Law Clerk for Referees Dube and Kralik, Tenth District

Expand your court experience or begin your legal career as a District Law Clerk! The Tenth Judicial District is accepting applications for a Law Clerk I/District Court Law Clerk for the Referee Unit. This is a unique opportunity to be a critical part of a new district-wide unit. Our two Referees preside primarily over civil matters, including guardianship, conservatorship, and housing cases, in all eight counties of the Tenth Judicial District: Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright. The Referees are chambered at the Washington County Courthouse located in Stillwater, MN and at the Wright County Courthouse in Buffalo, MN. This position will support both referees. The work will be performed remotely and in person, including at court locations in any of the eight counties, as needed. A District Court 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.

Law Clerks work directly with Referees performing professional legal research, preparation of memoranda, opinions, and judicial orders and related clerical/administrative work. This position supports the functions of a District Court judicial officer 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.

WHY JOIN THE REFEREE UNIT

• Broad exposure across the district: Work with the referees, judges, court administrators, attorneys, and court staff in eight counties, ranging from metro and suburban courts to rural courts, and see how each county handles its calendars and caseloads.
• Focused, in-demand subject matter: Build practical experience in probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and housing law, areas that directly affect vulnerable adults, families, and tenants and landlords.
• Two mentors: Work closely with and learn from two referees, with exposure to two chambers and two approaches to judicial decision-making.
• Help shape a new unit: Contribute to the processes, templates, and practices of a new district-wide referee unit during its first year.
• Flexibility: Much of the work may be performed remotely, as appropriate, balanced with in-person time in chambers and the courtroom.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The following are examples of major job duties expected of this position:

• Reviews, studies, researches, and annotates laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
• Prepares briefs, legal memoranda, and statement of issues involved, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations to the judicial officer.
• Compiles references on laws and decisions necessary for legal determinations.
• Confers with the judicial officer concerning legal questions, the facts of the case, and drafting of documents and judicial orders.
• Attends court sessions, in person or remotely, in courthouses throughout the district to hear the evidence, oral arguments and records necessary case information for judicial decision making.
• Assist the judicial officer in in various court proceedings such as emergency petitions, initial hearings, pretrial motions, pre-trial conferences and trials.
• Administrative duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education Requirements

Law Clerk I (Starting salary is $25.27/hour)

• A 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 a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Law Clerk (Starting salary is $31.55/hour)

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• An attorney who has taken and passed the Minnesota Bar Exam is preferred.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• Knowledge of general law, state law, established precedent, and sources of legal reference.

• Knowledge of court practices and procedures.

• Knowledge of legal terminology and concepts.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with a diverse group of people.

• Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles.

• Ability to represent the court in a respectful manner.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

• Skill in the operation of a personal computer with word processing and legal research software, including Westlaw CoCounsel Legal.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• All applicants must upload and attach a resume, brief writing samples (5-7 pages), and law school transcripts.
• Work is performed primarily in an office-setting and/or in a courtroom.
• Core business hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Initial days off: Saturday, Sunday, and Court Designated Holidays.
• This position will be accepting applications until November 30, 2026.