From the Career and Professional Development Office: MSBA Diversity Clerkship If you are planning to apply for

the MSBAs Diversity Clerkship, please take a few minutes to read this email so that you know the process, key dates and tips for a strong application. As stated on the MBSAs website, your application will include:
y y y y y y

Law school transcript with GPA (Unofficial transcript is sufficient, but needs to be updated when you receive all of your first semester grades); Undergraduate university transcript with GPA (this does not need to be an official transcript per the MSBA Clerkship Program); An essay explaining what makes you a unique candidate for this program and how you think your uniqueness will affect your legal career in Minnesota; A legal writing sample; Your resume; and Minnesota Minority Clerkship Online Application

http://www.mnlegaldiversity.org/clerkship-program.html Key dates: Now-January 10: Make an appointment to review your resume with a counselor or email your resume to the Career and Professional Development Office. Now-January 10: Prepare your legal writing sample, essay and obtain your undergraduate transcript. After winter break: Obtain your unofficial law school transcript through the student web: student web>student records login> login>my transcript>save as to your own drive. y If you do not receive all your first semester grades by January 20 or receive additional grades prior to your scheduled interview, bring an updated transcript to your interview and provide it to the interviewer. Bring three copies of your updated transcript.

January 10, 4:00 pm: Submit your essay and writing sample to Sharon Goodyear in the Office of Career & Professional Development. Professors Konar-Steenberg and Deb Schmedemann will review and provide feedback by January 17. January 17-January 19: Review and revise your writing samples and essays. January 17-January 20: Complete MSBAs online application and upload your documents. Essay: MSBAs Topic: An essay explaining what makes you a unique candidate for this program and how you think your uniqueness will affect your legal career in Minnesota.

Members of MSBAs Diversity Clerkship Committee will review your essay and look for candidates who have unique life experiences and excellent writing skills. Here are some tips on writing your essay: y Follow a structure: Begin with an introduction to set the theme, middle paragraphs to detail your story, and conclusion to draw together your theme and practice of law. Start with a personal story that allows you to explain why you decided to go to law school. Write about something you know first-hand and let your personal voice come through. Focus on a specific event, something you experienced in life, versus talking generally about your opinion on diversity or justice. Use the middle part of your essay to tell your personal story or experience. Use the final paragraph to show how your experience shaped your view of justice and our legal system. Tie in how your experience will allow you to bring a unique perspective to the practice of law. Avoid generalizations. There is no page limit, but we recommend at least two pages and no more than three pages. Have a friend or family member review your essay. Proofread! There should be no grammatical or spelling errors.

y y y

y y y y

Potential Topics: y Discuss your environment in which you were raised. What was it like growing up in your family? Was your neighborhood different from the surrounding neighborhoods? If you grew up isolated from, or connected with, your culture, how did that make you feel? How did it shape you as a person? Discuss whether you felt you fit in with the mainstream culture. If yes, what factors in your life allowed you to fit in the mainstream culture? If there were challenges, what were they and what did you do to address them? How has your own cultural history enriched and/or challenged you? Culture may be defined broadly. Cultural understanding is often drawn from ones ethnic background, customs, values, immediate family, community, and/or social environment.

Writing Sample: For most students, you will use the WRAP memo that has already been critiqued by your writing instructor. MSBA does not have a page limit, but generally, 7-10 pages will suffice. If you decide to use a specific section of your legal memorandum, include a title page. For example: Your Name, Writing Sample, This is the argument section of my WRAP legal memorandum. Interview Preparation/Mock Interviews Sign-up sheets for attorney mock interviews will be available in the Office of Career & Professional Development by Tuesday, Jan. 10. All students who apply for the MSBA Clerkship Program are required to sign up for an attorney mock interview.