Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Current Students

Minnesota Supreme Court: Residency Opportunity

Posted: May 14, 2025

Applications Now Being Accepted for Fall 2025  

Deadline to Apply: May 27, 2025  

The Minnesota Supreme Court is now accepting applications from Mitchell Hamline School of Law students to work as Legal Residents during the 2025 Fall Semester. This is an extraordinary opportunity made available to a small number of MH law students each spring and fall semester. Residencies are full-time positions, and selected students receive academic credit in exchange for their work. Residents have established themselves as being instrumental members of Chambers, and their assistance is tremendously beneficial to the Court.

As a Resident, you will be assigned to work with a Justice and will assist the Justice with various tasks, which may include case background research, case summaries, independent research projects, and committee assistance, as well as aiding law clerks and judicial assistants as needed. Because of the nature of the work, it is essential Residents adhere to and abide by the Court’s strict confidentiality and ethical rules and procedures.

PLEASE NOTE: Residents may not hold any other legal employment while in Residency due to potential conflicts of interest.

REQUIRED CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS:

  • Applicant must be in their last three semesters of law school (this includes summer term);
  • Minimum 2.8 GPA;
  • Have completed all graduation requirements (except bar prep typically done in last term)
  • Attend residency in-person (unless modified by supervising Justice);
  • May not be employed by any legal employer during the term of the residency;
  • Available for 30-40 hours of residency per week at Minnesota Supreme Court;
  • Available to take 8-15 credits for Residency;
  • Strong research, writing, and analysis skills; and
  • Maintaining complete confidentiality regarding all work done at the Court.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  1. Eligible students can apply by submitting the following materials to Erica Strohl, Externship Director, [email protected]: Cover Letter, Resume, Writing Sample, and an Unofficial Mitchell Hamline School of Law Transcript. Please email with the following Subject Line: Fall 2025 MN Supreme Court Residency.
  2. Applications will be reviewed and finalists’ applications will be forwarded to the Minnesota Supreme Court for interview selection by the Justices.
  3. Justices will conduct interviews (via Zoom) in mid-July 2025.
  4. The Residency will begin mid-August 2025 and end in early December 2025.
  5. If chosen, you will need to find a full-time faculty member to be your Residency faculty supervisor.

Please work with your career advisor to get feedback on your application documents well in advance of the application deadline. This will ensure that you have an opportunity to incorporate her feedback, so your resume and cover letter are as effective as possible.