The 2015 MJF Summer Clerkship ProgramInfo SessionTuesday, 14 October 2014

Highlights

● For appx 30 years, MJF has funded summer clerkships.

● 19 agencies awarded clerkships for Summer 2015

● Applications are Grade-Blind!● Clerks are expected to work 400 hrs at

host agencies. ● Stipends: $4,500 (metro) $5,000

(greater)

Potential Clerkship AgenciesMetro Area● Battered Women’s Justice Project ● Central Minnesota Legal Services● Immigrant Law Center of MN● Indian Child Welfare Law Center● Innocence Project● Mid-Minn Legal Aid - Housing

Discrimination Project● Mid-Minn Legal Aid - Youth Law● Minneapolis Department of Civil

Rights● Minnesota AIDS Project● Minnesota Assistance Council for

Veterans

● MN Center for Environmental Advocacy

● Public Defender - 10th Judicial District, Stillwater

● Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Greater Minnesota● Anishinabe Legal Services● Legal Aid of Northeastern MN ● Legal Aid of Northwest MN● Third Judicial Dist. Public

Defender's Office, Owatonna● White Earth Tribal Court

Where Do I Apply?

Unsure where to begin?● Think about careers you are considering, employers

which appeal to you, and specific work-related activities;

● Think about work settings (slow-paced, fast-paced, competitive, organization size, etc.);

● Reflect on the skills you want to use, refine or develop;

● Attend QPIE;

● Finally, talk to your career counselor.

Grade Blind Applications

...Applicants may NOT include GPA and/or class rank for law school or undergraduate school or any other academic honors such as dean’s list, scholarship receipt, etc...

If you have questions, contact your MJF Staff Attorney

Do Not Include: GPAClass RankDean's ListPhi Beta KappaHonor SocietiesGrade Based Scholarships

Acceptable:Oral Arguments HonorsMoot CourtLaw Review

Application InstructionsApplications are handled through UMN Symplicity system.

The instruction sheet is on the SCP page and on inside.law.

● Visit http://www.mnjustice.org

● Click on left side tab: "2015 Summer Clerkship Applications and Instructions"

● All the way at the very bottom of the page, under the agency clerkship descriptions, lives the link to the application packet.

How To Apply Via Symplicity

● Under the “OCI” tab;● Select “MJF Summer Clerkships”;● Clerkships page will list all MJF summer

postings;● Upload separate resumes and cover letters

for each agency (up to ten agencies).

MJF Clerkship Application Tips &

Tricks● Resume - targeted to public interest or

organization● Cover Letter - targeted to organization● Interview

Public Interest ApplicationsWhat are the organizations looking for?

Someone who will perform high quality legal work and commit to and carry out organization's mission and goals.

Specifically: ● Demonstrated commitment to public interest work● Interest or knowledge in their issue areas ● Leadership skills ● Strong legal skills ● Ability to communicate respectfully with their client

population

Resumes

Education Section● Commitment to public interest● Leadership skills - positions are important! ● Interest or knowledge in their issue area

Other Sections ● Language Skills - YES! ● Community Involvement - under Experience● Volunteer - under Experience ● Publications - if relevant● Computer Skills - no

ResumesExperience Section ● Use main headings to put your experience in public

interest categories○ Public Interest Legal Experience○ Public Interest Experience○ Family Law Experience

● Use job descriptions to describe: ○ individuals or groups you've served○ accomplishments ○ skills you've developed

Resumes● Transferable legal skills

○ research and writing○ client interviewing○ document drafting ○ community education & outreach○ experience or knowledge in issue area○ case investigation ○ hearings○ knowledge of social services ○ experience with client population - vulnerable, indigent,

or specific to organization○ problem solving, work ethic, organization

Cover Letters

●

Goals of Cover Letter● Persuasive writing skills ● Follow directions, respond directly to posting ● And:

● Demonstrated commitment to public interest work● Interest or knowledge in their issue areas ● Leadership skills ● Strong legal skills ● Ability to communicate respectfully with their client

population

Cover LettersIntroduction ● Year in school● Interest in or passion for organization ● Topic Sentence - what 3-4 skills or experiences YOU can contribute to the

organization, their clients, their mission

Middle Paragraphs● Highlight your specific skills, experiences, and accomplishments● Categorize under the skills you listed in your topic sentence

○ Demonstrated commitment to public interest work○ Leadership skills ○ Legal Skills

Closing Paragraph● Remind them of your skills

InterviewsPrepare

○ How do your past experiences fit each item they're looking for in the job description?

○ Why should they hire you? ○ Why do you want to work there? ○ How will this experience fit within your long term

goals?

Bring Copies of your documents

Emphasize the skills you highlighted in your cover letter

Interviews* For almost EVERY question, highlight your specific skills and experiences*

Remember you're there to help the clients, attorneys, and get experience - in that order● Handle emotional and highly charged situations● Treat the clients with the respect they deserve● Give them the legal representation they deserve ● Be empathetic and be their voice

Summer Funding & Work Study Info

Session Early next semester

National and Law School

Some funded, some unpaid