(Pro Bono Policy | Pro Bono Spotlight | Recognition | Contact Us)
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Pro Bono - Fulfilling Unmet Needs in the Community
The Maslon Law Firm recognizes that we must act as a leader, both in our profession and within the communities we serve, to address the rising incidence of unmet legal needs among the disadvantaged. As attorneys, we believe such work is our moral and ethical responsibility and is fundamental to the integrity of the judicial system. Our long-standing commitment to pro bono work includes recent participation in the Pro Bono Challenge, a pact formed by the nation's largest law firms to significantly increase the amount of pro bono work being performed by their organizations.
We encourage our attorneys and paralegals to pursue pro bono work that represents their distinct individual interests and concerns. As a result, our work spans a broad spectrum of clients and cases, including civil rights matters. Maslon has represented and will continue to represent a diverse range of clients, including work through the following organizations:
- ABA Death Penalty Project
- ACLU of Minnesota
- Catholic Charities
- Center for Individual Rights
- Central Minnesota Legal Services
- Children’s Law Center
- Chrysalis Safety Project
- Common Bond
- Council on Crime and Justice
- Federal Public Defenders Office
- Groves Learning Center
- Harriet Tubman Center
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
- Innocence Project of Minnesota
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Minneapolis
- Legal Aid
- LegalCORPS
- Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
- Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts
- Minnesota State Public Defenders
- Minnesota Wills for Heroes
- Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
- Volunteers Lawyers Network
- Wills for Heroes Minnesota
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Pro Bono Spotlight
Susan Link Interviewed by KARE 11 on Minnesota Wills for Heroes
Susan Link, chair of Maslon's Estate Planning Group, was interviewed on KARE 11 Sunrise regarding her work for Minnesota Wills for Heroes. The interview, conducted by host Kim Insley, aired on Thursday, September 4th, 2008. As program director for Minnesota Wills for Heroes, Link explains the project's origination in South Carolina in response to the tragedies of 9/11 when emergency first responders indicated that estate planning services were one of their top needs and describes her role in helping to launch the program in Minnesota this past year through the Minnesota State Bar Association. She comments, "85-90% of first responders have no estate planning documents in place," and cites concerns about cost as a primary deterrent. View the full Kare 11 Coverage (A video of the interview is available on the right side of the Web page.)
Maslon Answers Call for Volunteers for the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Project
When Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights and The Minnesota Law Firm Pro Bono Consortium (a group of more than 15 MN Law Firms that are working together to take larger Pro Bono cases) put out a call for volunteers, Maslon answered in force. More than 20 attorneys and paralegals have been taking statements of Liberians in the Twin Cities, who have been subject to human rights abuses and war crimes. The statements will be used to record history and may help victims heal and may also be used for prosecution of war criminals in the future.
VLN Legal Access Point (LAP) Clinic Connects Maslon with Clients in Need
Maslon attorneys give their time to the Volunteer Lawyers Network's Legal Access Point Clinic (LAP) on a weekly basis. Attorney volunteer Shanna Sedah says that the experience provides her with a different type of client interaction and reminds her how complicated the legal system is for those who are unfamiliar with the process. Advice sought is most often in the areas of landlord tenant law, employment law, bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law. The volunteers also provide general information on forms and the role of the court. Attorneys Mary Vasaly, Andre LaMere, Paul Civello, Jenny Benowitz, Julian Zebot and Catherine Ahlin-Halverson join Shanna in volunteering services at the LAP Clinic.
SMRLS Health Care Directives Project Enables Maslon Attorneys to Assist Seniors
Attorneys from Maslon and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services "SMRLS" have teamed up on a new Pro Bono initiative to provide free legal community education sessions to economically disadvantaged seniors on a variety of legal topics, including Health Care Directives. Larry Koch and Matt Shea have presented at SMRLS Community Education Sessions and have received high accolades.
Maslon Attorney Offers Representation to Women Through The Pro Bono Safety Project
Nicole Narotzky has volunteered with the Chrysalis Safety Project for the past three years, helping low-income battered women obtain Orders for Protection. Recently, Nicole obtained an Order for Protection on behalf of a client and her minor son. Nicole continues her involvement because "Chrysalis is a wonderful organization and the Safety Project is a great way to represent a client in a (usually) short term pro bono case."
Minnesota State Bar Association, Wills for Heroes
Sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association and Co-Chaired by Maslon attorney Susan Link, the Minnesota Wills for Heroes program is designed to provide free legal services to prepare basic estate planning documents for Minnesota First Responders. First Responders include: police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and corrections officers (in addition to the spouses or widow/widowers of such personnel). The volunteer attorneys will draft basic Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives for the First Responders and their spouses who have a collective net worth of less than $500,000 per person.
Susan Link Receives President's Award From the MSBA
Maslon Attorney Susan J. Link received the President's Award from the Minnesota State Bar Association as part of Wills for Heroes Minnesota. Susan serves as Co-Chair for the organization.
(Pro Bono Policy | Pro Bono Spotlight | Recognition | Contact Us)
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Recognition
Maslon Receives Distinguished Service Award for Children from Children's Law Center of Minnesota
The Maslon Law Firm was honored by Children's Law Center of Minnesota (CLC) with the Distinguished Service Award for Children at the 13th Anniversary Celebration and Benefit on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 in Minneapolis. The Distinguished Service Award for Children is presented to firms who have given extensively of their time and legal skill to advocate on behalf of children within the legal system. In accepting the award, Maslon acknowledged the particular involvement of attorneys Mary Vasaly, Bill Mullin, Virginia Bell and Alain Baudry.
"Throughout CLC's years of operation, Maslon attorneys have volunteered their time and talents to make children's voices heard in the systems that affect them. Maslon lawyers have set a high standard for pro bono representation of children and have particularly contributed to the work of CLC," explained CLC Executive Director Gail Chang Bohr. (view full announcement)
Susan Link Named Maslon's 2008 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
Maslon is pleased to recognize Susan Link as our 2008 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. Susan demonstrates an outstanding commitment to providing pro bono legal services. In the past year, she has devoted more than 400 hours to Wills For Heroes Minnesota. She has worked tirelessly to develop processes, training and most importantly wills for this program. We applaud Susan for her service to the community and those who would otherwise not have the assistance of counsel.
David Schultz Named Maslon's 2007 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
Maslon is pleased to recognize David Schultz as our 2007 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. David is an attorney who demonstrates a significant commitment to providing pro bono legal services. In the past year David has devoted more than 100 hours to Pro Bono Service. In addition to those hours, David has been instrumental in positioning Maslon to take its first death penalty case. David has also been involved with the Innocence Project, the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission and numerous other projects. We applaud David for his extaordinary commitment to serving the community.
(Pro Bono Policy | Pro Bono Spotlight | Recognition | Contact Us)
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Contact Us
For more information on Maslon's Pro Bono Program, please contact:
Astrid Eglitis
Director of Recruiting and Professional Development
Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
3300 Wells Fargo Center
Minneapolis, MN 55402-4140
astrid.eglitis@maslon.com
