The Minnesota Board of Bar Examiners administers the Supervised Practice Rules. The Supervised Practice Rules permit law students to practice law on a limited basis. It is the student\u2019s obligation to review and abide by the Supervised Practice Rules. The Administrative Coordinator for Clinics and Externships handles these requests. For student practice certification outside of Minnesota, contact the Dean of Students.<\/p>\n
For more info contact<\/strong> Under the Supervised Practice Rules in Minnesota, there are two circumstances under which students may be certified in Minnesota (students seeking certification from a jurisdiction other than Minnesota should contact the Externship Director). Eligible students enrolled in a clinic where there may be an opportunity to represent a client will be\u00a0automatically submitted for certification as a law student practitioner.<\/p>\n To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled, have completed the equivalent of two full semesters of full time study, be in good academic standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.2), and be qualified to participate either in a paid or unpaid capacity in a practice placement or clinical program in order to provide legal services to clients as a law student practitioner.<\/p>\n Some prospective employers tell students that to be considered for a position, they must already be certified for student practice. However, since the employer must make the request, the process begins\u00a0after<\/em>\u00a0a student is hired. If this question arises when applying for a position or at an interview, students may want to clarify to the employer that you meet the eligibility requirements of the rules, and, if hired, will be able to be certified (if they have a minimum 2.2 G.P.A. and at least 24 credits.) Employers who hire first-year students for summer positions will not be able to have the student certified until the student\u2019s grades are received by the Registrar\u2019s office. The due date for grades is generally early June.<\/p>\n A student observer may observe any and all professional activities of a member of the bar as part of an academic program or course for academic credit, including client communication. Communication between the client and the student shall be privileged under the same rules that govern attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine, and the presence of a student during communication between the lawyer and the client shall not, standing alone, waive these evidentiary privileges. The request for certification must be made by the law school and filed with the Board of Law Examiners for approval.<\/p>\n The supervising attorney should submit in writing, on firm\u2019s letterhead, a request for a student to become a student observer – if they are eligible. All requests should be sent to the administrative coordinator for clinics and externships for processing.<\/p>\n A student observer shall sign and abide by a statement certifying that the student will maintain the confidentiality that a lawyer is required to maintain under Rule 1.6 of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct. Certification as a student observer terminates when the course ends, the student withdraws from the course, or the student is placed on academic probation.<\/p>\n Your supervisor must send a letter (there is no form) to:<\/p>\n Mitchell Hamline Law Clinic<\/strong> E-mail requests are not accepted<\/em><\/p>\n From the time the letter is received, the process generally takes ten business days. Your employer is notified by mail that the certification has been approved. You will be notified by e-mail with employer\u2019s attached letter.<\/p>\n A law student practitioner may perform, under the supervision of a supervising lawyer, all functions that a lawyer may perform in representing and appearing on behalf of a client. The request for certification must be made by the law school and filed with the Board of Law Examiners for approval.<\/p>\n The supervising attorney should submit in writing, on firm\u2019s letterhead, a request for a student to become a law student practitioner – if they are eligible.\u00a0 All requests should be sent to Jean Backes, Administrative Coordinator for Clinics and Externships, for processing.<\/p>\n Law student practitioners will initially be certified for one year and may renew certification for a period of 12 months. It is the responsibility of the student to track the expiration date.<\/p>\n Your supervisor must send a letter (there is no form) to:<\/p>\n
\nRosalie Wahl Legal Practice Center
\nSue McBrayer | Administrative Coordinator
\n651-290-6462 | sue.mcbrayer@mitchellhamline.edu<\/a><\/p>\nEligibility Requirements<\/h2>\n
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Student Observer<\/h2>\n
\nSue McBrayer | Administrative Coordinator
\n651-290-6462 | sue.mcbrayer@mitchellhamline.edu<\/a><\/p>\nLaw Student Practitioner<\/h2>\n