Minnesota Agencies

The Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) makes grants to legal services and alternative dispute resolution programs serving low-income clients. LSAC has been charged by the Court with ensuring its “grant making procedures promote statewide access to legal services for low-income Minnesotans and lead to effective use of funding by grantees.”

LSAC is responsible for the management and distribution of grant funding from three primary sources: Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) revenue, an appropriation from the Minnesota legislature, and a portion of the lawyer registration fee.

Laws of Minnesota 2024, chapter 123, article 11, section 4-5 amends Minn. Stat. 480.242 to establish a State Board of Civil Legal Aid to take on the role of establishing guidelines in the form of court rules to be used by recipients to determine the eligibility of individuals and organizations for legal services provided with funds. Staff currently employed to support the advisory committee created pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 480.242, shall transfer to the State Board of Civil Legal Aid effective July 1, 2025. 

11 members appointed by the supreme court including seven attorneys-at-law who are well acquainted with the provision of legal services in civil matters, two public members who are not attorneys and two persons who would qualify as eligible clients.