Job description template

Judicial Law Clerk Job Description Template

A copy-ready judicial law clerk job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How to use this template

Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows judicial law clerks earn a median of $64,920 ($31.21/hour); the middle 50% earn $52,870–$80,420.

Job title

Judicial Law Clerk

Job summary

[Company name] is seeking a dependable judicial law clerk to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will read briefs and records, research legal issues and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.

Responsibilities

  • Read briefs and records
  • Research legal issues
  • Write bench memos
  • Draft opinions and orders
  • Prepare judges for hearings
  • Manage the docket
  • Check citations
  • Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations

Required qualifications

  • Doctoral or professional degree
  • Working knowledge of legal research and legal writing
  • Discretion and attention to detail
  • [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]

Preferred qualifications

  • J.D.
  • Law review
  • Bar admission
  • Experience with westlaw or Lexis

Skills

  • Opinion drafting
  • Citation checking
  • Case analysis
  • Court procedure
  • Objectivity
  • Reliability

Work environment and schedule

Clerks work in judges’ chambers in courthouses. Full time, often one- or two-year terms.

Pay and benefits

$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]

Equal opportunity

[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Tips for a judicial law clerk job posting that attracts applicants

  • Use the title candidates search for. “Judicial Law Clerk” is the clearest; alternates include Law Clerk, Judicial Clerk, Staff Attorney.
  • Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
  • Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
  • Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a judicial law clerk so applicants self-select accurately.
  • Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Judicial Law Clerk training: widens your applicant pool.

Next steps

Screen and interview with our Judicial Law Clerk hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.

Team pricing