Mena Feleke

For my Chuck Green Summer Fellowship experience, I partnered with Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN). VLN connects volunteer lawyers to low-income individuals who need legal aid and helps eliminate barriers for individuals navigating the legal system. 

I spent most of my time completing a research project about how the forfeiture and seizure system operates in Hennepin County’s Conciliation Court. I examined and cataloged over 100 cases from 2021 and 2022 documenting property being seized, the value of the property, whether attorneys were active in these types of cases, how many used an ‘innocent owner’s’ defense, and how all of these factors influenced case results. I also looked at the Minnesota State Auditor’s report that details how many seizures are occurring in each law enforcement entity in Hennepin County and the profit that these entities are making due to the high number of forfeitures.   This data suggests that perhaps legal representation could level the playing field for defendants in such cases.  Based on these findings, my supervisor and I created a Continuing Legal Education seminar attended by legal professionals from the Twin Cities metro. I also spent a good portion of my assisting VLN staff at immigration legal clinics. I met with clients,  and assisted on asylum applications, change of venue/address forms, and work authorization documents. I also assisted with VLN’s Afghan Special Project completing Green Card and re-parole applications for Afghan Refugees. 

I am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to work at such an incredible organization like Volunteer Lawyers Network. As someone curious about life in the legal field, I felt like I gained a better understanding and perspective on what that kind of work looks like. I am walking away with a better understanding of how the immigration process works in the United States.  In the future I hope to explore unanswered questions  regarding the forfeiture and seizure system in Minnesota.