2L Ashley Meeder, J. Singleton '12 Recognized for Outstanding Access to Justice Work

The Minnesota State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee conferred its 2021 Bernard P. Becker honors for outstanding legal work on Ashley Meeder, 2L (Law Student) and J. Singleton '12 of Legal Services State Support (Emerging Leader).

Meeder began volunteering with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) in June of 2020 as a summer law clerk. She has continued to volunteer for MMLA through the pandemic while concentrating on her studies in law school. At MMLA, she has played a crucial role in advocating on behalf of tenants with low- incomes in eviction proceedings and provided direct client representation in housing cases involving severe repair problems. During the summer of 2020, she performed 400 hours of full-time service with MMLA, and since then has volunteered another 192 hours of service.

“I was so touched when I learned the MMLA housing team had nominated me,” Meeder said.  “I am incredibly grateful for the ways Minnesota Law has helped me tap into ways to support low income and marginalized communities, and I feel lucky to have met so many great advocates and mentors through MMLA and the Law School.”

Singleton developed the Legal Organizations Online Network (LOON). Singleton also redesigned LawHelpMN.org with a triage function that points people to the best legal resource for their needs. The redesigned LawHelpMN platform has been recognized in Minnesota and nationally as a model for statewide public legal information websites. Singleton led State Support through the process of improving web-based resources in response to the pandemic and evolving legal needs, resulting in increased traffic to LawHelpMN.

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