Rajin S. Olson (’16) Named to ‘National Jurist’ List of Outstanding Law Students

The National Jurist has named Rajin S. Olson (’16) to its inaugural “Law Students of the Year” feature. The magazine asked more than 200 law schools for “stories of their most devoted students with unparalleled attitudes” and selected 25 individuals from among the nominees, based on such factors as leadership, focus, and commitment to justice.

A unifying theme of Olson’s time at the Law School has been working to help immigrants and other marginalized people understand and assert their legal rights. As a student attorney with the Center for New Americans (CNA), Olson has represented clients in immigration detention hearings, written portions of briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals, and served as a mentor to incoming law clinic students. He currently serves as student director of the Detainee Rights Clinic, helping student attorneys with case management. His other activities include, among others, working with the Asylum Law Project and the Minnesota Detention Project; serving as symposium editor of the Minnesota Law Review (Vol. 100); interning with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota; working as a summer associate at Robins Kaplan and Norton Rose Fulbright; and translating legal documents for The Advocates for Human Rights. Olson is also a TORT performer and a co-captain and choreographer with the dance troupe Twin Cities Bhangra.

“One of the best parts of my job as a clinical instructor is getting to observe students begin to conduct themselves as lawyers,” said Linus Chan, associate professor of clinical instruction and Olson’s supervising attorney at the CNA. “In his two years as a student attorney, Rajin has made it clear that he will be an excellent attorney. His rapport with clients, often people in extremely vulnerable situations, as well as his rigorous writing and excellent advocacy skills all combine to show a young formidable attorney. I am glad he has worked with many of our clients and can’t wait to see what is in store for him.” Chan won’t have long to wait—Olson will join Robins Kaplan next fall as an associate.

The National Jurist is read by more than 100,000 law students and educators. Its “Law Students of the Year” feature can be found here, and its profile of Olson here.