Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota receives $218,000 grant for ‘pro bono’ services

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced Thursday that it is awarding $218,895 to Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM).

According to LSC, of low-income Americans seeking legal help, half are turned away.

Organizations such as LSNM use private attorneys who volunteer their time and take cases “pro bono” for those in need.

Officials say the grant will allow expanding access to estate planning services for homeowners across a 22-county rural service area, along with essential legal documents, transfer-on-death deeds, wills, health care directives, and powers of attorney.

“Over the last half century, the Legal Services Corporation has supported legal aid programs that have made a difference to countless Americans,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “This grant to Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota will expand access to estate planning services across our state, helping rural Minnesotans get the legal help they need.” 

The grant came from LSCs’ Pro Bono Innovation Fund, which has awarded 180 grants totaling more than $50 million since its inception.