The application deadline for Anishinabe Legal Services and White Earth Tribal Court has been extended until March 25, 2016.
COMMITMENT
Each clerk performs 400 hours of legal service with the agency between the end of the spring semester 2016 and the first day of fall semester 2016; generally, this entails 40 hours for 10 weeks, although the specific schedule is determined between the clerk and agency. (See Contact and Responsibilities section below.)
Either the clerk or the agency may end the clerkship at any time, with or without cause. If a clerkship should end prior to completion of 400 hours, the both parties must notify MJF immediately, and the total stipend will be reduced and prorated based on hours served against the 400-hour requirement.
STIPEND
MJF provides a stipend of $5,000 for Greater Minnesota Clerkships to the clerks placed through this program.
ELIGIBILITY
For their applications to be considered, law students must be:
- Enrolled at one of the law schools in Minnesota, and
- Scheduled to graduate no earlier than the semester following the summer clerkship.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Send resume and cover letter directly to Janine Laird Executive Director, Minnesota Justice Foundation at: janine @mnjustice.org.
- Applicants cannot include GPA and/or class rank for law or undergraduate school, or any other academic honors (such as Dean’s List, scholarships based on grades, Latin honors, etc.)
- Scholarships or honors awarded on a basis other than grades may be included, but please discuss this with your school’s MJF Staff Attorney first.
- Applications that include GPA and/or class rank for law or undergraduate school, any other academic honors (such as Dean’s List, scholarships based on grades, Latin honors, etc.), or scholarship and honors awarded on a basis other than grades that have not been approved for inclusion by your school’s MJF Staff Attorney(s) will be rejected. After the deadline to apply passes, there will be no opportunity to revise and resubmit.
- Anishinabe Legal Services will be interviewing by Skype, White Earth Tribal Court will be interviewing locally in person.
- Interviews will take place the week of March 28, 2016.
- By virtue of applying, students assert that they have read the attached Contract and List of Responsibilities and agree to comply should they be offered and accept a clerkship as an MJF 2016 Summer Clerk.
- Those selected for summer clerkships will attend a training and orientation at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in May.
Minnesota Justice Foundation Summer Clerkship Program Contract and List of Responsibilities
Should I receive and accept an MJF Summer Clerkship, I understand and agree to the following. I will:
- Attend the mandatory training session at University of St. Thomas School of Law.
- Perform 400 hours of service for a public interest agency during the summer of 2016.
- Complete and return the Final Evaluation before the Fall 2016 semester begins, or by August 31, 2016.
- Write a short article about my experience before August 31, 2016. I understand this article may be used in the MJF newsletter, in letters or grant evaluations for funders of the Summer Clerkship Program, and/or in an MJF Annual Report or for the 2016 Summer Clerkship Program.
- Write a thank you letter to the law firm or foundation that has provided support for my summer clerkship.
- Try to attend the 2016 MJF Annual Award Celebration.
- When invited, speak about my experience as a clerk to interested students and MJF Supporters.
- Contact MJF to discuss any problems that may arise in the course of my clerkship.
I understand and agree that:
- The clerkship relationship is between the agency for which I clerk and me.
- Despite being provided a stipend, this clerkship is an unpaid internship with a public sector and/or non-profit organization and that I am volunteering my time without expectation of wages.
- The agency or I may end the clerkship at any time, with or without cause.
- If my clerkship should end prior to completion of 400 hours, I will immediately notify MJF.
- If I do not complete the 400-hour commitment for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, the total stipend paid to me will be reduced and prorated based on service hours provided against the 400-hour requirement.
I agree that by virtue of submitting my application for the MJF 2016 Summer Clerkship Program I have read the above Contract and List of Responsibilities, and I agree to comply should I be offered and accept a clerkship as an MJF 2016 Summer Clerk.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Anishinabe Legal Services Clerkships at Anishinabe Legal Services entail providing civil legal services directly to our eligible low-income client community under supervision of program staff. Assigned duties include meeting directly with clients through intake applications and providing initial intake interviews, shadowing advocates at hearings before Courts and Administrative Forums, legal research, writing, as well as providing legal advice and forms assistance to eligible Program clients.
ALS works to have the selected clerk certified for student practice before the State of Minnesota, and works with the Tribal Courts, Tribal Legal Departments and Bands within our service area to allow clerks to practice before the Tribal Courts under the supervision of licensed program attorneys.
While clerks will receive a variety of civil legal matters to assist on, a significant amount of work will involve Housing, Family/DV, Indian Child Welfare, Consumer and Government Benefit appeals with emphasis on Indian Law, Tribal Law and policy.
White Earth Tribal Court The White Earth Reservation is located in northwestern Minnesota and encompasses all of Mahnomen County and portions of Becker and Clearwater counties. The Tribal Court is located in White Earth, Minnesota.
The Tribal Court clerkship provides hands-on training in a number of diverse projects and legal issues concerning all areas over which the Tribal Court exercises jurisdiction, including those related to the IV-E foster care, Tribal Law and Order Act, traffic violations, domestic relations, family law, civil commitments, etc. White Earth operates specialty courts including, family dependency, juvenile wellness court, DWI Court in collaboration with Mahnomen and Becker County. The White Earth Nation was the first tribe to receive authorization under Tribal Law and Order Act. The clerk will have the opportunity to assist in the development of laws, policies, and procedures that will guide our programs; to observe court; to represent tribal agencies in court; research and draft legal documents.