Student Discipline
Legal Assistance Resource List
This list provides information about legal assistance, advocacy services, and lawyer referral services. This list is not exhaustive. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and its employees cannot provide recommendations on which resource, if any, you should choose. This list is made available to parents in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act (PFDA). 34 C.F.R. § 300.507(b) and Minn. Stat. § 121A.47. subd. 2(f)(1). Please note: MDE is not endorsing or vouching for any person or organization on this list. If you or your organization would like to be added to this list, please contact MDE at 651-582-8689 or mde.assistance-compliance@state.mn.us.
*“Income restrictions” indicates that clients must meet the organization’s financial eligibility guidelines. Please contact the organization if you have questions about financial eligibility.
Disability Law Center at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Disability Law Center Locations |
Service Area |
Contact Information |
Minneapolis Office |
Provides statewide services to people with disabilities on issues associated with disabilities in the Twin Cities metro area. *No income restrictions |
612-334-5970 800-292-4150 TTY: 612-332-4668 |
Duluth Office |
Provides statewide services to people with disabilities on issues associated with disabilities. *No income restrictions |
800-292-4150 |
Fertile Office |
Provides statewide services to people with disabilities on issues associated with disabilities. *No income restrictions |
800-292-4150 |
Mankato Office |
Provides statewide services to people with disabilities on issues associated with disabilities. *No income restrictions |
800-292-4150 |
Anishinabe Legal Services
Service Area |
Contact Information | |
Mailing Address: |
Residents living on or near the Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth Reservations in northwestern Minnesota. *Income restrictions |
218-335-2223 800-422-1335 |
Cass Lake Office (Central Office) |
218-335-2223 | |
Red Lake Office |
218-335-2223 x113 | |
White Earth Office |
218-335-2223 x114 |
Central Minnesota Legal Services
Service Area |
Contact Information | |
Minneapolis Office |
Residents of Hennepin and Anoka Counties. *Income restrictions |
612-332-8151 |
St. Cloud Office |
Residents of Benton, Chisago, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties. *Income restrictions |
320-253-0138 |
Willmar Office |
Residents of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Swift, and Renville Counties. *Income restrictions |
320-253-0138 |
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota
Service Area |
Contact Information | |
Brainerd Office |
Residents of Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin Counties. *Income restrictions |
218-829-1701 800-933-1112 |
Duluth Office |
Residents of Carlton, Cook, Lake, and southern St. Louis Counties. *Income restrictions |
218-623-8100 800-933-1112 |
Grand Rapids Office |
Residents of Itasca County. *Income restrictions |
218-322-6020 800-933-1112 |
Pine City Office |
Residents of Pine and Kanabec Counties. *Income restrictions |
320-629-7166 800-933-1112 |
Virginia/Iron Range Office |
Residents of northern St. Louis, Lake, and Koochiching Counties *Income restrictions |
218-749-3270 800-933-1112 |
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Location |
Service Area |
Contact Information |
400 Alliance Bank Center |
Serving the 33 counties of southern Minnesota, including the east and south metro. *Income restrictions |
651-222-5863 877-696-6529 |
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Locations |
Service Area |
Contact Information |
Alexandria Office |
Residents of Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wadena Counties *Income restrictions |
320-762-0663 800-450-8585 |
Bemidji Office |
Residents of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen Counties. *Income restrictions |
218-751-9201 800-450-8585 |
Moorhead Office |
Residents of Becker, Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and Wilkin Counties. *Income restrictions |
218-233-8585 800-450-8585 |
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Locations |
Service Area |
Contact Information |
Minneapolis Office |
Serves Minnesotans in the 20 counties of central Minnesota, including Hennepin. *Income restrictions |
612-332-1441 800-292-4150 |
St. Cloud Office |
Serves Minnesotans in the 20 counties of central Minnesota, including Hennepin. *Income restrictions |
320-253-0121 888-360-2889 |
Legal Services Advocacy Project |
651-222-3749 800-292-4150 | |
Willmar Office |
Serves Minnesotans in the 20 counties of central Minnesota, including Hennepin. *Income restrictions |
320-235-9600 888-360-3666 |
Legal Rights Center
Legal Rights Center Location |
Service Area |
Contact Information |
1611 Park Avenue South |
The Legal Rights Center states that its mission is to provide the highest quality criminal defense and restorative justice services to low-income people, in particular people of color. Its focus is Hennepin County, its priority is juveniles, and its services are at no cost. |
612-337-0030 |
Advocacy Services
These services protect and advocate for the legal rights of persons with disabilities.
Organization |
Services |
Contact Information |
The ARC of Minnesota |
The ARC of Minnesota promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities. |
952-920-0822 833-450-1494 |
Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) |
AuSM provides you with resources so you can learn and make choices that best serve the needs of your loved one with autism |
651-647-1083 |
PACER Center |
PACER Center provides statewide assistance to individual families, workshops, materials for parents and professionals, and leadership in securing a free appropriate public education for all children. PACER’s work affects and encourages families in Minnesota and across the nation. |
952-838-9000 |
National Alliance on Mental Illness |
NAMI Minnesota champions justice, dignity, and respect for all people affected by mental illnesses. Through education, support, and advocacy, they strive to eliminate the pervasive stigma of mental illness, affect positive changes in the mental illness system, and increase the public and professional understanding of mental illnesses. |
651-645-2948 |
Lawyer Referral Services
These services may be contacted to request a referral to an attorney who specializes in representing parents in the area of education law. If you select a referred attorney, you may wish to check to see if a referral or consultation fee is charged. You and your attorney will negotiate any legal fees you may owe.
Organization |
Services |
Contact Information |
The Minnesota State Bar Association |
The Minnesota State Bar Association has resources on legal topics and can provide information on how to find a lawyer. |
612-333-1183 800-882-6722 |
A website with fact sheets about legal topics, links to legal aid offices and free legal clinics, do-it-yourself legal forms, and other resources. |
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Statewide legal services available for low-income people through a network of legal clinics and volunteer attorneys. Spanish legal services available. Assistance can range from brief advice to screening for full representation depending on income level, county of residence, legal issue, and merits of the case. |
612-752-6677 (intake by phone available Monday - Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) | |
Dakota County Legal Referrals |
Legal Assistance of Dakota County provides free legal representation and advice to low-income people for civil legal problems and offers an attorney referral services through the Dakota County Bar Association. |
952-431-3200 |
Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Information Service |
The Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Information Service (MNLRIS) connects persons with legal issues to qualified private attorneys practicing in many areas of law. |
612-752-6699 An Online Self-Referral form is also available – visit the website. |
The Attorney Referral Service of Ramsey County assists callers in finding an attorney who practices in the area of law that best fits the caller’s needs and offers a Modest Means Program for low-to-moderate income individuals in Ramsey County and surrounding areas. |
651-222-0846 | |
Minnesota State Law Library |
The State Law Library has compiled lists of legal referrals by county and by subject. |
651-297-7651 TTY: 1-800-627-3529 |
Private Attorneys
You and your attorney may negotiate any legal fees you may owe.
Organization |
Services |
Contact Information |
Kane Education Law, LLC |
Statewide |
651-222-8611 |
School Law Center, LLC |
Statewide |
651-222-6288 |
If you or your organization would like to be added to this list, please contact MDE at 651-582-8689.
Call: 651-785-4064 Visit: 
