Criminal Justice Practice-Ready Clinic

THE CAREER PORTAL

The Criminal Justice Practice-Ready Clinic was created to provide young lawyers and current law school students with opportunities to learn and strengthen key lawyering skills necessary to building a successful criminal justice practice. Clinic participation required attending live and recorded webinars on essential practice areas including client service, legal writing, oral advocacy, strategic thinking, developing case strategy, and motions practice.

The Criminal Justice Practice-Ready Career Portal is an added benefit for Clinic Participants who completed the Clinic to  connect directly with employers, search job openings, and to meet with recruiters.

Judicial Externship

United States District Court, District of Minnesota

Chief Judge, Hon. John Tunheim participated as a mentor during the Clinic and invited any participants that are interested in an externship with the District of Minnesota to apply with him or his office. They are very open to law student externs. The opportunity is available to remote participants.  

The Southern District of Florida Federal Public Defender’s Office

• Year-round interns (by semester)
• Annual 1-year Fellowship for recent grads
• Fulltime positions

Council of State Governments Justice Center 

Career Opportunities

The Council of State Governments Justice Center - a criminal justice policy think tank and technical assistance provider to governments.  Contact 

Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC will award three (3) scholarships to diverse law students this year. Each recipient will be awarded $10,000 which will be paid during the student's third year of law school to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses. Additionally, recipients will be awarded a salaried 2L Summer Associate position in one of our offices. 

Clinic will arrange connection with Baker Donelson recruiter for interested parties. Contact Emily Johnson for introduction to recruiter. 

ABA Criminal Justice Section Internship

Internship with the Criminal Justice Section of the ABA. Work to support ABA CJS policy, address prisoner letters and more.  Contact Emily Johnson for more information. 

Summer Associates at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

We will interview for Des Moines and/or Minneapolis 2L summer associates as part of the on-campus interview programs at the law schools listed. We will also accept applications from students at schools not listed, starting now and on a rolling basis through early 2021, to accommodate various schools’ recruiting schedules. (All students are welcome to indicate interest early, even if we will be participating in the school’s formal program later.)

To apply, email a cover letter specifying the office to which you are applying, resume, law school transcript and legal writing sample

Lousene Hoppe served as a mentor for the Clinic, so please reach out to her for any advice if you are interested. Contact Nancy Howard, Director of Recruiting.

Florida Justice Center Externship

The Florida Justice Center is seeking externs starting in January 2021. The students will assist in sealing and expunging criminal records for people involved in the racial justice protests this past summer. Sealing and/or expunging a record allows for a specific case or charge to be removed from one's history. Ideal candidates will have an interest in criminal law and social justice issues. The externship will be 100% remote, and will involve virtual meetings with clients, assisting them in gathering the required paperwork for the application to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and placing the case in front of a judge for a final determination.  Training will be provided. In addition to close interaction with criminal defense attorneys, the students will be part of a regular webinar series featuring prominent voices in the social justice space. 

Please submit a resume and statement of interest to Melba Pearson  Note:  Please put FLJC Externship in subject line in inquires to Ms. Pearson.

Disclaimer

The Criminal Justice Section is providing access to opportunities for those who have completed the Criminal Justice Practice-Ready Clinic. The Criminal Justice Section cannot gaurantee placement.