| Application
and Brochure |
 |
Frequently Asked Questions for Students and Employers
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
You provide important information that is used by the Selection Committee when determining program enrollment. Such factors as academic and employment history, as well as recommendations by instructors and past employers are considered.
Every student who applies to the program will be granted an interview with a member or two of the Selection Committee in early February, 2008. Please note that this is a screening interview and different than those interviews with employers that the selected student participants will have. This is a screening interview which helps the Selection Committee determine whether to invite you to participate in the program as one of 20 student participants.
You may provide a letter of recommendation, should you choose to do so, but it is not required.
Because this is a matching clerkship program, every student accepted into the program is guaranteed a placement. In submitting your application form you commit to participate in the program, regardless of your placement. Notifications will be sent in February 2008 to students to inform them of their acceptance into the program. Students will have until February 29 to confirm their participation.
All selected students meet with all employers. Once you have accepted our invitation to participate, you are committed to accepting a matching employer assignment even if it is not among your top choices. After these meetings, both employers and students rank their matching preferences from first to last. Student, as well as employer, preferences are given consideration. No guarantees, however, can be made that individual preferences can be accommodated.
Each participating student is asked to work for the selected employer for an eight to twelve week period during the summer after their first-year of law school. During that time, they will conduct legal work, including, but not limited to: research, writing, analyzing, and engaging in thoughtful discussions in an effort to serve the employer and the employer’s clients. Daily start times and end times vary from employer to employer. Your business dress attire models the culture of your organization. Some work situations require formal business attire; others are much more relaxed and require business casual attire. The Diversity Committee will be sponsoring an orientation training workshop in April 2008, before students begin work at their selected employers, to more fully discuss the general expectations of employers.
Though we try, it is not always possible to give students or employers their top choices. Preferences, however, are given consideration. It is important to remember that the program’s participating employers are all committed to providing you with an excellent, educational summer experience–with challenging and rewarding work. Keep in mind that they are among the best legal employers in the state.
The number of students selected for the program matches the number of participating employers. Once students are selected to participate in the program, all the student participants meet with all the employers. After these interviews, both the employers and the students rank their matching preferences from first to last. These expressed preferences are given significant consideration in the matching process. No guarantees, however, can be made that the individual preferences can be accommodated.
Employers are very eager to introduce first-year law students-of-color to their organization and promote diversity within the workforce and the legal profession.
We will supply students with information about the participating employers early in 2008. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to do their own independent research.
No. While the clerkship program is organized through the State Bar, it is the employers who hire the individual students. As such, the students are afforded the same level of respect and professionalism as any person hired by the organization. Each participating employer will hire one or more law students at their organization’s normal salary for first-year summer clerks, and provide the clerks with legal work, mentors, frequent performance feedback, and exit interviews. In addition, each employer must consider its clerkship student for an offer to return to work in the future, e.g., school year clerk, 2L summer associate, post-graduation, etc.
The Diversity Committee and State Bar staff will coordinate clerkship training workshops—including an orientation program in April for selected program participants. The Diversity Committee will also organize networking social events during the summer, including a reception in June for participating students, mentors and firms to network. In addition, we will provide mentoring resources for participants—most importantly, a qualified and responsive mentor for each student participant selected to participate in the program. Frequently Asked Question for Employers
Our program places hard-working, eager, intelligent first-year students-of-color with many of the state’s premier legal employers. The students will provide valuable legal support and employers will reap the benefits of a diverse workforce while promoting diversity within the profession.
Participation is completely voluntary. If you are interested in the Summer 2008 program, please contact the Chair of the Diversity Committee Marta M. Chou at mmchou@rkmc.com.
Employers participating in the Minnesota Minority Clerkship Program commit to a match with a first-year law student for the summer even if the student is not among its top choices. Employers hire the student for the summer and agree to provide the same salary, work experience and social experiences to a clerkship student as provided to other first-year summer associates. Employers agree to comply with all labor and employment laws relating to hiring a student through our program. Employers provide mentoring to the clerk and provide the student with periodic evaluations and an exit interview.
The number of students selected for the program matches the number of participating employers. Only qualified students are admitted into the program. Once students are selected to participate in the program, all the student participants meet with all the employers. After these interviews, both the employers and the students rank their matching preferences from first to last. These expressed preferences are given significant consideration in the matching process. No guarantees, however, can be made that the individual preferences can be accommodated.
Though we try, it is not always possible to give students or employers their top choices. Preferences, however, are given every consideration. It is important to remember that all students chosen to participate have met the criteria for potential success as evaluated by the Selection Committee.
Please contact Marta M. Chou, Chair of the Diversity Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association, (612) 349-8569 or mmchou@rkmc.com or Tram Nguyen, Staff Liaison to the MSBA Diversity Committee, (612) 278-6316 or tnguyen@statebar.gen.mn.us.
We ask that each organization complete the paperwork that will be sent out this winter, including a description of their organization, the summer associate program, contact information, salary information and more. In addition, you may provide brochures or other informational materials describing your organization which will be forwarded to the students selected for this program. Please supply 22 copies of whatever information you submit.
We ask that each employer complete an evaluation form at the end of the summer and submit it to the Diversity Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association. This form will include general comments about the legal employer’s experience in the program and the work completed by their clerkship student, as well as whether this student was considered for an offer and whether he or she received such an offer. Our intent is to build a database of information so that we can track the success of this program. For additional information, please contact Marta M. Chou, Chair of the Diversity Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association at mmchou@rkmc.com
|
