Office of Administrative Hearings
State of Minnesota
The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is Minnesota’s centralized administrative court. OAH renders justice through fair, timely, and impartial administrative hearings and high-quality dispute resolution services. OAH is the largest of three Minnesota Executive Branch courts, with over 60 employees located in St. Paul and Duluth serving the entire state of Minnesota.
The Student Extern supports both Administrative Law and Workers’ Compensation Judges. Administrative Law Judges preside over cases involving challenges to state and local government action. Workers’ Compensation Judges preside over settlement and trial-level proceedings regarding disputed claims for workers’ compensation benefits.
Title of Position: Student Extern – Summer 2021
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Externs conduct legal research and draft memoranda and orders on matters brought under Minnesota’s Administrative Procedure Act and workers’ compensation laws. Externs are supervised by OAH’s Staff Attorney Supervisor, work with a team of staff attorneys, and complete research and writing assignments for judges across the court.
Qualifications:
- Must be a current law student who has successfully completed their first year of law school.
- Strong skills in legal research, legal writing, and analysis.
- Strong communication skills (oral and in writing) and ability to manage multiple priorities, ask thoughtful questions, and meet deadlines.
- Completion of Professional Responsibility is preferred but not required.
- Law students with an interest in administrative law or workers’ compensation strongly encouraged to apply.
- Highly-qualified law students from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession are encouraged to apply.
Location:
For Summer 2021, the Student Extern may work remotely or in-person if public health circumstances allow.
Semester:
Summer 2021
Hours:
Approximately 135 hours (3 credits) throughout the summer.
Compensation:
This position is unpaid, but the selected student is eligible for Beck Fellowship Funds of up to $2,000 from the Administrative Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association. The selected student will be given more information on how to apply for these Funds through the Minnesota State Bar Association after the externship begins.
Academic Credit:
Students may earn academic credit through Mitchell Hamline for this externship position. The student is responsible for following up with Mitchell Hamline to initiate the process toward registration. Externship students must submit an online externship proposal using the link in their student record. Further information and instructions will be sent to the student once the proposal is submitted.
Application Information:
Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, unofficial law school transcript, and writing sample through Symplicity. All applications will be gathered and reviewed by the Office of Administrative Hearings after the Closing Date.
Cover letters should be addressed to:
The Honorable Jenny Starr
Chief Administrative Law Judge
Office of Administrative Hearings
600 Robert St N
PO Box 64620
St. Paul, MN 55164-0620
Closing Date:
Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 26th.