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What is the Kids Law Project?
The Kids Law Project focuses extensively on the legal needs and rights of children. It is a voice for children and represents their unique, special needs.
The Kids Law Project gives expert guidance and direction to children and their families who are in need of legal services. This service is available to the community and to individual children who ensure that children have a voice in the judicial and administrative process and in the legislative arena.
This program brings to the children of Northeastern Minnesota a resource to help them grow into healthy and self sufficiant adults. The worth of its work and the widespread support it has received are a statement of Minnesota's love for it's children and the community's commitment to take responsibility for the welfare of all its children.
Kids Law Project
The Kids Law Project was created to help children in need of legal representation on matters affecting their civil rights, health, education, and welfare. These needs are met through the Volunteer Attorney Program's Kids Law Project which provides timely and effective intervention and/or advocacy on behalf of children.
Our Goal
The goal of the Kids Law Project is to ensure that children have a voice in the judicial process and that their legal rights are protected. This goal is threefold:
- To represent individual children in court proceedings.
- To mediate and settle issues regarding individual children without court intervention whenever possible.
- To identify and advocate for changing systematic problems that negatively impact Minnesota's children
Telephone Assistance and Referrals
The Volunteer Attorney Program takes calls from children who have questions about their legal rights or are in need of legal representation.
Parents may also call to request both legal help and referral sources for their children.
Staff will conduct a telephone intake to gather information regarding the facts and circumstances of a child's case. An intake with the child will be requested if the child is old enough to discuss legal issues and is comfortable doing so.
Requests for assistance on behalf of children may be made by any individual or organization, including parents, foster parents, friends, social workers, workers, therapists, teachers and attorneys. If the Volunteer Attorney Program determines that the case is appropriate, a volunteer attorney will be proved who will represent the child.
Who is Eligible?
All children under the age of 18, and in special education cases under the age of 22, are eligible for the services of the Kids Law Project.
