Law Clerk

United States Courts; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California is accepting resumes for the position of Law Clerk to a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

Depending on qualifications, one candidate may be appointed to a career or term appointment. Responsibilities include drafting recommendations and orders, reviewing filings, and performing legal research. The ideal candidate has strong writing ability, excellent organizational skills, and familiarity with federal courts and discovery.

Qualifications

• Must be a law school graduate; top 25% class standing and Law Review preferred.
• Bar membership in good standing required.
• Previous legal and/or Federal clerkship experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance to the U.S. Magistrate Judge on pending civil and criminal litigation.
• Drafts recommendations and orders for the court's signature.
• Reviews complaints, petitions, motions and pleadings to determine issues and relief.
• Performs research as required.
• Maintains liaison between the court and litigants; corresponds with court personnel.
• Evaluates procedures and keeps the court advised of case progress.
• Compiles statistics and prepares periodic reports.
• Advises personnel on status of particular cases and performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Excellent writing skills

Organizational skills

Independence / autonomy

Teamwork

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission

Tools

CM/ECF

PACER

Word

LexisNexis

Westlaw

Job description

Overview of the Position The U.S District Court for the Southern District of California is accepting resumes for the position of Law Clerk to an incoming Magistrate Judge. Please note that depending on qualifications and experience, one candidate may be appointed to a career appointment at the discretion of the judge. If both positions are filled as term law clerks, the selected candidates are limited to no more than four years of lifetime service per judiciary rules.

Provides information, guidance, and advice to the U.S. Magistrate Judge on pending civil and criminal litigation, and manages special projects and other administrative duties as needed. Drafts appropriate recommendations and orders for the court's signature. Reviews complaints, petitions, motions and pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved and basis for relief. Performs research as required. Maintains liaison between the court and litigants; corresponds with other court officials and personnel. Evaluates procedures. Reviews docket of pending litigation to assure proper progress. Keeps court advised of those cases where action by the court is appropriate. Compiles statistics and prepares periodic reports, as required. Identifies problem areas, makes recommendations, and offers solutions, as required. Keeps abreast of changes in the law to aid the court. Advises appropriate personnel on status of particular cases. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Law Clerk to a U.S. Magistrate Judge, an individual must be a law school graduate. Class standing in the top 25% and Law Review/Journal preferred. Previous legal and/or Federal clerkship experience is also preferred.

Bar Membership & Salary Level

• To be placed at Grades 12 or 13, you must be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.
• **For attorneys entering the federal court system for the first time, to qualify for grade 12, an individual must have one year of legal work experience after graduation from law school. To qualify for grade 13, an individual must have two years of legal work experience after graduation from law school. All entering attorneys will be placed at salary range minimum.
• **To be placed at Grade 14, two of the three required years of legal work experience must have been served in the federal judiciary.
• For current federal employees, salary placement will be determined by highest previous grade and step.

Specialized Experience

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. Major or substantial legal activities while in military service may be credited, on a month-for-month basis whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation from law school.

Personal Characteristics

The ideal applicant must be able to work efficiently, independently, and should possess excellent organizational skills. This position is best suited for an applicant who is familiar with the federal court system as well as civil discovery issues and who can train and adapt quickly. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong attention to detail, including the ability to draft and proofread orders, verify citations, and review sensitive paperwork. The applicant must be computer literate, proficient in Word, and familiar with CM/ECF and/or PACER, Lexis Nexis, and Westlaw. Most importantly, the applicant must have excellent writing skills and must be prepared to work as part of a team. Finally, although a strong academic background is important, serious consideration will be given to those applicants who have also demonstrated a level of excellence in non-legal and non-academic pursuits.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.