Law Clerk Program

Law Clerk Program Details

• Law clerks must be currently enrolled in a J.D. program at an accredited law school.
• Summer law clerks are hired to work for a 12-week period, 32-40 hours per week, from May through mid-August.
• Academic year law clerks work part-time, 15 to 19 hours per week, from mid-August through April (Fall and/or Spring semester).
• Work is performed primarily on-site at the Hennepin County Government Center and/or the Health Services Building (525 Portland Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415).
• Offers are contingent upon a Criminal Background check and reference check.
• Salary for 2024 law clerks is $22.51 per hour.
• Law clerks are non-benefit earning employees.
• Externship opportunities may be available for law clerks enrolled in an externship course through their law school, giving law students the ability to work for course credit.

Clerks will be assigned to work in one of our divisions:

One of the primary responsibilities of all law clerks is legal research and writing. The types of assignments vary by division. Law clerks eligible to become certified student attorneys are encouraged to gain courtroom experience.

Division of Professional Standards

This division was created with the goal of making the criminal legal system work better for everyone involved – including prosecutors, victims, and criminal defendants. This division includes seven teams: Brady/Giglio, Training, Expungement, Strategy, Data, Research and Innovation (SDRI), Immigration Policy, Collateral Review, and Conviction Integrity (CIU). Law clerks in this division may have an opportunity to work on a variety of projects for any of the division’s teams.

Criminal Divisions

Adult Prosecution

Teams in this division handle felony crimes against persons. Law clerks receive assignments directly from attorneys on a variety of legal issues related to criminal and constitutional law. Law clerks’ primary responsibilities are legal research and writing. Law clerks have an opportunity to gain court experience under the supervision of an attorney by participating in various court proceedings, including the municipal County Attorney (COAT) calendar and other legal hearings.

Community Prosecution

Attorneys in this division handle property and drug cases. This division also includes the Emerging Adults team which handles cases for people aged 18 to 25 years. Law clerks are assigned to work on a rotating basis from requesting attorneys. Law clerks’ primary responsibilities are legal research and writing. Law clerks have an opportunity to gain court experience under the supervision of an attorney by participating in various court proceedings, including the municipal County Attorney (COAT) calendar and other legal hearings.

Criminal Appeals.

This division handles criminal appeals for the County Attorney’s Office and provides guidance to attorneys on possible appellate issues. Work assignments are distributed to law clerks directly from attorneys. Law clerks’ primary responsibilities are legal research and writing. Criminal Appeals law clerks may have an opportunity to argue a case in front of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Children & Families Divisions

Child Protection

This division provides legal advice and representation to the Human Services and Public Health Department, Child Protection Department. Child protection attorneys intervene in child protection cases where there is an imminent threat that a child may be harmed, as well as cases where parental rights are terminated in order to protect the child(ren). Law clerk’s primary responsibilities are legal research are writing. Law clerks appear in court on child protection cases and represent the client on truancy and other specialized calendars. Law clerks also assist on appellate briefs and may have an opportunity to do an appellate argument. Law clerks have an opportunity to gain court experience under the supervision of an attorney by participating in the Juvenile Serious Traffic calendar.

Child Support

This division serves as legal counsel to the Hennepin County Child Support Agency. The attorneys in this division establish parentage and child support orders, as well as enforcement of such orders. Law clerks’ primary responsibility is to represent the Child Support agency in hearings. This includes handling daily court calendars by preparing cases for hearings, attending the hearings, negotiating settlements, utilizing trial skills, and providing representation on some appeals. Law clerks also research legal topics and prepare legal memoranda, correspondence, and other pleadings and documents.

Youth Prosecution

Teams in this division prosecute all crimes committed by juveniles, from traffic offenses to murder. Law clerks receive assignment requests directly from attorneys. YPD law clerk responsibilities include legal research and writing, citation processing, and staffing the Juvenile Serious Traffic and expungement calendars. Law clerks will have other opportunities for courtroom experience through direct case work with attorneys based on assignments.

Civil Divisions

Behavioral Health

This division handles legal matters related to civil commitment, adult protection, and economic assistance appeals related to those matters. Law clerks’ primary duties are legal research and writing. Clerks draft appellate briefs and petitions for “sexually dangerous person” civil commitments. Law clerks also review and organize records for complex commitment cases, including “mentally ill and dangerous” cases. Additionally, they assist attorneys with court appearances in mental illness and chemical dependency commitments.

Civil

Hiring Process

Applications can be submitted online via NeoGov. Search for an open position here.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round, and candidates are interviewed as vacancies occur.

Questions

Questions about the HCAO Law Clerk Program or application process can be emailed to LawClerkProgram@hennepin.us.