Circuit Judge Law Clerk

The West Virginia State Bar; Charles Town (WV); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Pension / retirement plan

Paid holidays and leave

Job summary

The Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is seeking a Circuit Judge Law Clerk to support Judge David M. Hammer in Jefferson County, Charles Town, WV. The role is full-time with hybrid work options and remote work availability.

Minimum qualifications include strong legal research and writing skills, clear communication, and the ability to maintain confidentiality. WV Bar membership or eligibility and a 2.8+ GPA from law school are required.

Qualifications

• Excellent legal research and writing skills required.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Maintain tact, composure and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research and draft confidential memoranda.
• Attend court hearings as requested.
• Draft orders and opinions; advise judge on legal issues.
• Conduct discovery conferences; monitor docket; respond to attorneys and litigants.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication skills

Judgment and tact

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Education

J.D. or equivalent

WV Bar admission / eligibility

Tools

Legal research databases

Job description

The Administrative Office of

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Position Announcement

Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit – Jefferson County, Charles Town

Employment Opportunity – Full-Time, Hybrid Role

Position open until filled (Posted: 09/09/2026)

The Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ("AO") is now accepting resumes for the position of Circuit Judge Law Clerk for the Honorable David M. Hammer. This position works under the direct supervision of Judge David M. Hammer in the Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County, Charles Town, WV. This is a salaried position which also offers remote work options. The position is described as follows:

Position Summary

The Circuit Court Law Clerk will be responsible for providing legal support to Judge Hammer. The position is a unique opportunity to learn court operations from the inside out and gain invaluable practical experience while working in a challenging, high volume, highly variable and fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

A successful candidate must possess excellent legal research and writing skills. The candidate must also possess the ability to communicate clear and concisely. Ability to exercise good judgment and maintain tact, composure, and confidentiality. The candidate must possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

All circuit judge law clerks must be current members or become members of the West Virginia State Bar and/or sit for the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) each time it is offered. The failure to pass the Uniform Bar Examination within two (2) attempts will result in a loss of employment. West Virginia Bar Examination/Uniform Bar Examination failures predating judicial employment count toward the two (2) attempts. Any person who has failed the West Virginia Bar Examination, the UBE, or any bar examination, two (2) or more times is ineligible for these positions. Once a person passes the Uniform Bar Examination, the issue of bar examination failures is moot. Additionally, the minimum law school g.p.a. for these positions is 2.8.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform legal research,
• Prepare confidential legal memoranda,
• Attend court hearings, as requested
• Draft orders and opinions,
• Advise and assist judge with legal issues,
• Conduct discovery conferences,
• Respond to attorneys and self-represented litigants, and
• Monitor the court's docket.

Working Conditions (Physical/Mental Demands, and Environmental Factors)

• Professional office environment
• Occasional evening or weekend work
• Occasional travel for conferences, training and other purposes
• Frequent interruptions and changing timelines and priorities

Criminal Background Check

All successful candidates must submit to a criminal background check.

Pay Scale

The annual salary for those who are not members of the West Virginia State Bar is $60,490.00, plus benefits, and the annual salary for those who are members of the West Virginia State Bar is $69,694.00, plus benefits. Documentation from the West Virginia State Bar, i.e., Bar Dues Statement, will be required to receive the higher salary. Law Clerks who are admitted to the WV State Bar will be paid according to the following Classification Plan:

• Level I: 0-3 years, $69,694.00
• Level II: 4-6 years, $73,694.00
• Level III: 7-9 years, $77,694.00
• Level IV: 10-12 years, $81,694.00
• Level V: 13-17 years, $85,694.00
• Level VI: 18-24 years, $89,694.00
• Level VII: 25+ years, $93,694.00

Compensation and Benefits include

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications,
• Years of Service salary increases,
• Medical Insurance,
• Optional Flexible Benefits Coverage (dental, vision, disability, and excess medical),
• Life insurance,
• Defined benefit pension plan,
• Section 457 deferred compensation plan, 12 paid holidays, and
• Annual and sick leave.

West Virginia Courts

West Virginia has a Unified Court System, under which all state courts, including, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Family Courts, are supervised and administered by the Supreme Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court of Appeals and its Administrative Office are located in Charleston and housed in the State Capitol Complex. More information about West Virginia's Courts can be found on our website at www.courtswv.gov.

Equal Opportunity in Employment

It is the policy of the West Virginia judiciary to provide equal opportunity in employment for all persons, and to recruit, select, train, promote, retain, and discipline without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. Further, it is the policy of the West Virginia judiciary to maintain a professional workplace in which individuals are accorded respect, and an environment free of harassment, including verbal or physical conduct that creates an intimidating or hostile environment for any individual on any prohibited basis. As an employer with an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Plan, the Court complies with government regulations and related Equal Employment Responsibilities where applicable.

Thank you for your interest in employment with the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

All positions of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia are considered at-will and may be terminated at any time, with or without notice or cause.