TCDIP encourages all 1L students from across the country to apply, including students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds. Students apply directly to the law firm starting on November 19, 2025. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

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.

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.

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 have an opportunity to meet with mentors from our Emerging Leaders Group and TCDIP Board to expand their connections in 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.

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. TCDIP 1L Clerkship jobs are posted to our website, and employers also post summer positions on other platforms. The law firms are responsible for screening, selecting, and hiring TCDIP 1L Clerks in coordination with their corporate partner.

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.

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.

Stay tuned for 2026 dates!

1.  Review the 2026-2027 Guide for Law Firms and Corporate Legal Departments which includes best practices for a successful summer.
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.

Important dates for students:
November 4, 2026: 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!
January 22, 2027: First deadline for TCDIP 1L Clerkship Applications.
Spring 2026: Clerks are notified of placements.
See our FAQ for more information! Available Positions: Stay tuned.