Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow, Hennepin County, Psychological Services Division (2 positions)

Minnesota Judicial Branch • Minneapolis, MN

71d • $44 • Hybrid

About The Position

Hennepin County District Court invites qualified applicants for two (2) Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship positions to work in the Fourth Judicial District Psychological Services Division. These positions are temporary. The postdoctoral fellowship will run from Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to Tuesday, August 31, 2027, with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2026. These are postdoctoral fellowship positions that will provide an opportunity for individuals interested in gaining expertise in forensic evaluation. They require solid foundational knowledge of the spectrum of psychological and psycholegal issues that are routinely encountered in court proceedings. Work includes performing forensic psychological evaluations of adult and/or juvenile clients, using psycho-diagnostic tests and other professional techniques. Emphasis of the work is on the evaluation of psychiatric illness, personality characteristics and dynamics that contribute to the court's understanding of the psycholegal issues essential to court cases. All clinical work will be completed under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. These positions are classified as a Clinical Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow and will be based in the Hennepin County Government Center (300 S. 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN) in downtown Minneapolis. Work, including evaluations, will be conducted at multiple locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Some travel to court locations around the greater metropolitan area may also be required. Typical hours for this position are 8:00-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. This is a hybrid role, working both on-site and remotely, depending on business needs. A reliable internet connection will be required if working remotely. To be considered for these fellowships, candidates must also submit a separate application to the Psychological Services Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Director as instructed in the Psychological Services Postdoctoral Fellowship Brochure, located on the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) and Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) websites.

Requirements

• Prior to beginning the fellowship, the successful candidates will have graduated from an accredited college or university whose program has been approved by the American Psychological Association with a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology or its equivalent.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of clinical psychology, personality development, psychopathology, and forensic psychology.
• Skill in psychological diagnosis.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to work effectively under considerable time pressures.
• Ability to prioritize work assignments and delegate routine data retrieval and testing tasks to technical and support staff.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients, professional colleagues, co-workers, subordinates, supervisors, and members of the Bench.

Nice To Haves

• Specialty training in forensic applications, or other specialty applications (such as neuropsychology, child adolescent psychology).
• Training and experience in family, adult, or juvenile forensic assessments.
• Experience in conducting evaluations for criminal, family, and/or juvenile courts.
• Considerable knowledge of the ethics and standards of practice governing the independent practice of psychology, generally, and forensic psychology, specifically.
• Ability to apply psychological expertise to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of personality disorders, behavioral deviance, and mental illness.
• Ability to write about highly complex and technical findings in a clear and organized manner.
• Clinical skills in engaging the cooperation of non-voluntary clients, managing high-conflict situations, and defusing the agitation and potential aggression of hostile, psychotic and/or severely disturbed clientele.
• Cross-cultural skills in engaging clients from a diverse array of racial, ethnic, geopolitical, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes, case law, rules, and court processes relevant to the provision of forensic services to district courts.

Responsibilities

• Determine scope, method, timeline and resources to be allocated for the evaluation of clients referred by the Court, delegate routine tasks to staff, and coordinate efforts with other agencies and professionals.
• Locate, collect, review, and integrate collateral case information from correctional, law enforcement, mental/chemical health, medical, educational, and social service agencies.
• Direct and/or administer, score, and interpret specialized psychological tests.
• Formulate expert, professional opinions about highly complex psycholegal questions and provide consultation to the Court and its officers.
• Write comprehensive forensic psychological assessment reports providing conclusions concerning psycholegal issues based on case history material, individual and familial interviews, and interpretations of results of specialized psychological tests.
• Prepare for and provide expert courtroom testimony.
• Assure full compliance with all state licensing and statutory requirements.
• Participate in a variety of training and development activities, including didactics, case conferences, case law seminar, and mock trial exercises.

Benefits

• The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefits package.
• This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for State of Minnesota employee benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree