Milo Mumgaard Named Executive Director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)

Following a nationwide search that began in October, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Board of Directors has confirmed Milo Mumgaard as the organization’s pick to take the reins as executive director, effective Feb. 26.

Mumgaard, a native of Nebraska, will come to MMLA—the state’s largest nonprofit law firm—having helmed legal aid organizations in Nebraska and Arkansas. “Throughout my career in legal aid and public interest law,” Mumgaard says, “I’ve used MMLA’s high quality legal services as a model for equal justice in my own efforts to bring impactful change to people who need it most. I’ve long admired MMLA’s people, accomplishments and ideals. It’s truly an honor to know I’ll soon be part of the organization’s next chapter.”

Board Member, Bree Dalager, who led all phases of the search process adds, "Milo stood out for his depth and breadth of experience, having dedicated his entire career to the pursuit of justice for underserved communities. He is well-known in legal aid circles as an engaging, communicative leader focused on innovation, staff development, and above all, increasing access to justice.”

Prior to holding the executive director position at both the Center for Arkansas Legal Services since 2022 and Legal Aid of Nebraska since 2015, Mumgaard was the legal senior policy aide for the mayor of Lincoln, Neb.; regional director for Common Cause; associate general counsel for the AFL-CIO; and held posts as executive director and founder of Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, later serving as the Appleseed Foundation’s immigrant policy program director.

Mumgaard earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the school’s “Review of Law and Social Change.” He is currently licensed by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Nebraska State Bar.