FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:October 7, 2024Contact: Ellie Andersonellie.anderson@state.mn.us 612-594-1721Governor Walz Appoints Jessica Fralich to Fill Sixth Judicial District Vacancy[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment of Jessica Fralich as District Court
Bench & Bar of Minnesota
Bench & Bar of Minnesota, published by the Minnesota State Bar Association, covers topics related to the Minnesota legal community including judicial appointments, legal technology innovations such as artificial intelligence in law practice, access to justice initiatives, and developments in civil legal aid. The blog discusses the impact of AI on legal ethics and practice, profiles legal professionals and leaders in public interest law, and reports on legislative changes affecting legal aid and the judiciary. It also addresses legal writing, pro bono work, and efforts to improve legal services accessibility across Minnesota.
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AI + MSBA: Building Minnesota’s legal future
From practice innovations to battling the justice gap, the bar’s new Artificial Intelligence Standing Committee has big plans
By Damien Riehl
Shortly after the November 2022 launch of ChatGPT, the MSBA was among the first state bar associations to consider…
Flash Backward: The future of legal tech and the art of persuasive legal writing
By Brendan Kenny & Neven Selimovic
From the art of debate to the psychology of persuasion, legal writing stands alone as the purest form of argument in our profession. Good legal writing is an attorney’s main vehicle of advocacy. Legal…
‘Legal aid is in really good hands’
A conversation with five retiring access to justice leaders
By Kiri Somermeyer
On May 20, the MSBA Access to Justice (ATJ) Committee had the great opportunity to hear from five retiring leaders in the access to justice and pro bono…
Legislature creates State Board of Civil Legal Aid
By Bridget Gernander
Effective July 1, 2025, the State Board of Civil Legal Aid will become a stand-alone agency in the Judicial Branch, joining the State Board of Public Defense as another important access-to-justice institution for Minnesotans unable to afford…
Pro bono work is part of our duty
By Samuel EdmundsAs I reflect on my journey in the legal profession, one chapter stands out as particularly formative: my early years as a criminal prosecutor. During that time, one of the opportunities I had was to handle criminal expungement…
Lightning round: Ethics tips
BY SUSAN M. HUMISTON
Got a few minutes? Here are several legal ethics tips to improve your practice.
Want to avoid an ethics complaint? Communicate often and well with your client, even (especially) the bad news.
Even if there is…
Go a little slower. You’ll get more done.
By Sarah MacGillis
As I write this, I have 18 tabs open across the top of my screen. I dart from article to article searching for relevant information while simultaneously chuckling at what I am researching: the idea of…
Spread the word: Judicial elections matter
The results of the MSBA’s poll of our attorney members for the three contested statewide judicial races and several local district court races offer valuable insights into how our members view these crucial races: They overwhelmingly favor the incumbents in…
Greater Minnesota Legal Opportunity Map
Did you know there’s a Greater Minnesota Legal Opportunity Map?
It’s an interactive map that includes full-time and part-time attorney positions as well as other opportunities, such as judicial clerkships, firm buyouts, and mentoring relationships. You can even filter for…