Civil Litigation Section

The MSBA Civil Litigation Section is comprised of lawyers practicing in civil litigation, without limitation to a particular substantive area, as well as members of the judiciary. The Section serves its members and the legal community by:

• Advancing standards of practice in civil cases;
• Fostering connections among lawyers and the courts;
• Offering learning opportunities to improve methods, techniques, and procedures in the field; and
• Providing a network of experienced and diverse lawyers that promotes collegiality in the profession.

The Civil Litigation Section provides opportunities to make a difference in the advocacy system and to enjoy worthwhile benefits. These include:

• Multiple free CLE webcasts offered annually (some of which include free lunch!)
• Opportunities to build a network of contacts by meeting and working with colleagues and judges in person and remotely;
• Connection to hundreds of other attorneys through the “Communities,” an online listserv in which members can ask and answer questions, network, refer, and engage in other opportunities to collaborate and connect;
• Access to Judges' Courtroom Preferences, developed from questionnaires provided to District Court judges;
• Monitoring legislation that affects civil practice in Minnesota;
• Invitations to occasional in-person and virtual community service events;
• Access to monthly Practice Tip emails; and
• The Statutes of Limitations Manual "Time's Up" is updated annually and provided digitally to members free of charge. 

The Mission of the Civil Litigation Section is to enhance the skills of Minnesota lawyers practicing civil litigation, and to serve as a liaison with other parts of the Bar Association on litigation-related issues involving professional standards, services and activities.

It is furtherance of its mission, and contingent upon available funds and anticipated expenses, on very rare occasions the Civil Litigation Section may support requests for funding of programs or activities that further support the mission of the Section.  

In order to apply for funds, all programs and organizations must complete and submit form here to Kelly Kozicky, Section Services Director at kkozicky@mnbars.org.

 

The Civil Litigation Section is committed to finding ways in which it can serve others. Each year, the Section plans and hosts at least one community service event to provide attorneys with an opportunity to engage with one another while providing assistance to those in need.

In early September 2020 the Section hosted two community service events with Urban Ventures Farm and Loaves & Fishes. 

At Urban Ventures Farm attorneys helped cultivate and harvest produce that supports the needs of that community. The Farm is an impressive operation, working hard to address opportunity gaps in academics, nutrition, physical activity, parenting resources, and more—all with the overarching goal to prepare and send every youth in our South Minneapolis neighborhood to college or post-secondary education.

At the Loaves & Fishes events, section members helped serve meals for at-risk communities at the Holy Rosary and St. Stephen's Churches in Minneapolis. In this time of isolation, the event was a time for the Minnesota bar to come together, interact while following social distancing guidelines, and do good at the same time. Loaves & Fishes mission is to provide fresh, healthy meals to Minnesotans in need and does so at numerous sites throughout Minnesota.