Polk County Launches Law Student Externship With Goal of Recruiting Future County Attorneys

Crookston, MN — A shortage of county attorneys has led to Polk County implementing a new externship in hopes of drawing interest from future law school graduates. The Polk County Commission gave the green light earlier this month for Polk County Attorney Greg Widseth to start a new UND Student Attorney Externship. Under the program, law students at the University of North Dakota will have an opportunity to work alongside Attorney Widseth learning the ins and out. Polk County Commissioner Joan Lee says the hope is that they enjoy their time working in the position and consider working there sometime after they graduate from law school.

As part of the UND Student Attorney Externship, Polk County is not required to pay the students, but intends to do so for this position. Lee noted that they have implemented similar programs in other departments, such as Public Health, as well.