MLBA and its members have demonstrated leadership in advocating for change within the legal system. MLBA is proud of its following accomplishments:
- Is the organizer of its annual Conference, which started in 1991 and is the premiere LGBT-focused attorney conference in the region.
- Successfully hosted the national Lavender Law conference in 2004.
- Participating as an amicus curiae in the Minnesota landmark case, Lawrence v. Gardner, the only Minnesota LGBTA group to do so;
- Collaborating with the Minnesota State Bar Association (“MSBA”) to update the state Code of Judicial Conduct anti-discrimination language to be sexual orientation-inclusive;Collaborating with the MSBA’s Minority Bar Summit to create a legal diversity website, ww.mnlegaldiversity.org;
- Participating as an amicus curiae in Dale v. Boy Scouts of America case – the only such group from the Midwest to so participate;
- Acting as the sole organizational plaintiff in the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union’s successful constitutional challenge to Minnesota’s “sodomy” law;
- curiae briefs with the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Pinkal v. State, challenging the mishandling of a gay man’s claim of discriminatory law enforcement, and, with the Minnesota Supreme Court in the important transgender related case Goins v. West Group;
- Lobbying the MSBA, Hennepin County Bar Association (“HCBA”), and Ramsey County Bar Association (“RCBA”) to endorse a resolution opposing a state constitutional amendment banning legal recognition of same-sex couples;
- Numerous MLBA Members named as Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40;
- MLBA Members holding leadership roles with the National LGBT Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, and other district Bar Associations;
- In 2010 and 2011 respectively, the first openly gay MSBA Secretary and Treasurer.