Judicial Law Clerks

Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

Also Known As:

Appellate Law Clerk Career Judicial Law Clerk Career Law Clerk Judicial Assistant Judicial Clerk Judicial Law Clerk Law Clerk Law Researcher Pro Se Law Clerk Term Law Clerk

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Judicial Law Clerks in United States

Job Outlook Average

New job opportunities are likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

16,100

3% Change From 2023

Explore Judicial Law Clerks video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
Verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.
Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
Coordinate judges' meeting and appointment schedules.
Enter information into computerized court calendar, filing, or case management systems.
Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
Enter information into computerized court calendar, filing, or case management systems.
Maintain judges' law libraries by assembling or updating appropriate documents.
Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.
Maintain judges' law libraries by assembling or updating appropriate documents.
Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
Prepare periodic reports on court proceedings, as required.
Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
Participate in conferences or discussions between trial attorneys and judges.
Perform courtroom duties, including calling calendars, administering oaths, and swearing in jury panels and witnesses.
Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.
Supervise law students, volunteers, or other personnel assigned to the court.
Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
Perform courtroom duties, including calling calendars, administering oaths, and swearing in jury panels and witnesses.
Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.