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Entry Level Attorney Jobs in Mankato, MN (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Attorney information

See Mankato, MN salary details

$45.5K

$107K

$170.7K

How much do entry level attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level attorney in Mankato, MN is $107,036.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,200.00 and $128,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level attorney?

Entry level attorneys are recent law school graduates or individuals who have recently passed the bar exam and are beginning their legal careers. They typically work under the supervision of more experienced attorneys and assist with research, drafting legal documents, and helping prepare cases. Entry level attorneys can work in various settings, including law firms, government agencies, or corporate legal departments. Their responsibilities often focus on learning practical legal skills and gaining experience in their chosen field of law.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Attorney, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, bar admission in your practicing state, and a solid grasp of legal research, writing, and analysis. Familiarity with legal research platforms like Westlaw or LexisNexis and proficiency in document management systems are typically required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and time management skills help you build client relationships and manage caseloads effectively. These competencies are crucial for providing sound legal advice, meeting deadlines, and establishing a successful legal career.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level attorneys in their first year, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level attorneys often encounter challenges such as managing heavy workloads, adapting to the fast-paced environment of law firms, and bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical legal skills. Navigating client expectations, learning firm protocols, and handling multiple assignments simultaneously can feel overwhelming at first. To overcome these challenges, new attorneys should proactively seek feedback, build strong relationships with mentors and colleagues, and prioritize effective time management. Open communication and a willingness to continuously learn are key to successful integration and professional growth in the early stages of a legal career.

What is the difference between Entry Level Attorney vs Paralegal?

AspectEntry Level AttorneyParalegal
Required CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), Bar AdmissionAssociate's degree or paralegal certificate
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agenciesLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies
Job ResponsibilitiesLegal research, drafting legal documents, client consultationsLegal research, document preparation, case organization

Entry Level Attorneys and Paralegals often work in similar environments and share some responsibilities, but attorneys require a JD and bar admission to practice law, while paralegals support attorneys without needing a law license. The roles differ mainly in legal authority and scope of work.

What are the most commonly searched types of Attorney jobs in Mankato, MN?

The most popular types of Attorney jobs in Mankato, MN are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Attorney jobs in Mankato, MN?

For Entry Level Attorney jobs in Mankato, MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Attorney jobs in Mankato, MN look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Attorney jobs in Mankato, MN are:

What cities near Mankato, MN are hiring for Entry Level Attorney jobs?

Cities near Mankato, MN with the most Entry Level Attorney job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Attorney job openings in Mankato, MN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 77% Physical, 13% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,036 per year, or $51.5 per hour.

Jail Office Support / Records Specialist

Rice County, MN

Faribault, MN • On-site

$24.17 - $25.24/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Salary: $24.17 - $33.83 Hourly
Location : Faribault, MN
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-026
Department: Sheriff's Office
Division: Jail
Opening Date: 08/10/2026
Closing Date: 8/24/2026 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary
Maintains the jail record keeping system, accounting and financial records, detainee communication platforms, and evidential systems. Performs a variety of clerical and administrative work for Jail Administration, Correctional Officers, Programs and Medical to include handling of warrants, document archiving, registration and report to state systems, maintaining inventory, and generating reports. Maintains professionalism and confidentiality while working efficiently.
Examples of Duties
  • Prepares and maintains warrants.
  • Processes and maintains accounting and financial records.
  • Manage and troubleshoot the jail management software (JMS).
  • Maintains data integrity for criminal records, inmate records and public records.
  • Oversees detainee communication systems.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:The position requires a high school diploma, and one to three years of clerical experience, or equivalent; proficiency in Microsoft and Adobe applications; and knowledge of Minnesota Data Practices Act.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Two years of post-secondary training or associate's degree in business administration, and one to three years clerical support in criminal justice with knowledge of state statutes, custody process, court process and Minnesota Department of Corrections Standards. Experience with state computer database CJIS/NCIC, Turnkey Banking Software, Central Square JMS experience preferred.
Supplemental Information
HIRING RANGE / UNION: $24.17 - $25.24 per hour / GU - Grade 6
HOURS: Full-time hours, 40 hours per week. Normal business hours are 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday.
Rice County offers a complete benefit package including medical, dental, life insurance, pension, holiday, vacation, sick leave and long-term disability insurance.
County employees are eligible for the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
For additional information, please follow the link to the Rice County website:
01
Did you graduate from high school or receive a GED?
  • Yes
  • No

02
Do you have one or more years of office support experience, as supported by your work history section of the application?
  • Yes
  • No

03
Do you have professional work experience using Microsoft Excel?
  • Yes
  • No

04
Do you have professional work experience ensuring confidentiality of files and records and using discretion in controlling access to and release of information.
  • Yes
  • No

05
Which best represents your level of education by the date of the job closing?
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Certificate/Diploma in Clerical/Business Administration
  • Associate Degree in Secretarial/Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Paralegal, Law Enforcement or related
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Paralegal, Law Enforcement or related
  • Other
  • None of the above

06
Which best describes your level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel?
  • No experience
  • Beginner (ex: create basic spreadsheets and formulas)
  • Intermediate (ex: create/manage multiple spreadsheets, create formulas using functions)
  • Advanced (ex: create/edit macros, create PivotTable and PivotChart)

07
Which best describes your level of proficiency with Microsoft Word?
  • No experience
  • Beginner (ex: create/format/print documents, spell check)
  • Intermediate (ex: create tables, charts, headers/footers)
  • Advanced (ex: create forms, templates, mail merge, macros)

08
Which best describes your level of proficiency with Microsoft Access?
  • None
  • Beginner (e.g. create simple database and access tables)
  • Intermediate (e.g. create tables, queries, forms, reports and macros)
  • Advance (e.g. create a user interface, produce sophisticated queries for statistical reports and forms)

09
Do you have experience using QuickBooks?
  • Yes
  • No

10
Do you have at least 1 year of verifiable work experience in the criminal legal system? (i.e. Court System, County or Criminal Attorney's Office.)
  • Yes
  • No

11
How many years of experience have you had working in a law enforcement agency (example but not limited to police, prison, probation, corrections etc.)?
  • None
  • Less than 1 year
  • One to three years
  • Four to five years
  • Six or more years

12
Do you have verifiable working experience using police records software? (i.e. Logis, MNCIS, Portals, CJIIN or CJIS)
  • Yes
  • No

13
Please select the level that best describes your level of bookkeeping or accounting experience.
  • Entry level (Example; Process and enter accounts payable invoices and purchase orders, Issue purchase orders and match PO and vendor invoices, some light administrative duties
  • Intermediate (Under direct supervision performs accounting/auditing duties in the areas of general accounting, internal auditing, external auditing, budgeting, and financial analysis etc...)
  • Advanced (Professional accounting, auditing and business law plus: three years increasingly responsible experience in accounting or auditing work etc..)
  • No Experience

14
Please select your years of experience responding to questions and providing detailed information. This would be in a customer service role communicating information either electronically, telephonically, or in-person.
  • None
  • Less than 1 year
  • 1 - 3 years
  • 3 or more years

15
How would you describe your level of experience with data entry?
  • I do not have any experience with data entry.
  • I have 2 years or less of data entry experience.
  • I have 3 years or more of date entry experience.

16
How many years of experience do you have working in an administrative support position? (select one)
  • None
  • Less than 2 years
  • 3 - 5 years
  • 6 or more years

17
Do you have working knowledge of Minnesota Data Practices Act?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question