Appellate Law Clerk

Colorado Judicial Branch; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 68,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Judicial Branch in Denver is seeking an Appellate Law Clerk to provide highly complex legal research, writing, and editing for a justice of the Colorado Appellate Courts. The position is full-time with a start date around January 2027 and a potential extension.

The ideal candidate has a degree from an accredited law school and can serve one year as an Appellate Law Clerk. Remote working arrangements may be considered, with responsibilities including drafting opinions, reviewing briefs,

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Must be able to serve one year as an Appellate Law Clerk.

Responsibilities

• Review appeals assigned to chambers and prepare predisposition memoranda.
• Research and analyze law; summarize facts and authorities.
• Edit opinions, including concurring or dissenting opinions.
• Prepare final opinion for issuance and ensure citations and record checks.
• Review briefs for compliance with appellate rules.
• Assist in recruitment of appellate law clerks.
• Perform bailiff responsibilities and courtroom preparation.
• Handle administrative duties and distribute case materials.
• Attend meetings and training; perform other duties.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Editing

Education

Law degree from an accredited law school

Eligibility to serve one year as Appellate Law Clerk

Job description

Position Information

Job Code: R45030

Full Time Salary Range: $67,910.40 - $98,470.92

FLSA Status: Excluded

Notice To Colorado Applicants

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Mission Statement

The Judicial Department works to provide equal access to justice, contribute to public safety, and strengthen the rule of law across Colorado. Together our courts and probation departments are committed to impartial and timely dispute resolution; support for families, litigants, and victims; client rehabilitation; and meaningful community engagement.

Statement Of Duties

General Statement Of Duties

Provides highly complex legal research, writing, editing and other assistance to a justice or judge of the Colorado Appellate Courts.

Distinguishing Factors

Positions in this classification are distinguished from other Law Clerks by the supervision of a single justice or judge of the appellate court. Appellate Law Clerks are distinguished from other positions of the Appellate Courts by performing general legal research for a single justice or judge of the Appellate Court. While exercising some independent judgment, most work product is subject to inspection and review. Appellate Law Clerk serves in a classified, non-certified position that is considered at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Additional Comments

Judge Neeti Pawar is hiring one law clerk to begin January 2027 (though she will consider a start date as late as March 2027 to accommodate a successful applicant). The term will be one year from the start date with the possibility of extending for an additional term. Judge Pawar is open to considering remote working arrangements.

Essential Functions

• Reviews appeals assigned to chambers; prepares predisposition memoranda; reviews parties' statements of relevant facts and applicability of cited legal authority; analyzes legal issues raised by the parties; reviews and digests referring court record on appeal, and researches and analyzes law relevant to issues on appeal.
• Works with justice or judge to research, write, and edit opinions, including concurring or dissenting opinions.
• Prepares opinions for issuance, including final editing, citation and record checking, and preparing opinion in final format for issuance.
• May review briefs for compliance with appellate rules.
• May assist judge or justice with the recruitment process for appellate law clerks.
• Performs bailiff responsibilities; prepares courtroom for oral arguments; serve as bailiff/timekeeper during arguments; restores courtroom following arguments.
• Performs administrative and organizational responsibilities, including pulling and distributing case materials.
• Attends meetings and training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Responsible for one's own work product and some positions may provide guidance, assistance, or mentorship to less knowledgeable or experienced coworkers, volunteers, or interns. This may include scheduling of work, instructing in work methods, and reviewing work products.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education

Graduation from an accredited law school and must be able to serve one year as an Appellate Law Clerk.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands and arms to perform repetitive motions; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Occasionally handles emergency or crisis situations; frequently subject to interruptions and multiple calls and inquiries. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.