Hennepin County District Court Law Clerk (Continuous Posting)

Expand your court experience or begin your legal career as a District Court Law Clerk!

The Fourth Judicial District is accepting applications for the Law Clerk position on an ongoing basis. Judges and Referees with a Law Clerk vacancy are provided access to all active applications on file. Positions are typically filled from the pool of applicants as vacancies arise. Applications will remain active for 30 days.

As a District Court Law Clerk, you will work within the Minnesota Judicial Branch at the trial court level, gaining firsthand insight into judicial decision-making and court operations. Law Clerks learn directly from a Judge or Referee, collaborate with other clerks, and gain experience across multiple areas of law while helping provide fair and equal access to justice for Minnesotans.

Law Clerks work directly with a District Court Judge or District Court Referee performing professional legal research, preparation of materials such as memoranda, opinions, and orders, and processing clerical/administrative work This position supports the functions of a District Court Judge or District Court Referee to uphold the court's mission of providing justice through a system that assures equal access for the fair and timely resolution of cases and controversies.

Law Clerks will be assigned to one of several divisions within the court, each handling different types of cases:

• Criminal Division- Handles felony and misdemeanor criminal matters.
• Civil Division- Manages lawsuits involving contracts, personal injury, property disputes, and other civil matters.
• Family Division- Deals with cases such as divorce, child custody, and support.
• Juvenile Division- Oversees cases involving minors, including delinquency and child protection matters.
• Probate/Mental Health Division- Addresses issues related to wills, estates, guardianships, and civil commitments for mental health and chemical dependency.

Curious about who you might work with? Visit the Judges and Referees profiles page to get to know them and their assignments.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed.

• Review, study, research, and annotate laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities

• Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, and jury instructions, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations to the Judge or Referee

• Compile references on laws and decisions necessary for legal determinations

• Confer with Judge, Referee or court official concerning legal questions, construction of documents and granting of orders

• Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments and record necessary case information; maintain records attendant to court proceedings

• Courtroom duties, including taking court minutes; calling the calendar; swearing in jury panels and witness; and assisting in various court proceedings such as arraignments, motions, hearings, pre-trial conferences, and trials

• Administer peer-to-peer training

• Utilize court technology systems such as the Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS), Microsoft Office, electronic File and Serve (eFS), SharePoint, and other related platforms.

• Perform a variety of advanced clerical and case processing tasks in compliance with court rules, policies, and procedures.

• Assist attorneys, self-represented litigants, and the public by responding to inquiries in person, over the phone, by mail, and electronically in a timely and professional manner.

• Perform administrative duties.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education and Experience:

Candidates may be hired as:

Law Clerk 1

• Completion of at least one year at an accredited law school.

Law Clerk

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of general law, state law, established precedent, and sources of legal reference

• Knowledge of court practices and procedures

• Knowledge of legal terminology and concepts

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing

• Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles

• Ability to work in an inclusive, multicultural environment that values diversity and relationships

• Ability to professionally exhibit cultural sensitivity, patience, and understanding in the course of work duties

• Ability to represent the court in a respectful manner

• Skill in the operation of a personal computer with word processing and legal research software

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

• Complete and submit your online application with resume and cover letter attached.

• All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of a criminal background check. An employment offer may be rescinded if the background check identifies job related convictions.

• Applications will remain eligible for consideration for 30 days. You will receive notice when your application has reached expiration and may re-apply at that time.

• Please contact Human Resources with questions regarding this posting via email: 4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us; or phone: 612-540-6488.