Law Student/Law Clerk

Spring 2025 Student Law Clerk – Immigration Hub (Minneapolis, MMLA)

Position Type: Unpaid Temporary Part-Time

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Introduction:

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) is seeking 2L and 3L law students to work in our Minneapolis office. This position requires a minimum of 10 hours per week for the full semester. In your cover letter please indicate how many hours per week you will be available to work.

As an equal opportunity employer, MMLA is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. We welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goal of equal justice for all. We are committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace.

The Regional Hub for New Americans: The Hub is a collaborative partnership of five immigration legal services providers in Minnesota – The Advocates for Human Rights (AHR), Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA), Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), and Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN). We are working together to expand access to immigration help throughout Minnesota through the creation of legal access points, education and community outreach, rapid response triage, and coordinated intake and referrals.

Immigration Law Project (ILP): ILP provides legal representation to clients in a full range of immigration contexts, including removal/deportation defense, adjustment of status, citizenship, and VAWA-based cases (U and T visas). This position specifically would focus on the work we do in collaboration with the Regional Hub for New Americans.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Apply the principles of MMLA's Racial Justice Values Statement in all interactions.
• Interview clients and prepare immigration applications.
• Conduct legal research.
• Prepare community presentations (Know Your Rights) based on current law and frequently asked questions
• Investigate and research changing immigration policies and their impact on the communities we serve
• Plan and coordinate free legal services clinics in collaboration with our Assistant Supervisor of Outreach, on the following potential topics:
  • Delegation of Parental Authority and Family Preparedness in the case of Deportation
  • Temporary Protected Status
• Employment Authorization Document
• Attend Hub Consultation clinics in St. Cloud or Willmar to screen community members for immigration relief
• Attend Juvenile Docket screening day at the immigration court
• Attend Legal Orientation Program (LOP) outreach and screening days at ICE detention facilities in Minnesota

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to the needs of low-income/vulnerable clients.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office.
• Excellent attention to detail, interpersonal skills, and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle a variety of assignments while building collaborative relationships with clients, staff, and the community.
• Ability to be in-person at community clinics throughout the metro and potentially in Greater MN (travel with MMLA staff can be arranged, do not need a vehicle)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Diverse economic, social, or cultural experiences preferred.
• Second language proficiency, especially Spanish preferred. Other preferred languages include Arabic, Hmong, or Somali.
• Prior experience in immigration law preferred.
• Experience in community outreach and engagement, preferred.

Compensation Information:

These positions are not paid. Please consider work-study if you are eligible. All positions could also be for credit in partnership with your school.

Application Submission:

Submit resume, cover letter, and list of references expressing interest in the position through our Career Page at https://mylegalaid.org/about-us/employment/. Open until filled, with preference given to candidates who apply by January 24, 2024.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in our employee selection process, please contact Megan Cook at mcook@mylegalaid.org.

Please direct all other inquiries to hiring@mylegalaid.org.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. This position is subject to collective bargaining agreements.