The application period for the MN Court of Appeals is fast approaching! Be sure to submit your application by next week’s deadline of July 31. Reach out to your career counselor with any questions.
Court of Appeals Law Clerk for the 2023-24 Term
Salary $66,189.60 Annually
Location Minnesota Judicial Center – St. Paul, MN
Job Type Full-time
Department Court of Appeals
Job Number 07692
Closing 7/31/2022 11:59 PM Central
Description
At the Minnesota Judicial Branch, our employees are proud of the work that we do and the services that we provide. With over 3,000 employees across the state, we have opportunities for all career levels and interests, whether it be providing customer service to court customers, analyzing financial data, developing innovative technical solutions to improve the court user experience, and more!
When you join the Minnesota Judicial Branch, you will gain valuable experience with a progressive organization. The Judicial Branch allows employees to work in a professional and innovative culture defined by our vision, mission, and values, where performance is rewarded. Employees are provided opportunities to grow their knowledge, skills, and abilities to support internal growth and development, allowing everyone the opportunity to succeed and advance in their career.
By providing a positive work environment and culture with a competitive total rewards compensation package, the Minnesota Judicial Branch has the career you have been looking for!
Court of Appeals law clerks participates in the judicial decision-making process by providing legal research and case analysis to the judges of the Court of Appeals. Through this challenging and intellectually stimulating work, law clerks will develop their skills in legal research, reasoning, strategy, and writing; gain exposure to multiple substantive areas of law; receive valuable training and mentoring from judges; and form friendships and career-long relationships with their fellow judicial law clerks. This one-year clerkship enables law clerks to engage in public service while receiving training and experience that will distinguish them from other applicants for practitioner positions.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals reviews cases appealed from district courts and administrative agencies. It is anticipated that 25-30 Court of Appeals law clerk positions will be open for the term of August 2023 – August 2024, all located in the Minnesota Judicial Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Each law clerk is hired by either one specific judge or a group of three judges.
This position is classified as a Court of Appeals Law Clerk. Work will be performed at the Minnesota Judicial Center located in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about benefits, click here.
Example of Duties
The following are examples of major job duties expected for this position to perform:
The primary duties of a law clerk are to analyze and research cases on appeal. A law clerk’s typical responsibilities include a close review of the record and transcripts from the district court, evaluating conflicting briefs, supplementing the legal research submitted in the briefs, assisting the judge in accurately synthesizing the facts and the law through the preparation of bench memoranda and providing further assistance in opinion preparation, and cite-checking opinions.
Typical Qualifications
The minimum academic requirement for application is enrollment as a second-year law student; graduation from an accredited law school is required to begin employment.
Professional skills and academic record are both considered. Strong writing and research skills are essential. Experience in a law review or law journal is preferred. The judges of the court will select law clerks after reviewing applications and conducting interviews.
Supplemental Information
The Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) is committed to providing fair and equal access to justice. If you share this same commitment, desire a meaningful career serving the public, and want the opportunity to make a difference for your community, consider a career with us. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and characteristics. Minnesota Judicial Branch employees consistently express pride in their public service and in the quality of programs and services provided to customers, as well as an appreciation for the teamwork and collaboration that is promoted within the MJB.
SALARY: The anticipated salary for the 2023 – 2024 term will be at least $31.70/hour ($66,190/year), or possibly more, depending on future legislative appropriations.
TO APPLY: You may apply via our online application system at www.mncourts.gov. Applications to the Minnesota Court of Appeals must be submitted by 11:59 pm on July 31, 2022. Interviews will take place on September 16th and September 19th, 2022. The court will conduct interviews either entirely by video or will offer both in-person and video interviews, depending on circumstances.
Complete the application thoroughly, including the supplemental questions. Please note that the application itself, including responses to the supplemental questions, is submitted verbatim to the hiring judges. You must attach a cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample to the online application. In addition, please arrange for your official transcript, with class rank, to be mailed or emailed directly to the address listed below. Letters of recommendation are highly recommended and should also be mailed or emailed to the address listed below:
Minnesota Judicial Center
Human Resources Department, Rm. G08
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
MNLawClerkRecruiting@courts.state.mn.us
The online application for the Minnesota Supreme Court clerkship (applications must be completed by 11:59 pm on April 17, 2022), is identical to the online application for the Minnesota Court of Appeals clerkship, but you must fill out both applications to apply for both positions. If you choose to apply for a clerkship at both courts, each attachment, transcript, and letter of recommendation corresponding to either application will be made available to both courts unless the applicant chooses to submit alternative documents for consideration.
To ensure the health and safety of all judicial officials and employees, the Minnesota Judicial Branch follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) regarding COVID-19 and related mitigation efforts. Effective November 1, 2021, all Minnesota Judicial Branch judicial officers and employees are required to disclose their vaccination status which includes an option, “choose not to disclose.” Individuals hired following this date will be required to disclose their vaccination status.
It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding employment are made without discrimination on the basis of disability. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability to participate in the employee selection process by contacting HR, erick.howatt@courts.state.mn.us.