The Second Judicial District is accepting applications for a full-time Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Stephen Smith who is chambered at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center at 25 7th St W #300, Saint Paul, MN 55102.

This position will require both in-person and remote work.

The anticipated start date for this position is mid-April 2023.

Interviews will take place in person at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center at 25 7th St W #300, Saint Paul, MN 55102.

Rate of Pay:
$27.64/hr for a law school graduate.
$21.65 for a law school student.

A Judicial Law Clerk position offers the opportunity to work within the Minnesota Judicial Branch at the trial court level, gain insight into judicial/court processes with a perspective on the administration of justice, and to sharpen your critical legal thinking/legal writing skills. The law clerk performs administrative, courtroom, and legal research/writing functions under the direct supervision of a district court judge.

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

• 
  Reviews, studies, and researches laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
• Administrative duties as assigned, such as maintaining chambers operations, corresponding with attorneys, and filing on behalf of the court.
• Works closely with court administration and court clerks regarding scheduling of cases.
• Prepares legal memoranda and proposed orders.
• Confers with judge concerning legal questions, construction of documents, and granting of orders.
• Attends court sessions remotely and in-person to hear oral arguments and record necessary case information; maintains records attendant to court proceedings.
• Facilitates court hearings via Zoom.
• May perform 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 
  Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and/or license to practice law in Minnesota OR current enrollment in part-time evening law school program.
• Ability to work a full-time schedule during regular business hours.
• Excellent legal research and writing abilities.
• Good computer skills, including knowledge of Westlaw, Zoom, and Microsoft Word.
• Ability to complete time-sensitive tasks while maintaining accuracy.
• Ability to organize and manage own work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to handle a wide variety of tasks simultaneously.
• Strong sense of professionalism.
• Ability to deal professionally and courteously with court personnel, attorneys, the public, and media.
• As this position may involve some remote work, access to reliable internet connection is required at this time.

Instructions to Apply:
Apply for this position online. In addition to completing the online application, please upload and attach a one-page cover letter, resume, law school transcript, and writing sample (no more than ten pages).

The Minnesota Judicial Branch cares about and invests in you as an employee. Because of that, we offer affordable yet competitive benefits to support you and your family’s wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees includes health and wellness benefits, enhanced fertility benefits, short- and long-term disability, pension, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and more. Learn more at mncourts.gov/careers.

Minnesota Judicial Branch employees may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. This federal program allows qualified individuals to have their loans forgiven after meeting certain requirements working in public service. You can learn more about this program from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the office of Federal Student Aid.

Employment offers may be rescinded if the required criminal background check identifies job-related convictions.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) is committed to providing fair and equal access to justice. If you share this same commitment, desire a meaningful career serving the public, and want the opportunity to make a difference for your community, consider a career with us. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and characteristics. Minnesota Judicial Branch employees consistently express pride in their public service and in the quality of programs and services provided to customers, as well as appreciation for the teamwork and collaboration that is promoted within the MJB. To learn more about working for the Minnesota Judicial Branch, watch this video.

It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding employment are made without discrimination on the basis of disability. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability to participate in the employee selection process by contacting Human Resources at 2ndDistrictHR@courts.state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotions, and other terms and conditions of employment be made without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We value and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.