Mitchell Hamline School of Law Students,
Below are three exciting opportunities from the ABA that we highly encourage you to explore. With deadlines in January, winter break is the perfect time to submit applications and submissions.
- Apply for the 2023 Diversity Clerkship Program.
The Diversity Clerkship Program is a summer program that provides business law clerkship placements for qualified, diverse second-year law students. Participating clerks receive support and mentoring in the business law field and exposure to business practices. Roles and responsibilities of selected Diversity Clerkship participants include but are not limited to the following:
- Researching cases
- Drafting memoranda and opinions
- Observing trials
- Networking with local attorneys and judges
In addition to a placement in a business court clerkship, Diversity Clerkship participants will also receive a stipend of $3,000 to cover living expenses for the duration of the 8-week clerkship. If the COVID-19 pandemic prevents an individual from being able to complete the clerkship in person (due to mandates, health concerns, etc.) we will work to provide a virtual experience.
Applicants must be considered diverse in one of the following ways: law student of color; women; law students with disabilities; LGBTQ+ law students; and/or students who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as a physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student. In evaluating a student’s diversity, the Section will give special consideration to individuals who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student.
Applicants also must be ABA and Business Law Section Members. All application materials are due January 16, 2023. For full details and to apply, click here.
- Submit your outstanding business law papers to the 2023 Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest. All submission materials are due January 20, 2023.
The winner of the first-place paper will receive a $1,000 cash prize. Outstanding first-place papers may also be included in The Business Lawyer, a quarterly publication that is the premier business law journal in the country. Second and third-place papers are eligible for publication in Business Law Today, the digital platform of curated, peer-reviewed content for the ABA Business Law Section.
Papers must be written in 2021-2022, or the current academic year. Entries will be judged on the following criteria: research and analysis, choice of topic, writing style, originality, and contribution to the literature available on the topic. Papers submitted are normally 20-30 pages long but should not exceed 100 pages of double-spaced typed text, including footnotes. Students need not be members of the Section of Business Law to participate.
All entries must be submitted electronically, on or before midnight CST January 20, 2023. To view complete contest rules and more information click here. We look forward to receiving your submission!
- Join the Law Student Committee to stay up to date on our law student opportunities, initiatives, and resources, such as the Mendes Hershman Contest and Diversity Clerkship as well as law student initiatives at Section meetings. Joining the Committee is a must for law students with a focus in business law!