Minnesota State Court Hiring Practices

MINNESOTA STATE COURT HIRING PRACTICES

The Minnesota Supreme Court consists of seven Justices, who hire collectively each year using a pool system one year prior to clerkship start date.

The Chief Justice hires two clerks, and each Associate Justice hires one chambers clerk. Additionally, the Court hires two shared clerk positions where clerks split their work among three justices respectively. The term for a Supreme Court clerk is one year.

The application for the Minnesota Supreme Court opens in spring each year for a term start date of the following summer. Applicants apply online at www.mncourts.gov. Required application materials include resume, cover letter, letters of recommendation, class rank (if ranked by law school), and law school transcript. Additionally, applicants are required to complete a 20 – 25 short answer questionnaire, which is attached to their online application. Interviews are held in late spring or early summer.

Applicants can apply to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals using the same application.

MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS

The Minnesota Court of Appeals also hires using a pool method, and opens its application cycle in spring each year. Some judges hire outside the pool method via direct application after all pool clerks are hired. The application deadline is mid-summer. Interviews for the court occur in early September each year, with a term start date of the following summer. Students can apply to both the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals using one application online at www.mncourts.gov.

Required application materials include resume, cover letter, letters of recommendation, class rank (if ranked by law school), and law school transcript. Additionally, applicants are required to complete a 20 – 25 short answer questionnaire, which is attached to their online application.

MINNESOTA TRIAL COURTS

All Minnesota trial court judges hire via www.mncourts.gov as needed year round. Generally, judges expect a clerk to start after the hiring process and do not consider 3Ls until late spring of their 3L year. The term for a trial court clerk is at least one year, with some judges preferring longer and some clerks staying beyond the year. Required application materials differ for each judge.