The American Antitrust Institute (AAI) is an independent, nonprofit organization devoted to promoting competition that protects consumers, businesses, and society. AAI serves the public through research, education, and advocacy on the benefits of competition and the use of antitrust enforcement as a vital component of national and international competition policy. Gustafson Gluek is a Platinum level sponsor of AAI and has been an avid supporter of AAI for over 10 years. Dan Gustafson, Dan Hedlund, Michelle Looby and Cathy Smith have all served on various boards or committees of AAI. Additionally, in 2015, Michelle Looby received AAI’s award for Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement by a Young Lawyer.

The MN Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALAMN) provides continuing support, educational opportunities and information designed to assist its members in the legal profession through various committees, local events, and community service projects. Tracey Grill has been an active member of ALA for the past several years.

The Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL) was established in 1986 to promote and support the enactment, preservation, and enforcement of a strong body of antitrust laws in the United States. It is the only organization in the U.S. that is dedicated to lobbying for strong antitrust laws and effective private enforcement. Dan Hedlund is a past President of COSAL and Gustafson Gluek has supported this organization through membership over the past several years.

Domestic Abuse Project (DAP) serves the Twin Cities community with innovative and effective programming to end the inter-generational cycle of domestic violence. DAP’s mission is to build communities free from violence by providing holistic healing for every member of the family. DAP provides immediate assistance for survivors of domestic violence and their families by helping victims develop safety plans, file protective orders, and find safe shelter. It also works with adult male perpetrators of domestic violence, adult female survivors of violence, and children and adolescents who have witnessed or experienced abuse by providing individual and group counseling sessions. DAP has a new program to help veterans which incorporates the language and tenor of military culture to better respond to the needs of veterans in our community. Gustafson Gluek has been a Premier-level sponsor for DAP and participate in the annual luncheons and gala supporting their work for the community.

The Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is nationally recognized as a leader in creative and vibrant programming for attorneys and judges in service of the bar and the broader public. Gustafson Gluek has been supported the Minnesota Chapter of the FBA through sponsorships as well as memberships throughout the years. Dan Gustafson is a past President of the organization serving in leadership roles on many of the Minnesota Chapter’s various committees. Dan Hedlund and Dave Goodwin have also as board members as well as serving on numerous committees, often in leadership position, throughout the years.

The Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA) was founded in 1991 to organize Hispanic attorneys, judges, law students and other concerned members of the Hispanic community into a force for professional and community benefit. The MHBA mission is to unify and organize all members of the Hispanic legal community, to promote legal professionals, and to serve as an advocate for the Hispanic community in Minnesota. The MHBA strives to promote professional growth and opportunity for Latino law students and attorneys, to provide community service and to ensure access to justice for all. Gustafson Gluek has been a sponsor of Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association Annual Gala in 2019 and 2020.

Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA) is a voluntary, non-profit professional association comprised of paralegals living or working in the State of Minnesota and is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the paralegal profession. With over 600 members, MPA has grown to become one of the largest in the country and was proud to host the 2020 National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) Annual Convention, which was the first virtually held convention. Gustafson Gluek has supported MPA through sponsorships and memberships by our paralegals. Several of our paralegals have served as volunteers on MPA’s Board of Directors, committee chairs, and committee members, including Sarah Moen and Jamie Holzer, who served in the roles of president, vice president, director of positions and issues, and board advisor.

Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL) is an association of nearly 1,300 attorneys, judges, law students, legal employers and others who are dedicated to advancing the success of women attorneys and striving for a just society. MWL provides opportunities for its members to develop as leaders and network with other attorneys. MWL’s mission is to advance the success of women lawyers and strive for a just society. The organization’s core values are to promote equality and diversity within the legal profession and the community, to develop women lawyers into leaders, and to engage and celebrate a diverse community of women lawyers. Gustafson Gluek has been a long time Platinum-level supporter and a 100% club member where all female attorneys of the firm are members of MWL. Michelle Looby and Amanda Williams have both served on various committees of MWL over the years.

NALA is an organization which provides current information about the paralegal profession, continuing education, networking opportunities, professional certification programs, occupational survey reports, and other publications to help paralegals excel in the workplace and represents more than 18,000 paralegals. NALA offers certification through its Certified Paralegal (CP) program, which requires the individual to pass a rigorous examination of the knowledge necessary to be an effective paralegal, and its Advanced Certified Paralegal program, which is designed to recognize a paralegal’s commitment to continued growth by learning specific areas of law. Gustafson Gluek currently has one paralegal who has earned both the CP and ACP credentials.

National Federation of Paralegal Association, Inc. (NFPA) is an issues-driven, policy-oriented professional association directed by its membership, which is comprised of more than 50 member associations from across the country. NFPA’s Mission Statement and Core Purpose delineate its dedication to the advancement of the paralegal profession and leadership in the legal community. NFPA offers two credentialing exams, at two different levels for paralegals wishing to further their education and credentials, the .Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam and the Paralegal Core Competency Exam.. MPA is affiliated with NFPA and is one of the founding NFPA Associations.

Page Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1988 by NFL Hall of Fame Inductee, Retired Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient, Alan Page, and his wife, Diane Sims Page. The mission of the Foundation is to encourage Minnesota’s youth of color to pursue post-secondary education. Page Education Foundation’s programs help to financially support college students’ academic goals while fostering positive mentor relationships and encouraging role models for children. Gustafson Gluek has been a sponsor of the Page Education Foundation since 2016.

The Pro Se Project is an initiative of the U.S District Court, District of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. It is a nationally recognized program that pair pro se litigants, who receive a judicial referral to the Pro Se Project, with pro bono representation, even if it is just to provide the opportunity to meaningfully consult with a volunteer counsel. Gustafson Gluek was actively involved in the formation of this program and continues to support the program by frequently providing volunteer lawyersto assist in referred cases.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) has been providing free, high-quality legal help for 110 years to low income people in important civil matters, including housing, family law, refugee and immigrant services, and government benefits, among others. Every year, SMRLS staff and volunteers provide legal services in approximately 10,000 cases and serve an additional 20,000 people through community education and outreach activities. SMRLS relies on the financial support of the legal community in order to provide these important services, and Gustafson Gluek has proudly sponsored SMRLS events since 2017.

The Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) provides civil legal services to low-income individuals through volunteer attorneys. VLN’s mission is “to protect and promote the basic human needs of people in poverty through the power of legal volunteers.” Over the years, Gustafson Gluek has supported VLN through sponsorships as well as providing pro bono legal services to individuals through VLN. For example, David Goodwin has provided legal assistance, via VLN’s Letter to Creditors program, to clients who are being harassed by creditors for money that they do not owe or cannot pay. The firm has also sponsored VLN’s annual Riverfront Celebration fundraiser.