Judicial Law Clerk (Term)

United States Courts; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky is seeking a Judicial Law Clerk (Term), with duties including researching legal issues, attending court proceedings, drafting bench memoranda, orders, and opinions, reviewing orders, and checking citations.

The role may require some travel and will require extensive legal writing and analysis. Applicants must be law school graduates (JD or LLM), admitted to practice in at least one jurisdiction, and possess strong research, writing, and

Qualifications

• Law school graduate with JD or LLM degree.
• Admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
• Strong legal research, writing, and proofreading skills.

Responsibilities

• Research legal issues and draft bench memoranda, orders, and opinions.
• Attend court proceedings and review orders; check citations.
• Perform administrative tasks and other assignments as needed; travel may be required.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Editing / proofreading

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

JD or LLM degree

Bar admission in at least one jurisdiction

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

MS Office

Job description

Job Details for Judicial Law Clerk (Term)

Court Name/Organization Kentucky Eastern Bankruptcy Court

Overview of the Position The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky is accepting applications for Judicial Law Clerk. This position is expected to become available by January 2027. Duties include researching legal issues; attending court proceedings; drafting bench memoranda, orders, and opinions; reviewing orders; checking citations; performing additional law clerk assignments; and completing administrative tasks. Some travel may be required.

To qualify for the position of law clerk on the personal staff of a federal judge, a person must be a law school graduate and have one or more of the following attributes:

• Standing within the upper third of the law school class;
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review; or
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal studies (considered equivalent to the above in the opinion of a judge).

Applicants must be law school graduates with an LLM or JD degree, be admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, and possess excellent legal research, writing, and proofreading skills. Proficiency in MS Office, Westlaw, and Lexis is required, along with a professional demeanor and exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. Preference will be given to candidates with significant bankruptcy and/or litigation experience

Employee Benefits

The specific pay level is based on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience, in accordance with the Judicial Salary Plan of the U.S. Courts. This position does not carry the tenure rights afforded to positions in the competitive Civil Service. Other federal government benefits (e.g., holidays, life and health insurance, and flexible spending accounts) may apply. Participation in Electronic Funds Transfer for net pay is mandatory.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has adopted an EEO/Employment Dispute Resolution Plan.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.