SUMMER 2024 PAID CONSUMER LAW CLERKSHIP

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) is seeking a rising 2L or 3L law student to work in our Consumer Law Unit located at our Minneapolis office.  

DIVERSITY STATEMENT: As an equal opportunity employer, MMLA is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. We welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goal of equal justice for all. We are committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace. 

DESCRIPTION: The Consumer Unit represents low-income clients living in Hennepin County facing a variety of consumer issues. The student will have the opportunity to defend court cases for clients wrongly sued on various kinds of debts (landlord charges, auto loans, credit cards, etc.); dispute debts wrongfully appearing on credit reports; prevent garnishment of pay and bank accounts; and defend against home foreclosures. MMLA will provide the law clerk with a stipend of $6,000 for 10 weeks of work.  

MMLA’s office is in downtown Minneapolis at 111 North 5th Street, Suite 100. MMLA provides free representation to its low-income, elderly, and disabled clients. It focuses on providing the legal services needed so that its clients can meet their most basic needs such as access to safe and secure housing, safety from domestic violence, access to government programs that provide baseline cash and food support, stable immigration status, and access to health care. 

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid has a hybrid work environment, requiring staff to be in person at our offices two days per week. We ask that our clerks follow the hybrid schedule, while allowing some flexibility as needed. MMLA has dedicated office space that our summer clerks can reserve that allows for access to our attorneys and staff as well as helps build community among our clerks. We hold weekly training sessions for clerks to learn about topics relevant to legal practice and public interest work, as well as provide a space to discuss successes and challenges of their clerkships. 

 QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to the needs of low-income/vulnerable clients. 
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office. 
• Excellent attention to detail, interpersonal skills, communication, analytical, and writing skills.  
• Ability to handle a variety of assignments while building collaborative relationships with clients, staff, and the community. 
• Diverse economic, social, or cultural experiences highly valued. 
• Second language proficiency, especially Arabic, Hmong, Somali, or Spanish, preferred. 
• Consideration will be given to the applicant’s relevant coursework and/or legal clinic experiences as well as past clerkships.  

PAY:  $6,000 stipend for 10 weeks   

APPLICATIONS: Submit resume and cover letter expressing interest in the position online at https://mylegalaid.org/employment. Applicants must also complete the applicant questionnaire. Deadline is February 16, 2024.  

If you require a reasonable accommodation for completing this application, interview, or otherwise participating in our selection process, please contact Ann Cofell at acofell@mylegalaid.org.  

Please direct all other inquiries to hiring@mylegalaid.org.  

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.