For over a decade, the TCDIP 1L Clerkship has helped
launch the careers of law students of color in the Twin Cities.
We strengthen the legal talent pipeline with strategic partnerships
between TCDIP Members from law firms and corporate legal departments.
TCDIP 1L Clerkship Positions
1L Clerkship positions for Summer 2023 are posted below – open positions with extended deadlines are noted! For more information and advice from TCDIP 1L Clerkship alumni check out our previous webinar recording! More information is also available in the FAQ sections below and the “Information for Students” section below.
View 2023 TCDIP 1L Clerkship Positions and Apply
View our 2023 TCDIP 1L Clerkship opportunities below by clicking “open”! We are proud to host over 45 paid positions for 1L students from historically under-represented racial and ethnic backgrounds. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the 1L Clerkship contact for the firm, or email info@diversityinpractice.org. Most firms accept applications on a rolling basis, and some firms have additional specific deadlines. All positions for Summer 2023 have finished accepting applications.
Open
Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala, P.A.
Corporate Partner: Intact Insurance Group USA
Apply to: recruiting@arthurchapman.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Ballard Spahr
Corporate Partner: Wells Fargo
1L Clerkship Contact: naegelej@ballardspahr.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Corporate Partner: 3M
1L Clerkship Contact: sarah.evenson@btlaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Bassford Remele
Corporate Partner: Travelers Insurance
1L Clerkship Contact: jumlder@bassford.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Best and Flannagan
Corporate Partner: UNFI
1L Clerkship Contact: recruitment@bestlaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Billion and Armitage
Corporate Partner: Abbott Laboratories
1L Clerkship Contact: mcollins@billionarmitage.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Carlson Caspers Vandenburgh & Lindquist PA
Corporate Partner: Abbott
1L Clerkship Contact: mlaschansky@carlsoncaspers.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Corporate Partners: Prime Therapeutics, US Bank, UnitedHealth Group, Xcel Energy
1L Clerkship Contact: otto.kirsten@dorsey.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Corporate Partners: 3M, Allina Health, Boston Scientific, Cargill, Intact Insurance Group, Pentair, Target, Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo
1L Clerkship Contact: emily.coveyou@faegredrinker.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Corporate Partner: General Mills, Medtronic, Mayo Clinic
1L Clerkship Contact: sborgendale@fredlaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Corporate Partners: U.S. Bank
1L Clerkship Contact: gerhardsonj@gtlaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Greene Espel PLLP
Corporate Partner: Cargill
1L Clerkship Contact: lbroomell@greeneespel.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Jackson Lewis
Corporate partner: Ecolab
1L Clerkship Contact: jennifer.zwilling@jacksonlewis.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Jones Day
Corporate Partner: Wells Fargo
1L Clerkship Contact: cbrasser@jonesday.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Kennedy & Graven
Corporate Partner: Minnesota municipalities
1L Clerkship Contact: JHill@Kennedy-Graven.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Larkin Hoffman
Corporate Partner: Mall of America
1L Clerkship Contact: gotsuka@larkinhoffman.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Larson King LLP
Corporate Partner: 3M
1L Clerkship Contact: cboisen@larsonking.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Lathrop GPM LLP
Corporate Partner: CHS
1L Clerkship Contact: Jaclyn.Steiner@lathropgpm.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP
Partner Organization: Metropolitan Council
1L Clerkship Contact: segirard@locklaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Maslon LLP
Corporate Partner: Mortenson
1L Clerkship Contact: angie.roell@maslon.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Meagher & Geer
Corporate Partner: Allianz
1L Clerkship Contact: dweiss@meagher.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Nelson Mullins
Corporate Partner: Boston Scientific
1L Clerkship Contact: latori.brown@nelsonmullins.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Nichols Kaster
As a plaintiff’s firm, Nichols Kaster does not have a partnering organization.
1L Clerkship Contact: tmorin@nka.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Ogletree Deakins
Corporate Partner: Wells Fargo
1L Clerkship Contact: samantha.tschida@ogletree.com.
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Patterson Thuente
Corporate Partner: N/A
1L Clerkship Contact: ashtonpiper@ptslaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Robins Kaplan
Corporate Partner: Best Buy
1L Clerkship Contact: Pvue@RobinsKaplan.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Saul Ewing
Corporate Partner: Pearson
1L Clerkship Contact: Caitlin.DeLaRosa@saul.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you!
Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.
Corporate Partner: Wells Fargo
1L Clerkship Contact: hcosentino@slwip.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Stinson LLP
Corporate Partner: US Bank
1L Clerkship Contact: recruiting@stinson.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Stoel Rives
Corporate Partner: UnitedHealth Group
1L Clerkship Contact: attorneyrecruiting@stoel.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Taft Stettinius & Hollister
Corporate Partner: Xcel Energy
1L Clerkship Contact: msauceman@taftlaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Winthrop & Weinstine
Corporate Partners: Ameriprise Financial and Sherman Associates
1L Clerkship Contact: psachs@winthrop.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Zelle LLP
Corporate Partner: Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions
1L Clerkship Contact: lbartlow@zellelaw.com
Application Instructions: This position is no longer accepting applications, thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the TCDIP 1L Clerkship?
Open
This program was created to promote the Twin Cities legal community to 1L students of color from Minnesota and across the country. Highly qualified law students from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession are encouraged to apply.
What is the summer schedule for TCDIP 1L Clerks?
Open
Employers work together to customize a schedule that works best for their organizations and Clerks. Most TCDIP 1L Clerks work some portion of the summer in a Member law firm and some portion of the summer in a Member corporate legal department. Other clerks may work primarily in a law firm setting, with regular opportunities to visit and engage with corporate employers. The TCDIP 1L Clerkship usually lasts between 10 and 12 weeks.
What will you do as a TCDIP 1L Clerk?
Open
Clerks engage in meaningful work assignments designed to build legal skills and educate Clerks on the roles and responsibilities of attorneys working within a law firm and in-house legal department setting. Law firm and corporate employers will provide one or more designated Supervisors within each work setting. Supervisors and others will provide timely feedback and evaluation of Clerks.
What programming does TCDIP provide for TCDIP 1L Clerks?
Open
In addition to the programming offered by their employers, Clerks are invited to attend several TCDIP- sponsored events over the course of the summer, including a welcome reception, professional development workshops, and a networking brunch with our Emerging Leaders Group. In addition, TCDIP 1L Clerks will be paired with an Attorney Mentor from a Member Organization different from their primary employer so that each Clerk can learn more about the Twin Cities legal community. TCDIP’s Executive Director, Summra M. Shariff, also serves as a resource for all Clerks and employers over the course of the summer.
How are TCDIP 1L Clerks recruited and hired?
Open
TCDIP promotes the program to top 100 law schools nationwide, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and law schools in the Midwest to help recruit a diverse pool of candidates. Law students apply directly to participating law firm Members based on instructions posted on the TCDIP website. The law firms are responsible for screening, selecting, and hiring TCDIP 1L Clerks in coordination with their corporate partner.
What are the compensation guidelines for TCDIP 1L Clerks?
Open
Law firm Members are responsible for paying a salary to the summer clerk for the entire clerkship period, including the time clerks are working with the corporate Member. TCDIP does not provide specific compensation guidelines but asks that Members pay TCDIP 1L Clerks at the same rate as other 1L students working at their organization.
Who is responsible for supervising and evaluating clerkship participants?
Open
Law firm and corporate Members should make sure their Clerk has a designated supervisor within each work setting. Supervisors and others should provide timely feedback and evaluation of Clerks. We ask Members to provide meaningful work assignments designed to build legal skills and educate Clerks on the roles and responsibilities of attorneys working within a law firm and in-house legal department setting.
Information
For Employers
Open
Important Deadlines for Employers:
October 3, 2022: Program registration opens for employers. October 28, 2022: Registration closes for employers
1. Review informational documents including, 1L Clerkship Guidelines, and flyer for employers to learn more about the program. An Employer Best Practices Guide is also available for your reference.
2. Determine the number of TCDIP Clerks your organization would like to host.
3. Identify a partnering Member Organization. We ask law firm and corporate Members to partner with each other to host a Clerk. Each law firm hires a Clerk who will also work with a partnering corporate legal department during the summer. If you are unsure what organization you would like to partner with, email info@diversityinpractice.org for a list of Member Organizations, Member Representatives, and recruiting contacts. Please contact info@diversityinpractice.org if you have any questions.
4. Negotiate the terms of the clerkship with your partner Organization. Be sure to discuss agreements or documents that may need to be signed (e.g., indemnity agreements, secondment agreements, etc.). You may also want to discuss how the Clerk’s schedule will be split between the firm and the corporation. It is important to ensure that both Organizations are in agreement about the details of hosting a clerk before registering with TCDIP. When contacting partner firms or corporations, please include both the Member Representative and recruiting professional(s) (if listed) on all communications.
5. Register with TCDIP. Once you have confirmed your agreements with a partnering organization, both the law firm and corporate Member Organizations should fill out a registration form. If you encounter any issues with the form, please email info@diversityinpractice.org. Once organizations have registered, we will reach out to the law firms for job postings and start promoting the clerkships to law schools across the country.
For Students
Open
Important dates for students:
November 16, 2022: Applications open for law students to apply for 1L Clerkship positions. Many applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please read the instructions for each application carefully. Students are encouraged to apply early!
Spring 2023: Clerks are notified of placements.
See our FAQ or download our student flyer for more information! Available Positions: Stay tuned.