LAW ADVOCATES OF MINNESOTA:

The organization was founded in 1961, under the name Lawyers' Wives of Minnesota, to extend the aims and purposes of the legal profession; to encourage acquaintances among wives and families of lawyers and judges; to assist in fund raising, social, and other activities of the Minnesota State Bar Association; and to charter local groups in areas served by a local bar association. It is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Minnesota State Bar Association and the American Lawyers Auxiliary. In 1981 they changed their name to Lawyers, Advocates and Wives of Minnesota, and in 1991 to Law Advocates of Minnesota.

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The eleven folders of minutes contain agendas, financial reports, and related materials from the board of directors, executive committee, and annual meetings. They contain information on membership growth, scholarship programs, and, in the 1960s, programs relating to delinquent youth. The minutes also describe the work of local chapters, mainly those in Ramsey and Hennepin County, and in Duluth. There is also information on its tax status, nomination of officers, social and fund raising events, and routine administrative matters.

The minutes reflect the changing interests of the organization, beginning in the 1970s, as it emphasized the dissemination of law information, particularly among high school and elementary students through printed matter and programs; on providing legal information to low income groups through pro bono aid and legal clinics; and on cooperation among law schools in the Twin Cities area. There is also some information on the organization's participation in Law Day USA and the Manitoba/Minnesota Convention (1987), and on a group called Law Related Education, which was part of the educational mission of the group. The minutes are fairly complete; the 1981-1985 and 1988 years are missing.

The remaining materials include organizational documents, annual reports (1968-1994), lists of directors (1967-1993), membership directories (1963-1964, 1991-2000), newsletters (1961-1964, 1981-1997), correspondence, clippings, and photographs.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Law Advocates of Minnesota Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,202; 15,718

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, December 1995; Rich Arpi, May 2005

Catalog ID number: 990017328970104294

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Records of the Law Advocates of Ramsey County are in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Juvenile delinquency -- Minnesota -- Prevention.

Lawyers' spouses -- Minnesota -- Societies, etc.

Legal aid -- Minnesota.

Legal assistance to juvenile delinquents.

Women -- Minnesota -- Societies and clubs.

Youth -- Minnesota -- Information services.

Places:

Duluth (Minn.).

Hennepin County (Minn.).

Ramsey County (Minn.).

Organizations:

Minnesota State Bar Association.

Occupations:

Lawyers -- Minnesota.

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