Volunteer Lawyers Network

Stephanie Brehe

In violation of civil rights law, they do not work with people with disabilities. Further, they repeatedly mentioned that I would need to "negotiate" fees with the lawyer they assign. Once I informed them that due to current disability status I would need probono assistance on this matter (the reason I had been referred to them), they informed me that they would not work with me- after three separate in-take lawyers said that they would. THIS is Hennepin County's probono legal service???? It's a scam.

Concerned Parents

Funders, referring legislators, ombudsman, social workers and attorneys, per multiple calls with intake over the years regarding various different issues, this organization does NOT provide services as advertised. Intake consistently tells people that the only service offered is a 30 minute consultation from an pro bono attorney. Are standard free legal consults technically considered pro-Bono “volunteer work”? Free consults are already a standard a offered by most attorneys in order to establish the facts of the case. Per intake coordinators, contrary to the services advertised on the website, this is in fact the ONLY service provided by this organization. So why exactly is the pro bono volunteer help? The case consult? I hope attorneys aren’t using this misleading organization to obtain pro bono/continuing ed credits under the guise of standard 30 min case consult’s without actually providing the pro bono work advertised by the org. What is the purpose of this organization? The Website falsely states the following mission statement and services are offered: “These volunteers protect the rights and property of thousands of clients every year by advising them at legal clinics, drafting legal documents, (NOT TRUTHFUL) representing them in court (NOT TRUTHFUL) or otherwise supporting them in their pursuit of justice. Volunteer Lawyers Network coordinates these relationships, (intake specifically says they cannot coordinate relationships because it’s only a 30 minute consult again NOT TRUTHFUL) provides insurance to volunteer attorneys, educates and recruits new volunteers from the legal community, trains law students and lawyers on effectively working with (working with or providing a free consult? ) people experiencing poverty and advocates for policies that make our justice system equally accessible to all. We work with partners in immigrant, refugee, Indigenous, faith and LGBTQ+ communities, and programs that serve previous offenders, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, people experiencing homelessness, youth and many more to ensure our services are available to the people who need them most.” No DV referrals or services were provided despite articulation of urgent need) This has been an ongoing issue for some time. When I brought this up with intake today they said they have “tried to update the website to better reflect the true scope/limitations offered” but as of today the website indicated in fact the opposite is true. A nonprofit should not mislead the public regardless of whether the recipient is a paying customer or not

Sara

No one ever gets back to you. Very difficult to reach on the phone.

Sandra Salinas

I got a call from the receptionist on 04/11/21 at 4:11 pm. She was really rude. In the beginning, she asked some questions and when I asked for repeating them, she seemed annoyed by it. Then, when I was giving extra information about my case, she said "that was not my question" which it leave me stunned by her way to answer Lastly, she said that she can not move forward with my case because I did not have access to my joint bank account with my ex-husband despite I explained to her that he controls that account and I don't have access to it. I know that you work "volunteering" and people do not pay for the service. But if you want to really volunteer, make it better because although we do not pay, we don't deserve being treated with rudeness.