Description

Hennepin County District Court invites qualified applicants for one Staff Attorney position in the Civil Division. This position will assist judicial officers, law clerks, and administration with a focus on civil case law, court rules, statutes, policies, and procedures. Work includes research, writing, analyzing, and presenting procedural and substantive law.  Hennepin County District Court is a fast-paced, high-volume, diverse environment that promotes equity for all court staff and court customers.This position is classified as a Trial Court Staff Attorney, with a working title of Staff Attorney and is located at the Hennepin County Government Center, C-364, 30 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN  55487. Typical hours for this position are 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, with some flexibility based on business needs. This position is generally onsite to support business needs, with flexibility to work remotely as arranged with the supervisor.

To ensure the health and safety of all judicial officials and employees, the Minnesota Judicial Branch follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to prevent COVID-19 exposure and infection in the workplace. For the most recent guidelines, please visit the CDC website at Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC.

The expected starting salary range for external candidates is $33.34 (range minimum) – $42.52 (range midpoint) per hour ($69,613.92 – $88,781.76 annually).  The full salary range for this position is $33.34 (range minimum) – $51.70 (range maximum) per hour ($69,613.92 – $107,949.60 annually). This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefits package.  To learn more about benefits, click here.Example of Duties

• Act as legal counsel for the Civil Division.
• Complete work assigned by the Civil Presiding Judge and Administrative Leadership.
• Provide legal and procedural advice to judicial officers and their staff, as well as Civil Administration, including the Assignment Office, the Civil Filing  and Judgment Divisions, Conciliation Court, and Housing Court.  
• Maintain the Civil Benchbook and the Civil Judicial Resource Center on SharePoint, which houses a library of memorandums, template orders, and other reference material curated for Civil Division judicial chambers.
• Advise and assist Civil Administration with the processing of administrative default judgment filings and post-judgment filings.
• Draft or update standing orders, bench policies, and procedures for the Civil Division.
• Develop training content for judges, law clerks, and court staff.
• Ensure written material for internal use and material shared externally is consistent with court practices and in compliance with applicable laws.
• Maintain knowledge and stays abreast of changes to applicable policies, procedures, rules, statutes, and case law relating to civil matters, and summarize new case law, statutes, and rules.
• Spot filing trends and offer sound solutions.
• Serve on local and statewide judicial branch committees and workgroups regarding initiatives and projects including Court Administrative Process (CAP) development or compliance, identification of case trends, and/or proposed changes to legislation or court rules.

Typical Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Minnesota and in good standing.
• Two years of experience as a law clerk or an attorney in private or public practice.
• As this position may be working partially remotely, access to reliable internet connection is required during this time.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to conduct legal research.
• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and summarize legal documents.
• Ability to present, orally and in writing, legal principles, legislative changes, and rule changes to lawyers and non-lawyers.
• Ability to spot issues and render legal opinions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others within and outside of the Judicial Branch.
• Knowledge of substantive and procedural civil law, including court rules, statutes, and case law.
• Knowledge of trial court procedures and rules of evidence.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software and Westlaw.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in the Civil Division at the Fourth Judicial District.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
• Flexible, with the ability to manage change.
• Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing.

Supplemental Information

The Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) is committed to providing fair and equal access to justice. If you share this same commitment, desire a meaningful career serving the public, and want the opportunity to make a difference for your community, consider a career with us. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and characteristics. Minnesota Judicial Branch employees consistently express pride in their public service and in the quality of programs and services provided to customers, as well as appreciation for the teamwork and collaboration that is promoted within the MJB.  To learn more about working for the Minnesota Judicial Branch, watch this video.

Instructions to Apply:
Please complete your application for this position online, and attach a resume and cover letter.  Applications without these attachments will be considered incomplete.  

All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of a criminal background check. An employment offer may be rescinded if the background check identifies job-related convictions.
 
Please contact the Hennepin County District Court Human Resources Department with questions regarding this posting via email at 4thRecruitment@courts.state.mn.us or phone at 612-348-2298.
 
It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding employment are made without discrimination on the basis of disability. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability to participate in the employee selection process by contacting Human Resources at 4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us.
 
The Minnesota Judicial Branch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotions, and other terms and conditions of employment be made without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We value and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.