Participants will gain awareness of the prevalence of sexual exploitation and trafficking in Southeastern, Minnesota, and how paralegals can help to identify exploited and trafficked individuals in their day-to-day work. Participants will learn common grooming methods of predators and the connection between social media and exploitation, as well as what to look for when they run into suspected trafficking victims. Participants will also learn what resources Minnesota's Safe Harbor law offers to victims and survivors, and how it is designed to protect survivors of sex trafficking.

Speaker: Laura Sutherland, J.D.

Laura Sutherland, J.D., is the Safe Harbor Regional Navigator for Southeastern Minnesota and chairs the Olmsted County Human Trafficking Task Force. She received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She previously worked at the Wisconsin Department of Justice as an Assistant Attorney General where she handled child protection cases and then served as a partner in private practice working in the same field. She has also served as the court advocate for the Women’s Shelter in Rochester.  As the regional navigator, she provides direct services to victims in twelve counties in Southeastern Minnesota and her office is located in Olmsted County Victim Services.

Lunch: Box lunches available for those attending in person only, from Jimmy Johns for $13.00. If you would like lunch ordered for you, please e-mail brenda@suklawfirm.com with your sandwich, chip and cookie request by 04/06/18. Checks are payable to Brenda Nash-Eickhoff. See website for menu info: https://www.jimmyjohns.com/menu/#/.

This event is available for in-person attendance or remotely via Go To Meeting. 

CLE credit has been requested

All attendees should register online only. If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Nash-Eickhoff at brenda@suklawfirm.com.