6.8. SR 04-18-2005
Item 6.8.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Pat Klaers, City Administrator
DATE: April 18, 2005
SUBJECT: Consider Extension of Student Law Clerk Program
In February the City Council discussed the law clerk-internship program between the city
prosecuting attorney's office and William Mitchell School of Law. At that time there was a
misunderstanding over the number of hours and funding available for the program. In
February the City Council approved retaining Clarissa Christian on through the end of April,
to use the city forfeiture fund for this program, and to discuss the options available again in
later April. The cost to the city was $13.00 per hour for 20 hours per week with no benefits.
The purpose of the internship program is to help with stafftng issues in the prosecuting
attorney's office for both the attorney and the legal secretary. Additionally, this internship
program is an excellent opportunity for a certified student attorney to gain municipal
experience. This program has been working out very well for the city and for Clarissa.
For the next few years it's appropriate to continue with the law clerk-internship program
with William Mitchell School of Law. This is a low cost option for the city and our first time
experience has been very positive. Prosecuting Attorney Chris Johnson has been in contact
with the school and is working towards another internship.
Clarissa Christian is available for a few months to continue working for the city. She takes
her Law Bar at the end of July and has a job offer that begins in August. Prosecuting
Attorney Chris Johnson recommends that we retain Clarissa Christian on a part time basis
until around mid-August. Funding for continuing with this program will have to come from
the City Council Contingency Fund. The 2005 legal budget is short in the personal services
category. (For some unknown reason we did not include funding for retaining Clarissa
through the summer, nor did we include funding for continuing the internship program.)
Clarissa has requested $18.00jhour (with no benefits) to help cover her increased expenses
(i.e. gas). To retain Clarissa on a part time basis for an additional four months at $18.00 per
hour should be less than $6,000.
s: \ Council\Pat\200S \ W orksessions \LawClerk.doc
Recommendation
It is recommended that the city retain Clarissa Christian on a 20 hour per week basis through
August 2005 at a rate of $18.00 per hour with no benefits. Funding for this position will be
the City Council Contingency Fund.
s: \ Council \Pat\2005 \ W orksessions \LawClerk.doc