Vetlaw: Veteran Legal Services

We Help Minnesota Veterans Overcome Their Legal Obstacles

MACV’s Vetlaw program is committed to removing legal obstacles that prevent Minnesota Veterans from obtaining and maintaining stable employment and housing. Vetlaw provides Veterans with legal assistance, information, and advice via direct representation, community legal clinics, referrals, and phone services.

All Veterans are encouraged to contact Vetlaw if you have a legal question or need assistance.

Please call us at 651-200-4750 or email vetlaw@mac-v.org to schedule time with a staff attorney.

Vetlaw Events

Vetlaw holds clinics throughout the year to provide free legal advice and services to Veterans.

If you are interested in holding a legal clinic in your area, please contact us.

View Upcoming Events

About Our Vetlaw Services

Close-up of psychologist writing down notes while talking to her

MACV’s Vetlaw program provides legal information, referrals, and legal advice to Minnesota Veterans regarding most legal topics.

Our Veteran advocate lawyers are only able to represent Veterans who are homeless or in danger of homelessness and who meet our low-income limits. Representation is offered on a limited and case-by-case basis.

We offer free legal advice for Veterans, including help with legal forms, to a large number of Minnesota Veterans. Our Veteran advocate lawyers are only licensed to advise on Minnesota state law; we cannot advise Veterans on other states’ laws or federal law but we will help Veterans connect with legal resources in those states that will meet their legal needs.

Types of Legal Issues and Services

There are two main types of legal issues: criminal and civil.

A criminal law case is when someone is accused of breaking a law and the punishment may involve going to jail or prison. A civil case is between two or more people to resolve a dispute; some common types of civil cases are family law, housing law, consumer debt collection, employment, access to benefits, and probate cases.

Vetlaw provides the materials and resources to help veterans understand their case and navigate the legal process. Legal issues arise in many areas of life, and Vetlaw is able to help Veterans understand their specific legal needs and the legal resources available for them. Most programs providing free Veteran legal aid require clients to meet certain criteria based on income, case type, and the location of the case. Vetlaw will help you determine if you qualify for these programs.

Online Legal Resources

LawHelpMN.org

LawHelpMN.org contains resources to assist you in understanding your civil legal issue in Minnesota and how to find your local legal aid program. The site includes fact sheets gathered from many trusted sources, including legal aid offices, the Attorney General’s Office, and other state and federal agencies.

StatesideLegal

StatesideLegal is for members of the military and Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and their families and advocates. This organization focuses on federal issues that are consistent from state to state, like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Veterans’ benefits claims. It also provides an overview of civil areas of law that your military or Veteran status may impact, such as divorce or debt collection. The site includes links to local programs to help Veterans find resources in their area.

Minnesota Judicial Branch

The Minnesota Judicial Branch website is the home of the Minnesota court system. The site has several useful features for individuals looking for legal resources. You can find legal forms for many types of legal actions, answers to frequently asked questions, and information about past or pending legal cases. The website also has a system for paying fines and fees owed to the court.

Please note that court staff cannot provide legal advice; they can help you find a form or understand the legal process but cannot tell you whether you will win your case or how to improve your chances.

Find an Attorney

Find a lawyer allows you to search for an attorney by your legal issue and location. If the free legal aid programs do not resolve your questions or situation, you can connect with an attorney. Find a Lawyer searches through a list of attorneys put together by the Minnesota State Bar Association; many of these attorneys offer a free 30-minute consultation. Not every attorney is listed on this website.

MACV is pleased to offer this website to clients, attorneys, advocates, elected officials, law students, and the public for general information purposes only. This website is not intended for nor is it to be used as a substitute for legal advice. It may not reflect current legal developments. You should not rely on this website as a source of legal advice.

This website is neither a solicitation nor an offer to represent you. The information provided to you on this website is not intended to create and does not create a lawyer-client relationship with MACV or with any lawyer or advocate at MACV. By sending MACV or any of its personnel an email through this site, you do not create an attorney-client relationship with MACV. Although we welcome contacts by telephone, electronic mail, or other methods, we will not have an attorney-client relationship with you until and unless you and we reach such an agreement.