Mike Hilgers

Nebraska Attorney General

Law Clerks

Nebraska Attorney General Law Clerk Opportunities

Law clerks employed by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office perform a variety of duties, including: legal research, writing, case review, and appellate practice. In addition, clerks have the opportunity to attend oral arguments, trials, depositions, and hearings. Law clerks work with assistant attorneys general, gaining important legal experience and insight into the workings of the justice system.

Current Law Clerking Opportunities

The Attorney General’s Office has a number of paid and unpaid clerkships available, and some students work with their law school to obtain course credit for their work with the Office. The summer hiring process begins in January.

The Office is divided into five different bureaus, and law clerks will be assigned to work in one of the following areas:

Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources

The Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources (AENR) Bureau protects and defends the interests of the state and its citizens in the areas of natural resources law, environmental law, and agriculture law. The bureau provides full legal support for its represented agencies, which includes general legal counsel and advice, the review of contracts, approvals of rules and regulations, the drafting of legal opinions, enforcement of agency administrative orders, and civil and criminal litigation.

 

Criminal

The Criminal Bureau provides criminal investigation, prosecution, and appellate assistance on behalf of the State of Nebraska to law enforcement, prosecutors, and the public. Attorneys in the appellate section regularly represent the state in criminal matters before the Nebraska Court of Appeals, the Nebraska Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Nebraska, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The prosecution section provides assistance to county attorneys in a wide variety of areas such as violent and drug crimes, domestic abuse, sexual assaults, public corruption, and child exploitation crimes. The assistance provided includes legal research, consultations, law enforcement and prosecution trainings, and trial assistance.

 

Civil

The Civil Litigation Bureau defends all civil lawsuits filed against the State of Nebraska, Nebraska’s elected and appointed officials, Nebraska state agencies, boards and commissions, and State of Nebraska employees. Lawsuits range from those filed against Nebraska’s highest officials to lawsuits filed against a state agency employee. Assistant attorneys general appear in all state and federal courts, including the Nebraska Court of Appeals, the Nebraska Supreme Court, and federal appellate courts including the United States Supreme Court.

 

Legal Services

The Legal Services Bureau provides legal advice and representation to over sixty state agencies, boards, commissions, departments, and offices. In addition, assistant attorneys general handle specialized matters including probate, escheat, election law, and constitutional litigation. The bureau also researches and drafts most Attorney General opinions for review by the Attorney General and reviews rules and regulations for statutory authority and constitutionality.

 

Consumer Protection

The Consumer Protection Division (Bureau) enforces state and federal laws that safeguard against deceptive, fraudulent, and unfair business practices.   The Division also has enforcement powers over antitrust and monopolistic activities and is responsible for oversight of charitable institutions and assets, including nonprofit corporations, charitable trusts and endowment funds.  Furthermore, the Division oversees and enforces compliance with the civil and criminal statutes, regulations, and settlement terms governing the use, manufacture, and sale of tobacco/nicotine products within the State.  In addition to enforcement powers, the Bureau provides education outreach on topics that include identity theft, Internet safety, and general fraud, with the goal of teaching consumers how to protect themselves.  The Division also offers a mediation service to constructively resolve differences and settle disputes Nebraska consumers may have with a business through the Consumer Protection Division Mediation Center.

 

The Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit is responsible for investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud and violations of all applicable state laws relating to the provision of Medicaid services and the activities of providers. This Unit also reviews and can act on complaints of abuse and neglect of patients at health care facilities that receive Medicaid payments.

Capitol

Additionally, we have a clerk assigned to the Executive Staff housed at the Capitol. The law clerk assigned to the Capitol will perform a variety of duties, including: legal research, writing, and case review. This clerk will work directly with the executive staff including the Chief Deputy Attorney General, Chief of Staff, and Director of Communications. In addition to providing legal assistance, this clerk will work with the executive staff on legislative matters and other priorities of the Attorney General’s Office.