We’re Here to Help

Central Minnesota Legal Services has been providing civil legal services to low-income persons in 21 counties in Central Minnesota for more than 40 years.

Our mission is to advocate for access to the civil justice system for low income people by providing high quality legal services and to improve the lives of people living in poverty by empowering self-advocacy skills through legal education.

CMLS helps eligible clients through direct representation, brief advice, and through participating in community legal education programs.

We Defend Those Who Can’t Defend Themselves

CMLS staff provide legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in 21 Central Minnesota counties from three offices located in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Willmar. Our staff attorneys are dedicated to preserving clients’ basic needs and protecting them from abuse.

In 2015 CMLS assisted over 2,100 individuals and families and helped more than 7,200 additional individuals and families through our self-help clinics.