Law Clerk, Lake and Cook Counties, Judge Hanke

Are you looking for a position where you are exposed to many areas of the law?

Are you seeking a position where you can learn directly from judicial officers?

Expand your court experience or begin your legal career as a Sixth District Judicial Law Clerk! Judge Steve Hanke, chambered in the Lake County Courthouse in Two Harbors, Minnesota, seeks qualified candidates for a Judicial Law Clerk position. This position is in the Law Clerk classification.

A Judicial Law Clerk position offers the opportunity to work within the Minnesota Judicial Branch at the Trial Court level, and gain insight into judicial and court processes, with a court perspective on the administration of justice. Judicial Law Clerks work directly with a District Court Judge performing legal research and drafting memoranda and orders. This position supports the functions of a District Court Judge 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.

What You Will Do
The following are examples of major job duties expected of this position:

• Reviews, analyzes, and researches laws, court decisions, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
• Prepares orders and legal memoranda for judicial use.
• Confers with judicial officer concerning legal questions, construction of documents, and granting of orders.
• Attends court sessions to hear oral arguments and records necessary case information; maintain records attendant to court proceedings.
• Prepares jury instructions and verdict forms.
• Responds to telephone calls and written inquiries from public and attorneys.
• May perform courtroom duties including calling the calendar; swearing in jury panels and witness; taking court minutes; and assisting in various court proceedings such as arraignments, motions, hearings, pre-trial conferences and trials.

Working Conditions
Work is performed primarily in an office setting or a courtroom.

What You Must Have

• To be considered for employment as a Law Clerk, you must meet the following qualification(s): Graduation from an accredited law school at time of employment
• To be considered for employment as a Law Clerk 1 (student), you must meet the following qualification(s): Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and current enrollment in and completion of at least one year of law school training at an accredited law school
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Knowledge of court practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of court terminology and concepts.
• Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles.

Nice to Have

• Concise and efficient writing skills, including law review, law journal or legal clinic, are preferred.
• An attorney who has taken and passed the Minnesota Bar Exam is preferred.

What You Will Get
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. Click here to learn more about the benefits we offer, including details on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program eligibility, employee development, and more.

What You Will Earn

• Law Clerk starting salary is $31.24/hour.
• Applicants who are hired prior to graduation from an accredited law school will be hired into the Law Clerk I job classification at $25.02/hour until graduation.
• Applicants with paralegal experience may be considered, with hiring into the Judge Unit Paralegal classification.

Supplemental Information

The Sixth Judicial District serves Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, including the counties of Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis (Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia).

Logistics

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE) unrepresented position. Work will be primarily performed at the Lake County Courthouse, located at 601 3rd Avenue, Two Harbors, MN, as well as several days a month at the Cook County Courthouse, located at 411 West 2nd Street, Grand Marais, MN, and the Carlton County Courthouse, located at 1780 Justice Drive, Carlton, MN. Travel throughout the district is expected. Typical hours for this position are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. This position may be working in a hybrid role consisting of a combination of remote and in-person work. When working remotely, access to reliable internet connection is required.

All applicants must also upload and attach a cover letter, resume, law school transcripts, and brief writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length).

• Applications will be reviewed each day.
• Interviews are anticipated to be held Friday, June 27, 2025.

All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of our background check processes.

If you have questions about this position, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

Why Work for Us? 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.​ We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and value diversity in professional background and cultural characteristics. We are intentional and mindful about the organizational culture we are building, seeking broad-minded individuals with robust capabilities who value supporting one another’s growth. ​Employee Benefits 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 Employee Benefits - Careers at the Minnesota Judicial Branch 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.Equal Employment Opportunity ​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 [email protected]. 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.​Internal Applicants If you are a current employee of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, please apply to open positions conveniently through your Oracle account by visiting Opportunity Marketplace - Browse Opportunities.

Originally posted on Himalayas

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