Clerks will be assigned to work in one or more of ten divisions:
Administration – work with the elected County Attorney, Mike Freeman, and Deputy County Attorneys on matters relating to legislative, public policy and office initiatives.
Criminal divisions
Adult prosecution – prosecutes adult defendants for all felony crimes against persons. Law clerks are assigned to a trial team of attorneys. Their primary responsibility is legal research and writing. Clerks have an opportunity to gain court experience under the supervision of an attorney by participating in various court proceedings.
Community prosecution – prosecutes drug and property offenses. Teams in this division handle property and drug cases. Work is assigned on a rotating basis from requesting attorneys. Legal research and writing are the primary duties for law clerks.
Juvenile prosecution – prosecutes all crimes committed by juveniles. Law clerks receive assignment requests directly from attorneys based on their team. Courtroom experience includes participating in truancy and expungement calendars.
Special litigation – prosecutes complex economic crimes, adult and certain juvenile gang members committing violent crime and handles all criminal appeals. Work assignments are distributed to law clerks directly from attorneys based on team assignments. Teams are Appeals, Post-Conviction Appeals, Complex Crimes and Gangs. Criminal Appeals clerks have the opportunity to argue a case in front of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Domestic abuse service center – provides victims of domestic violence with ready access to the legal assistance and social services they need. Law clerks assigned to this division appear at Order for Protection hearings as well as meet with domestic abuse clients.
Civil divisions
Adult services – handles legal matters related to civil commitment, adult protection, economic assistance and assorted social services appeal matters. Law clerks research legal issues and draft research memos, district court memos and some appellate briefs. They draft petitions for "sexually dangerous person" civil commitment cases including "mentally ill and dangerous cases" and assist attorneys with court appearances in mental illness and chemical dependency commitments. Clerks make some appearances under an attorney's supervision.
Civil – represents the Board of Commissioners, County Administration and county departments on legal issues including employment, litigation defense, real estate taxation, and contracts. Clerks working in this division are assigned to one of six teams - Torts, Contracts, Employment, Real Property, Health Services and Human Services, and Labor Relations. Clerks conduct legal research and writing for their assigned team and have the opportunity to work with the attorneys from the other teams within the division. Clerks are encouraged to attend the depositions, mediations and motions with which they are involved.
Child protection – represents the county’s health and human services department in legal actions to protect neglected or mistreated children, focusing on the child’s best interests. Legal research and writing, assisting with motion practice and drafting findings and orders are law clerks primary responsibilities. Clerks may appear in court on child protection cases, and represent the client on truancy and other specialized calendars. Clerks also assist on appellate briefs and may have an opportunity to do an appellate argument.
Child support – establishes parentage and enforces child support orders. Law clerks may represent the Child Support agency in hearings. Responsibilities including handling daily court calendars by preparing cases for hearing, attending the hearings, negotiating settlements, utilizing trials skills and providing vertical representation on all appeals. Law clerks also research legal topics and prepare legal memoranda, correspondence and other pleadings and documents.
Learn more about divisions
Divisions of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office