Cynthia L. Anderson

Cynthia L. Anderson, Pro Bono Director, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and additional focuses in French and Japanese. After four years as a Language Instructor and Curriculum Developer, she worked for SMRLS Migrant Legal Services for two seasons doing a variety of legal casework as a paralegal. From 1991 – 1999 she worked at Immigrant Law Center of MN (ILCM) as an Accredited Representative recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals in a wide variety of immigration related matters. From 2000 – 2006 Cynthia was the Naturalization Project Manager at Centro Legal, Inc. where she specialized in the area of naturalization and maintained a variety of other immigration related cases. In 2006, she returned to ILCM as a BIA Accredited Representative in immigration law, and Supervisor of the Pro Bono and Education Projects, where she established a rigorous pro bono program. In June 2010 she became the ILCM Program Director and Legal Work Supervisor. She has created and provided CLE and law enforcement/professional trainings in many areas of immigration law with an emphasis on relief for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, violent crime victims and juveniles, citizenship and naturalization. She has been a guest instructor at Hamline School of Law and William Mitchell College in their immigration law clinics. In 2009 she received the MJF Outstanding Service Award. Working collaboratively to create viable projects to address the legal needs of low income individuals is a life long commitment and passion that continues as the new Pro Bono Director at Lindquist and Vennum.