Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc.

Save the Date for our annual fundraising event, Social Justice: On Tap! Join us at Saint Paul Brewing for a night filled with delicious food, exciting activities, a chance to bid on great auction items, and to support a truly impactful cause. More information to come soon! #SMRLS

On Monday, March 3rd, Supervising Attorney Russell Squire argued before the Minnesota Supreme Court in the case of Christopher Thigpen vs. Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). He contended that the severe financial penalties for unemployment misrepresentation overpayments violate constitutional rights against excessive fines. These penalties, which include a 40% penalty, 12% interest, and a complete bar on unemployment benefits until the debt is repaid, disproportionately affect low-income individuals like our client, who owes over $50,000. Brianna Boone, Assistant Director of Litigation and Advocacy, served as co-counsel, and Paralegal Ann Sullivan represented the client in earlier proceedings. Learn more by streaming the oral argument: https://lnkd.in/ea2bduNA

Congratulations to one of Lead Family Law Attorneys, Monica Dooner Lindgren, who received the Access to Justice Award from the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association on Friday! This award recognizes her commitment to defending and improving access to legal services, the Courts, and the broader justice system for the marginalized people in Minnesota and across the country.

SMRLS Central and Administrative offices, formerly located in the Alliance Bank Building at 55 E. 5th Street in Saint Paul are relocating. The unfortunate circumstances surrounding the building’s future is forcing us to move. Much of our metro operations will be going remote until a new location can be secured. We want to assure you there will be no disruption to client services. Any inquiries specific to a case will still be handled by the case advocate or attorney. While this disruption was unplanned, we are well prepared by 115 years of continuous service to the community and we look forward to announcing our new metro location in the near future. Our Midway office located at 450 North Syndicate Street, Suite 285, St. Paul, MN 55104 will serve as a temporary location for deliveries, mail and meetings with clients. Any questions or general inquires can be directed to smrls.adminstration@smrls.org We extend our heartfelt thanks to our community partners and staff for their invaluable support during this transition.

SMRLS' administrative offices have been impacted by the impending closure of the Alliance Bank Building in Downtown St. Paul. This closure will NOT affect our client services and our other office locations remain open. We are working with our community partners to find a solution, but there is no further information at this time. If you have any interest in learning how you may support our work as we navigate this turbulence, please contact cla@smrls.org.

At SMRLS we are supported by our community of volunteer and pro bono attorneys. Thank you to all who contributed their services for our clients in our fight for justice!

Who will seize the Joseph T. O'Neill Memorial Cup? 🏆 Get ready for the 22nd Annual Lawyers on Ice! Whether you're a solo skater or part of a team, this is your chance to shine at the legendary Xcel Energy Center. All proceeds go to support the amazing work of SMRLS. Feel the thrill of skating like a pro and making a difference! 🎟️ Tickets are on sale now at https://lnkd.in/g79MzjWW #LawyersOnIce #HockeyForACause #SMRLS #SkateLikeAPro

Thank you to all at Taft for your continued support!

Joe Schmit is a distinguished sports broadcaster who has been with KSTP-TV since 1985, earning 18 Emmys and The Silver Circle designation in 2020 for his exceptional contributions to the broadcasting industry. An accomplished author of two books, Joe is also a passionate youth mentor, having raised over $3 million for Big Brothers and Big Sisters through his celebrity golf tournament. Hear more from Joe at our Fall Luncheon on November 16th. Tickets are available here! --->https://bit.ly/47mNv92

Fall is in the air, and you know what that means… It’s almost time for the SMRLS Annual Fall Appreciation Luncheon! Join us as we celebrate 115 years of service and reflect on all the amazing accomplishments of the past year. Let’s come together to honor our journey and look forward to an even brighter future. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to connect, celebrate, and appreciate! See you there! Go to smrls.org/events or scan the QR code to purchase tickets. #SMRLS115 #JusticeMatters