If you live in Minneapolis and can’t afford a private lawyer, you have options. Several nonprofit and volunteer-lawyer programs provide free or low-cost civil legal help for renters, low-income households, seniors, immigrants, and more. This guide shows where to turn, what kinds of issues they handle, and how to prepare when you call.
Major Legal Aid Organizations in Minneapolis
Mid‑Minnesota Legal Aid (Minneapolis Office)
- Who they help: Low-income people, seniors (60+), and people with disabilities in Hennepin County and other parts of the service area.
- What cases they take: Civil issues such as housing (evictions, unsafe housing, tenant rights), debt/consumer problems, denial or termination of public benefits, disability-related cases, family law (custody, divorce, domestic violence), elder-law (wills, power of attorney, advance directives), immigration and citizenship help, and more.
- How to contact: Office at 111 N 5th St, Ste 100, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Phone: 612-334-5970 (intake).
- Eligibility: Low-income individuals, seniors 60+, or people with disabilities — check intake for current income or asset guidelines.
Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN)
VLN matches people in need with volunteer attorneys for civil-law issues when possible.
- Who they help: Low- and moderate-income residents of Hennepin County — when cases fit VLN’s capacity.
- What cases they handle: Civil issues: bankruptcy, consumer problems, debt collection, family law (divorce, custody), and other civil disputes depending on volunteer availability.
- How to contact: Call 612-752-6677 (Mon–Thu, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.) or complete an online intake form.
- Notes: Because volunteers choose cases, there’s no guarantee — but VLN often helps when other legal-aid programs are full.
Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Hotlines in/near Minneapolis
- HOME Line (Tenant/Renter Hotline) — Offers free legal advice to renters across Minnesota (including Minneapolis) on housing issues, eviction, tenant rights, and related housing-law problems. Call 612-728-5767 (or toll-free 866-866-3546); services available in multiple languages.
- Self-Help & Advice Clinics via Hennepin County Self-Help Center — For eligible low-income clients: free, brief advice on civil issues including family, housing, consumer, and other disputes. Clinics such as the “Legal Access Point (LAP)” civil-law clinic and the “Family Law Clinic” operate on certain weekdays.
- MN Legal Advice Online — A statewide digital resource where low-income Minnesotans can post civil-law questions (housing, benefits, debt, family, etc.) and receive confidential answers from licensed volunteer attorneys. Good for quick guidance or initial questions.
What Legal Aid in Minneapolis Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Criminal defense — most free legal-aid providers in Minneapolis focus on civil matters such as housing, benefits, family law, and consumer issues.
- Complex or high-value commercial/business litigation — free aid is meant for individuals and families, not businesses or corporations.
- Because demand is high, even if you qualify there may be limited capacity — some eligible people get only brief advice, referrals, or help with paperwork rather than full representation.
Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Minneapolis
If you face an urgent problem — eviction, risk of homelessness, unsafe housing, immediate debt collection, benefit loss, or family-law emergencies — act quickly. Some services may prioritize urgent civil cases.
- Call Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid immediately — for eviction defense, unsafe or discriminatory housing issues, benefit or disability-related emergencies, domestic-violence or family law crises, or urgent debt/consumer issues.
- Use HOME Line’s tenant hotline — if you are facing eviction or tenant-landlord disputes, especially if housing stability is at risk. Hotline is free, confidential, and multilingual.
- Attend a Self-Help or Legal Advice Clinic at the Hennepin County Self-Help Center — free, volunteer-lawyer clinics may be able to provide quick advice or referrals for urgent civil issues. Sign-up is first-come, first-served.
How to Prepare Before You Call for Legal Aid in Minneapolis
- Have proof of income or benefits ready — pay stubs, benefit award letters, bank statements, unemployment, etc.
- If it's a housing issue — collect your lease or rental agreement, any notices from landlord, eviction or rent-demand letters, photos of unsafe conditions, rent receipts, or utility shut-off notices.
- For benefits, consumer, or debt issues — gather letters, notices, bills, court papers, debt collection letters, benefit-denial notices, or any relevant communications.
- Basic personal and household info — names and ages of household members, address, current living situation, and contact info.
- If there’s an urgent deadline (eviction date, court date, benefit cutoff, utility shut-off), write it down and mention it when calling — urgency can affect priority.
- Be ready to explain clearly: what happened, when, who’s involved, and what outcome you need. That helps intake staff understand your situation fast and decide if they can help.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) — If you don’t qualify for full aid, VLN may still be able to match you with a volunteer attorney for reduced-cost or free representation.
- MN Legal Advice Online — For low-cost or free legal guidance and answers to civil-law questions from volunteer lawyers, even if you don’t get full representation.
- Self-Help Clinics & County-Based Advice Clinics — Many court-based or community-center clinics offer help with document preparation, basic advice, or referrals when you represent yourself.
- Housing-specific Housing Rights Hotlines (like HOME Line) — Free legal advice to renters and tenants, which can help with eviction, landlord disputes, or unsafe conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Minneapolis has a robust civil-legal aid infrastructure — including Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Network, tenant-hotline services, and self-help clinics — to help people who can’t afford private attorneys.
- If you face housing problems, evictions, debt or consumer issues, benefits denial, family law issues, disability or elder-law needs, immigration questions, or other civil legal issues — there is a good chance one of these services can help.
- In urgent situations — eviction, housing insecurity, benefit loss, or other crises — call as soon as possible, with documents ready. Many providers prioritize urgent civil legal issues.
- Even if you don’t qualify for full representation — legal-advice hotlines, self-help clinics, and volunteer-lawyer networks offer alternatives to help you take first steps or get limited support.