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 2034 Projected Employment

14,900

3% Change From 2024

Explore Judicial Law Clerks video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

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

Subject areas you may need to master.

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.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
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.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications 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.
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.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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.
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.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
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.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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.
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.
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.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
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.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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.
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.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
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.
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.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
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.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
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.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
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.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
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.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
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.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.