Job Description

The Minnesota Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County) Civil Division is seeking a Staff Attorney. The Civil Division Staff Attorney provides legal support to 15 judges, 4 referees, 34 law clerks, and administrative staff. This position conducts sophisticated legal research and analysis and provides daily advice, recommendations, and legal support to the Division. The Staff Attorney also develops training tools and provides training to judicial officers, law clerks and court operation associates within the Division. This position requires deep knowledge of Minnesota civil law and procedure, court rules, and judicial bench policies and procedures. The Division relies upon the Staff Attorney to maintain familiarity and to explore new research tools and legal resources that may become available to the courts. The Fourth Judicial District is a fast-paced, high-volume, and diverse environment that promotes equity for all court staff and court customers. It is the largest Civil Court in the State of Minnesota.

The Staff Attorney will report to the Civil Division Presiding Judge. This position is located on the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN and the typical hours are 8:00am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday, and work is performed primarily onsite, with some flexibility for remote work based on business needs.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Examples listed below may not reflect all duties performed.

• Complete project-based legal work as assigned by the Civil Division Presiding Judge and division managers.
• Provide legal support, research assistance, and advice to judicial officers, division law clerks, and administration.
• Conduct legal research. Prepare judicial opinions. Prepare Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of law and Orders.
• Maintains, updates, and revises the Civil Division’s internal library of memoranda, template orders, reference materials and other resources used by judicial chambers.
• Advise and assist Civil Division staff with legal and procedural questions regarding filings from parties, entries of judgment, and post-judgment requests.
• Research, draft, and update standing orders, bench policies, and procedures for the Civil Division.
• Maintain current knowledge of Minnesota civil law; monitor and track recent changes, and advise judicial officers, law clerks, and administrative staff regarding new developments in Minnesota civil law, including reviewing civil appellate decisions and summarizing (as needed) new case law, statutes, and rules.
• Develop training plans and programs for Civil Division judicial officers and law clerks. Train court staff on legislative and rule changes.
• Attend and routinely present at Civil Division leadership and bench meetings, lead the monthly Civil Division law clerk meetings, and attend regular meetings of the Fourth District’s staff attorneys.
• 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:

• Possession of a law degree from an accredited college or university
• Two to three years of experience as an attorney in private or public practice or two years of law clerk experience in a private or public legal setting
• Possession of a current Certificate of Admission to the Bar of the State of Minnesota.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of trial court procedures and rules of evidence.
• Considerable knowledge of substantive and procedural law, court rules, statues, and case law in all areas of law.
• Proficiency in Westlaw and Microsoft software including SharePoint.
• Skill in applying legal principles and logical thinking to complex cases, problems, and research.
• Excellent writing, research, and personal computer skills.
• Strong communication skills, both speaking and writing.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities, remain flexible and highly organized, and work independently with minimal oversight.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others within and outside of the Judicial Branch.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Civil law experience working in the MN Judicial Branch

SALARY:

The expected starting salary range for external candidates is $40.08 (range minimum) - $51.11 (range midpoint) per hour ($83,366 - $106,308 annually). The full salary range for this position is $40.08 (range minimum) - $62.14 (range maximum) per hour ($83,366 - $129,251 annually).

This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for State of MN employee benefits.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

• Complete and submit your online application with resume and cover letter attached by Friday October 30th, 2026, at 11:59pm.
• 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 Human Resources with questions regarding this posting via email: 4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us; or phone: 612-540-6488.

Why Work for Us?

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.​ We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and value diversity in professional background and cultural characteristics. We are intentional and mindful about the organizational culture we are building, seeking broad-minded individuals with robust capabilities who value supporting one another’s growth. ​

Employee Benefits

The Minnesota Judicial Branch cares about and invests in you as an employee. Because of that, we offer affordable yet competitive benefits to support you and your family’s wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees includes health and wellness benefits, enhanced fertility benefits, short- and long-term disability, pension, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and more. Learn more at Employee Benefits - Careers at the Minnesota Judicial Branch Careers. Minnesota Judicial Branch employees may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. This federal program allows qualified individuals to have their loans forgiven after meeting certain requirements working in public service. You can learn more about this program from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the office of Federal Student Aid.

Equal Employment Opportunity

​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.​

Internal Applicants

If you are a current employee of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, please apply to open positions conveniently through your Oracle account by visiting Opportunity Marketplace - Browse Opportunities.