Minnesota state criminal records
Bankruptcy: Chapter 7, adversary proceedings and more

Resource/Information Service

Phone (toll free): 800-543-7709
Phone: 651-291-0211
Text: your zip code to 898-211*
Hours: 24/7

Provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota. Available any time to connect you with the resources and information you need.

Basic Services and Civil Legal Advice

Phone: 612-721-1681
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm

A long-standing pillar of the vibrant Phillips Community in South Minneapolis, our Waite House neighborhood center nurtures the health, prosperity, and social capital of over 4,500 community members each year. Resources and services are:

Food shelf
Community meals
Produce distribution
Free legal advice and basic services on a variety of civil issues including immigration, housing, and debt collection. Mondays 10am-2pm.