Judicial Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge

United States Courts; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid vacation

Paid sick time

Job summary

United States Courts in Atlanta, GA seeks a Judicial Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson.

The appointment is a term position starting January 2027 and will remain open until filled, with early application encouraged. Primarily performs legal research and drafts orders and opinions for a variety of civil and some criminal matters. The role includes substantial chamber administrative duties, proofreading, cite checking, and preparing jury instructions.

Qualifications

• Must be a law school graduate and admitted to the Bar.
• Two years of legal work experience preferred for JSP 13 level.
• Strong research, writing, and communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and draft orders and opinions.
• Assist on civil cases and some criminal matters before the court.
• Perform administrative duties in chambers, including proofreading and cite checking.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Education

Law degree (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Job description

Job Details for Judicial Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge

Court Name/Organization Georgia Northern District Court

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, is recruiting to fill a Judicial Law Clerk position for U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson in the exciting and growing city of Atlanta, Georgia. The appointment is for a term law clerk position with an anticipated start date in January 2027. The position will remain open until filled, but early application is encouraged.

Judicial law clerks are responsible for legal research and the preparation of orders and draft opinions. Law clerks will assist on a wide variety of civil cases that come before the Court, as well as some criminal matters. Beyond assistance on legal matters, this position entails significant administrative duties within chambers, such as proofreading and cite checking law clerk draft opinions and the preparation of jury instructions. These duties require good organizational and strong interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of law clerk, a person must be a law school graduate from a law school of recognized standing and must demonstrate a strong track record of academic and professional success. The successful candidate must have passed the Bar and acquired Bar membership. All candidates must have at least six months of post-law school litigation experience. To qualify for the JSP 13 level, at least two years of legal work experience is required. Legal work experience is progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school.

Preference also will be given to applicants who possess prior judicial law clerk experience, as well as those who have served on the editorial board of a law review. Applicants must have excellent legal research and writing skills. The job responsibilities require significant interaction with judges, attorneys, law clerks, and other chambers staff. The ability to self-motivate and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, is critical. Applicants also must have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks in a timely manner. Knowledge of Microsoft Word is a requirement.

Employee Benefits

• Term clerks are eligible for health insurance.
• Depending on the length of the term, clerks also may be eligible for dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Paid vacation time and paid sick time also may be available.
• Term Law Clerks are not eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

Employees of the U.S. District Court are appointed in the excepted service, are considered "at-will" employees, and serve at the pleasure of the court. All employees are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct, copies of which are available upon request. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must successfully complete a background check with law enforcement agencies and a check of financial and credit records. All offers of employment are provisional until a full suitability determination has been made. The Federal Financial Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages for court employees. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States.

The selectee for this position is subject to a criminal record check and satisfactory adjudication by the employing office to be eligible for employment. Due to the sensitivity of this position, candidates may be asked about their criminal history prior to receiving a tentative offer of employment. Candidates completing Form AO-78 must complete questions 18-20 regarding their criminal history. Criminal history is not in itself disqualifying. All available information, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, about the reliability and trustworthiness of an individual will be considered when making an employment suitability determination. Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process, as well as disciplinary action if discovered after an individual’s date of hire.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.