As you may have heard, the MSBA renewed its relationship with Fastcase effective January 1, 2017. Through this partnership, the MSBA is able to offer members free legal research (a savings of almost $1,000 annually). According to a recent survey conducted by Clio, Fastcase is the number two legal research tool in the market, trailing […]

Editor’s note: The state ADR Ethics Board—which, to be clear, is not an MSBA-affiliated body—has asked for our help in publicizing a statement they have released concerning the practice of some neutrals of limiting a party’s input on disputes when the party’s financial obligations to the neutral are delinquent. That statement follows: “As members of the […]

The MSBA’s top legislative priority during this budget year at the state Capitol is helping to secure adequate funding for the justice system: the courts, public defenders, and civil legal services. All three parts of the justice system are seeking funding increases to help meet the challenges they face and perform the critical services they […]

In March, the MSBA Council voted to support a request from the Minnesota County Attorneys Association for legislation providing grants to county attorneys’ offices. (The Council is authorized to take legislative positions when there is insufficient time for the Assembly to act.) The grants would fund juvenile protection legal services provided by county attorneys’ offices […]

On March 30 the Judiciary and Court Rules Committees will meet jointly to hear from Justice David Lillehaug regarding the recent article he wrote for Bench & Bar regarding unpublished appellate decisions. Chief Judge Edward Cleary from the Minnesota Court of Appeals will provide his perspective as well. The committees will also review the comments […]

The MSBA Criminal Law Section will once again hold its annual seminar, “Everything BUT the Trial School,” on March 30. This year our focus is on providing accurate and meaningful advice under the difficult conditions of the implied consent call; conducting an initial consultation that serves the client as well as it sells services; and […]

It was standing room only on February 2 at Robins Kaplan when the firm hosted a response-team attorney training for lawyers interested in serving people affected by President Trump’s January 27 Executive Order on immigrants and refugees. The training featured contributions from the Center for New Americans, the Minnesota ACLU, and the International Refugee Assistance Project. […]

Over 3,000 licensed Minnesota lawyers participated in the 2017 ABA Pro Bono Survey this winter. Minnesota’s total number of responses was the third highest nationally, after Texas and California. The 12% overall response rate also exceeded all but one state. This year’s survey is the most extensive effort by the ABA to understand the scale […]

The MSBA is excited to announce that Mike Essien has been appointed to serve on the MSBA Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council. Mike is a principal at Essien Law Office, PLLC, where he practices intellectual property law with a focus on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and e-commerce. He is the current president of the Minnesota Association […]

MSBA’s Human Rights Committee and the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers are pleased to announce the next CLE in the “Legislating Equity” series. The next CLE in this series (March 29 at noon at the MSBA) will focus on health law and policy. The following panelists will steer us through this complex landscape: Dr. Edward […]