Law Clerk Job Description

There are many benefits to a job as a law clerk.

Law clerks are an integral part of the legal and judicial system, and a clerkship can be an important stepping stone for those interested in a legal career, providing future legal professionals with valuable knowledge and experience. Law clerks perform many duties critical to the legal process.

Function

The function of a law clerk is to act as an assistant to an attorney or a judge at the local, state or federal level. The law clerk works in a support capacity and performs a wide range of duties related to the disposition of particular cases. In exchange for these services, law clerks have the opportunity to gain valuable first-hand experience in the legal and judicial systems.

Professional Duties

Law clerks research legal documents to provide supporting evidence for a particular argument of a case, prepares affidavits and other legal documents and relevant correspondence, prepares drafts of motions or briefs, locates and interviews expert witnesses, files motions or other documents with the court, oversees the delivery of subpoenas to witnesses, arranges travel or lodging for witnesses if needed and communicates with judges, attorneys, witnesses or other individuals related to a particular case.

Required Skills

Law clerks must have strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational and time-management skills, an ability to think critically, problem-solving and decision-making skills, an ability to read and understand complex legal documents and strong persuasion skills.

Education and Training

A law clerk is typically a law student or recent law school graduate who is seeking to gain legal experience before applying for licensure, although many law clerks may also hold a paralegal or legal assistant degree. Law clerks must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the law as well as legal and judicial procedure. They must be familiar with legal jargon, the different types of legal documents and rules of the court.

Employment

Law clerks may be employed by private law firms, corporate legal departments or in local, state or federal judicial offices. A clerkship at the federal level, either in an appellate or district court, or at the Supreme Court, is considered to be among the most prestigious, and the selection process for these positions is highly competitive. For law students who seek professional advancement in the law, where they complete their clerkship can often have a significant impact on their future job prospects.

Earning Potential

The salary range for law clerks often depends on where they are employed and their level of skill and experience. For clerks working in private firms, pay is determined by the size of the firm, its metropolitan location and its reputation in the legal profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the median income in 2008 for legal clerks and assistants to be $46,120. In contrast, a law clerk working at the federal level has the potential to earn well over $100,000 annually, based on qualifications.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• Career Planner: Job Description for Law Clerk
• National Center for State Courts: Law Clerk Job Descriptions