Minn. Stat. § 363A § 363A.32
DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Attorney general; privileged communication. The attorney general shall be the attorney for the department. When a matter has been referred to the attorney general by the commissioner after a finding of probable cause or for the purpose of interim relief, communications between members of the attorney general's office and charging parties or members of a class formed pursuant to section 363A.28, subdivision 6, paragraph (g), are privileged as would be a communication between an attorney and a client. Subd. 2.Legal representation costs. The Department of Human Rights may not be charged by the attorney general for legal representation on behalf of complaining parties who have filed a charge of discrimination with the department. This subdivision is effective retroactive to July 1, 1989. The department does not have an obligation to pay for any services rendered by the attorney general since July 1, 1985, in excess of the amounts already paid for those services.
Under Minn. Stat. § 363A.32, the Minnesota Attorney General serves as legal counsel for the Department of Human Rights, and once a matter is referred by the commissioner, communications between the Attorney General's office and charging parties carry attorney-client privilege. Additionally, the Department of Human Rights cannot be billed by the Attorney General for representing complaining parties who have filed discrimination charges, a rule that applies retroactively to July 1, 1989. This provision defines the legal relationship between the state's civil rights enforcement agency and its counsel, and limits the financial obligations the department carries for those legal services.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Minn. Stat. § 363A.32 governs the internal legal structure of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, not the day-to-day obligations of property owners or managers. However, landlords who are the subject of a discrimination complaint should be aware that once a matter is referred to the Attorney General, the complaining party gains attorney-client protections in their communications with that office. Operators who maintain fair-housing compliance practices and document their rental policies consistently are generally better positioned when department proceedings arise under this framework.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 363A.32 establishes that if you file a discrimination charge with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the matter is referred to the Attorney General, your communications with that office are protected by attorney-client privilege. The provision also ensures that the department itself bears no cost for the Attorney General's representation of complaining parties, meaning this legal support is available without financial burden to the agency. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may consider contacting the Department of Human Rights directly or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization to learn more about the complaint process under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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