Who We Are

The Legal Rights Center is a community-driven nonprofit law firm, specializing in adult and juvenile criminal defense, and restorative justice practices and advocacy.

By community-driven, we refer not only to our diverse staff and board, but also to our distinctive bottom-up internal structure in which our community advocates, rather than our attorneys, take the lead in:

• Assessing community needs and recommending the programmatic direction of the Legal Rights Center
• Advocating for clients by setting up criminal defense representation with the Legal Rights Center’s full-time highly experienced staff attorneys, or helping with referrals to other legal and social service nonprofits as appropriate
• Communicating with clients on pending matters (in partnership with our attorneys or restorative justice practitioners)
• Bringing legal knowledge back to the community with “street law” presentations in partnership with the attorneys
• Participating in community forums and organizations that address the general well-being of the community.

On our letterhead, below "Legal Rights Center", is a statement of our identity: A Law Firm Of and For the People.We take pride in the fact we are not merely For the People.

The Legal Rights Center is financially supported by: the State of Minnesota, the United Way, foundations, local law firms, corporations and individuals. Clients are never charged for our services.

For more information please see: Our Values & Operating Principles, Our Vision, Our History, and Our Staff & Board.