When Learning Meets Purpose: The Making of a Future Litigator
Recent Minnesota Law grad, Ryan Clemmons ’25, has always been driven to serve others. After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, she jumped into public service, starting as a field organizer for political campaigns. “We were organizing phone banks, canvases, and talking to people about their voting rights,” she says. “It was a form of advocacy.”
That sense of advocacy led her to a housing nonprofit in Detroit, where she served as a legal assistant supporting attorneys defending residents facing eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I saw the real impact an attorney could have in someone's life,” she reflects. “That was when I knew I wanted to be on the other side of the table—actually advocating.” That experience cemented her decision to attend law school.
Learning by Doing: Clinics, Moot Court, and Externships
Minnesota Law’s extensive experiential learning offerings have been central to Clemmons’s law school journey. As a student in the Clemency Clinic, she has worked on behalf of clients serving disproportionately long prison sentences, many of whom are incarcerated for drug offenses that would carry much lighter sentences in other jurisdictions.
“I’ve had the chance to meet with federal clients in both Minnesota and Texas,” she explains. “One of the most valuable parts of the experience has been watching how my professor builds trust with clients—how she listens intently and advocates with conviction. That’s shaped how I want to practice law.”
Beyond her clinical experience, Clemmons has competed in two moot court competitions—the Tulane Sports Law Moot Court Competition during her 2L year, where she and her team reached the quarterfinals, and the National Moot Court Competition during 3L year. These experiences significantly bolstered her confidence and sharpened her litigation skills. “Standing in front of a panel of judges and arguing my case—that was transformational,” she said. “I always thought I wanted to be in a courtroom, but moot court gave me the confidence that I could actually do it.”
She also completed externships with the ACLU of Minnesota and the Hennepin County Courthouse, where she clerked in the civil division and authored three judicial orders. “Writing actual decisions and watching courtroom proceedings taught me so much about procedure and professionalism,” Clemmons says.
A Future Made Possible by Philanthropy
After graduating this spring, Ryan will start serving as a judicial clerk for Chief Judge Jennifer Frisch ’95 of the Minnesota Court of Appeals in August. While her long-term goals are still evolving, she’s confident in one thing: “I want to litigate. I want to be in a courtroom. I love the idea of standing up on behalf of someone who doesn’t have an easy path to understanding our complicated judicial system.”
Reflecting on her time at Minnesota Law, Clemmons speaks with deep appreciation for the scholarship support that helped make it all possible. “Donor support meant more than just financial relief,” she says. “It gave me the freedom to focus fully on learning—inside the classroom and out.” That support not only opened the door to a world-class legal education but also empowered her to take full advantage of Minnesota Law’s experiential learning opportunities, including unpaid externships. “To the donors who made everything possible: thank you for believing in students like me. You allowed me to build the career I’ve always dreamed of—and to use that career to serve others.”
Ryan Clemmons ’25