This program was created to promote the Twin Cities legal community to 1L students of color from and outside of Minnesota. Students from racial and ethnic groups historically under-represented in the legal profession are encouraged to apply. Employers work together to customize a schedule that works best for their organizations and clerks. The goal is for TCDIP 1L Clerks to gain insights about working within a law firm and corporate legal department setting. Most TCDIP 1L Clerks work some portion of the summer in each setting, while others may have their clerks based primarily out of the law firm, with
regular opportunities to visit and engage with corporate employers.
The TCDIP 1L Clerkship usually lasts for 10-12 weeks.
Law firm and corporate employers will make sure their clerk has a
designated supervisor within each work setting. Supervisors and others will provide timely feedback and evaluation of clerks. We ask employers to provide meaningful work assignments designed to build legal skills and educate clerks on the roles and responsibilities of attorneys working within a law firm and in-house legal department setting.
Clerks are invited to attend several TCDIP events over the course of the summer, including a kick-off welcome reception, professional development workshop and a networking brunch with our Young Lawyers Group. In addition, TCDIP 1L Clerks will be paired with an attorney mentor from a different Member organization from where they are working, so that they may learn more about the Twin Cities legal community. TCDIP’s Executive Director, Summra M. Shariff, also serves as a resource for clerks and employers over the course of the summer.