Summer Clerk

Applications for Summer 2024 due April 18th to eroberts@mnbars.org. 

• The mission of the Business Law Section is to draft, propose, and review legislation and monitor legal developments in specific areas of business law.  The Section’s work is done through 9 substantive committees of business law including: Banking Law, Business and Professional Corporations, Cooperatives, Franchising and Product Distribution, Nonprofit Corporations, Partnerships & Limited Liability Companies, Private Business Governance, Securities Law and the Uniform Commercial Code.  Members of the Business Law Section and it substantive committees are business law lawyers from all of over the state.    
   
  Position: Business Law Section – Summer Clerk 
   
  Description: Current law student who will work with LegalCORPS during the summer of 2024. 
   
  What is LegalCORPS: LegalCORPS is a pro bono partner of the Business Law Section. LegalCORPS provides pro bono legal assistance in non-litigation business law matters to low-income entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators in Minnesota, and low-revenue small nonprofit organizations. The summer clerk’s assistance to LegalCORPS may include:
  
  
• Attend LegalCORPS brief advice clinics (virtually or in person) and participate in client intake and volunteer coordination; 
• In-house brief “residencies” with LegalCORPS partner firms and companies for exposure to the practice of transactional business law; 
• Assist with providing clients with follow-up information on alternative resources;
  Shadow LegalCORPS' staff attorney(s) during workshops and office hours, provide assistance with research and writing as needed;
• Review applications for nonprofit startup assistance; analyze and produce a report which highlights the different categories of organizational focus and create representational graphics;
• Analysis of and production of a report on the subject matter distribution of the business law needs that entrepreneurs and small business clients bring to LegalCORPS; 
• Research and create legal reference sheets on various topics for use by our volunteers;
• Creation and distribution of both short and long term client surveys that will help us identify and locate former clients whose businesses are still operational and report on results; 
• If applicant is fluent in Spanish, Hmong, and/or Somali, there may be opportunities for assisting with updating and creation of client handouts if they are interested, but not required.
   
  Requirements: 
  • Interested candidates should have a demonstrable interest in business law and potentially becoming a business law attorney;
  • Strong written and oral communication skills;
  • Ability to work semi-independently on multiple projects;
  • Individuals who are fluent in Spanish, Somali, and/or Hmong, and applicants from communities of color, are encouraged to apply
  
  Place of work: This position will be housed at the LegalCORPS office on the Minneapolis campus of the University of St. Thomas. As mentioned above, there may be off-site “residencies” that may or may not be in downtown Minneapolis. 20% percentage of the clerk’s time may be remote. 
   
  Hours and Time Frame: Approximately 30 hours per week for Summer of 2024, with an estimate of 8 to 10 weeks of service, depending on schedules.   
   
  Compensation: $20 per hour.   
   
  Application deadline: Thursday, April 18th, 2024 
   
  How to apply: Interested applicants should send their resume and statement of interest to: Evelyn Roberts, MSBA Section Manager, at eroberts@mnbars.org
  
  Application review process: Applications will be reviewed by a Clerkship Committee with representatives from LegalCORPS and BLS. Interviews with potential candidates will be held April 30th and May 1st in the afternoon. You will be emailed directly should you reach this step in the process. The winning applicant will be selected by the Clerkship Committee no later than Thursday, May 9, 2024. 
   
  Any questions should be directed to Evelyn Roberts: eroberts@mnbars.org