Sarah Dohm
Sarah Dohm, 3L student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, has been recognized with a 2026 Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) Outstanding Service Award for her exceptional commitment to public defense and service to clients navigating the criminal legal system.
Dohm has spent more than a year enrolled in the criminal defense externship with Shawn Webb ’04, managing attorney at the First District Public Defender’s Office. As a law clerk, she has gained extensive hands-on experience assisting with bail calendars, probation violations, pretrial matters, contested hearings, and trial preparation. When her required class hours are complete, Dohm continues her work with the office as a volunteer.
“Sarah has represented hundreds of indigent clients at bail hearings, probation violation proceedings, and pretrial matters,” Webb said in his nomination of Dohm for the award. “In each case, she has been a compassionate advocate who treats clients with dignity, patience, and respect.”
Webb praised Dohm’s ability to connect with clients and identify the needs that extend beyond their immediate legal circumstances.
“Her ability to build trust with individuals navigating the criminal legal system has allowed her to identify underlying needs, connect clients with the resources they need, and help them move forward with stability and hope,” he said.
A particular focus of Dohm’s service has been supporting clients struggling with substance use disorders. According to Webb, she has devoted significant time to helping clients access treatment programs, community supports, and recovery resources.
“This work directly interrupts the cycle of addiction, incarceration, and conviction that so often repeats when people lack meaningful support and resources.”
Dohm’s commitment to public service builds on her professional experience before law school. She previously worked at the University of Minnesota, where she advised graduate students across several academic departments. In her final role at the university, she supported college programming inside Minnesota prisons and worked directly with incarcerated college students.
That experience informed her approach to criminal defense and reinforced her commitment to working with people facing significant challenges within the legal system.
“I am fortunate to learn from attorneys who are very inclusive of law clerks and are exceptionally generous in providing learning opportunities,” Dohm said of her experience at the First District Public Defender’s Office.
The MJF Outstanding Service Award adds to an already notable year for Dohm. She also received a CALI Award recognizing her work in her externship this summer.
For Dohm, the recognition reflects more than her work as a law student. Her experience in public defense demonstrates the impact of experiential learning and the importance of meeting clients with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Through her externship and continued volunteer service, Dohm is putting those principles into practice while developing the skills she will carry into her legal career.