Behind the Bench: How Kristine McLean '10 Built a Career in Legal Research and Writing

When someone writes to the court asking for a second chance, attorney Kristine McLean is one of the people who helps judges determine what should happen next.

Kristine attended Minnehaha Academy for her junior and senior years. She now lives in Pensacola, Florida, where she works behind the scenes at the courthouse as a trial court staff attorney. Her days are filled with research, writing, and criminal cases that require careful analysis, compassion, and humility.

A Conversation with Kristine McLean '10

Education: BA in history, Gustavus Adolphus College; JD, Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Field: law; criminal postconviction research and writing

Role: Trial court staff attorney in Pensacola, Florida

 

What brought you to Florida?

My brother, who also attended Minnehaha, played for a minor professional hockey team in the Pensacola area. When he retired, he stayed here. When my current position became available, I believed that it was the right time to move to Florida.

What kind of work do you do now?

I work for judges in downtown Pensacola. My title is trial court staff attorney, and it is very much a behind-the-scenes role. I work at the courthouse on criminal cases and do research and writing for the judges.

When someone has already been convicted of a crime and asks the judge for a new trial, that is where I come in. I review what happened during the trial, research the applicable law, and help the judge determine whether a new trial is warranted. It is a very research- and writing-intensive job.

Is this similar to the work you did before moving to Florida?

Yes. I worked for a judge in Minnesota, and I loved it, but that position was intended to be temporary.

Now I work with multiple judges, and the work focuses on criminal cases, which is my preferred area of law. I work with really good people, and I have a great supervisor. It has been a very good job.

What was your transition to Minnehaha Academy like?

I attended Minnehaha for my junior and senior years. Coming to Minnehaha made me appreciate it so much. I came from another small private school that was not the best fit for me, but Minnehaha was amazing. I am so glad I ended my high school experience at MA.

I am so glad I ended my high school experience at MA.

How did Minnehaha prepare you for college and the work you do now?

The teachers were so compassionate. They worked with students to help them answer questions such as, “What are you good at?” and “What are you interested in doing?” For me, the answer was reading and writing.

The teachers recognized what you were good at and encouraged you to develop those strengths. The level of encouragement was phenomenal. They were such positive people, and when they knew something interested you, they genuinely encouraged you to pursue it.

Were there particular classes or teachers that connected with you?

The classes that connected with me were the reading- and writing-based ones, from English to philosophy. Those were the classes where I could really immerse myself in the writing. I had such positive experiences with the teachers.

Mr. Hoffner comes to mind right away. He was great.

What stood out to you about faith and learning at Minnehaha?

Faith was integrated in every aspect of the classroom, which made the environment uplifting and incredibly beneficial for students. It made Minnehaha a place you wanted to be every day. Faith was part of the overall environment.

How do your academic foundation and faith shape the way you work in the legal field?

Compassion is something I learned from the teachers at Minnehaha, and it is so important in the legal field because I often see people at their worst moments.

In a previous job, I worked with mental health cases in Minnesota involving people who needed emergency help. Bringing compassion into that kind of work is incredibly important. That compassion comes from my faith and from the academic foundation I received at Minnehaha, including the way my teachers approached their work in the classroom.

There is always a way to build somebody up, no matter what they are going through. That is what my teachers did for students, and it is something I try to bring into my own work.

There is always a way to build somebody up, no matter what they are going through. That is what my teachers did for students, and it is something I try to bring into my own work

Where did you learn that desire to work with compassion?

I think it came from the one-on-one time I had with teachers. Even when you were simply discussing a particular assignment, you could tell they were willing to be there for you whenever you needed them. That individual attention mattered.

Why do you continue to give back to Minnehaha?

The Christian environment is very important to me. I know how valuable it is, especially in today's world and especially for students who might not otherwise be able to attend.

If I can help financially so more students can experience Minnehaha, I want to do that. It is amazing to attend a school with that kind of Christian environment. I want students to have access to it whenever possible.

How has your faith guided you in your work?

It is very humbling to be involved in decisions that affect another person's life. I’m constantly praying for God’s wisdom.

My faith is present in my work because I'm dealing with matters that are personal, intimate, and difficult for people. I may be involved in a decision that will have a significant impact on someone’s life.

Faith is so important because I cannot do this work in my own strength. I'm constantly asking, “God, what is the right thing to do here?”

Were there other mentors at Minnehaha who influenced you?

I participated in cross country, and all of the coaches were wonderful. Elaine and Chris Sauer were amazing, as was Christian Zimmerman. We prayed before races, and they wanted each person to be their best. They were such great coaches and great people, and it was really fun to be with them.

They were positive and encouraging. They made the experience enjoyable, even on difficult practice days. You gain so much from cross country beyond running. You learn how to keep going, and you learn to have fun along the way.

What advice would you give a current student interested in law or public service?

Find a mentor. That would be my number one piece of advice.

Someone once told me, “Get in the judge's chambers.” They meant that I should pursue a clerkship or a job with a judge early in my career. But your mentor does not have to be a judge. They could be a lawyer, a professor, or someone else who can spend time with you and help you identify your interests.

A mentor can share their knowledge and help you understand what you might enjoy, what might not be the right fit, and what different areas of the field look like. Working with a judge is especially helpful because you begin to understand how a judge thinks. If you later practice before a judge, you have a better sense of what the judge would—or would not—want to see.

When did you begin thinking that law might be the right direction for you?

I have always loved reading and writing. I began thinking about law while I was an undergraduate history major because it seemed to fit both my skills and my interests.

I also have an aunt who is a former prosecutor, and I shadowed her when I was younger. I saw how much was happening both inside and outside the courtroom. The work was fast-paced and meaningful, and she was always on the go. 

It also showed me the behind-the-scenes aspects of law. Legal shows and the news tend to cover trials, but they don't show all the work that goes into a case before it reaches the courtroom.

What does your work look like on a daily basis?

When someone has already been convicted and is serving a prison sentence, they may write to the judge and say, “I need a new trial because something went horribly wrong.” I look into that claim.

I review the case, the facts, and the relevant case law. The person could be right, completely wrong, or somewhere in between. I gather the facts and law for the judge and draft the order.

Regardless of how a claim initially appears, I take what the person submits seriously and conduct the necessary research. Sometimes we need more information, and sometimes the answer is no. My role is to help the judge determine what should happen next in a postconviction case.

What would you want students to know about legal careers?

Do not write off law because you think you have to spend all your time in a courtroom. That is not true. There are a thousand different directions you can take. You can be in the courtroom every day, never enter a courtroom, or do something in between.

Do not write off law because you think you have to spend all your time in a courtroom.

There is room in law for quieter people, too. If you love reading, writing, research, and analysis, there is absolutely a place for you in the legal field.

How do you hope your ongoing relationship with Minnehaha affects future students?

I want to see students become Christian leaders in whatever field they choose. I hope Minnehaha gives them that foundation so that, whatever they pursue, they can be Christian leaders in their lives and work.

Minnehaha was so valuable to me. I know how meaningful it was to be there, and I want future students to receive everything they can from the experience—to learn from wonderful teachers, develop a strong foundation, and be encouraged to become Christian leaders in whatever they do.