Law Clerk Berks County

PA Courts; Reading (Berks County); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life保险

Paid vacation, sick, personal leave; 揩

Pension plan; 457b & flexible spending

Job summary

Court of Common Pleas of Berks County in Reading, PA seeks a judicial law clerk to perform extensive legal research, draft opinions and other documents for Judge Gavin, and participate in hearings and pretrial matters. The role requires a Juris Doctorate and PA Bar eligibility, with about one year of experience.

The position offers duties across civil, criminal, and sentencing matters with travel for training as needed.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree or education equivalent to completion of a law degree from an accredited college or university.
• Eligibility for admittance to the Pennsylvania Bar.
• One year of experience or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive legal research and draft opinions, orders, adjudications, and other legal documents for Judge Gavin.
• Review briefs and related filings, identify pertinent issues, and prepare research materials.
• Attend hearings and trials, observe proceedings, take detailed notes, and draft opinions addressing identified matters.
• Discuss cases with Judge Gavin to ensure consideration of all relevant legal issues and proper citations.
• Provide backup support to other court roles as needed and occasional travel for training or case-related needs.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting opinions

Education

Juris Doctorate or equivalent

Job description

The Honorable James E. Gavin is seeking a judicial law clerk in the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County, Pennsylvania, located in Reading.

Job Duties

The successful candidate will perform comprehensive legal research, review briefs and related filings, identify pertinent issues, and draft opinions, orders, adjudications, and other legal documents for Judge Gavin. Duties include reviewing pretrial briefs and submissions for completeness, preparing summaries, analyzing relevant statutes and precedents, and preparing research materials for cases involving en banc panels or argument court. The law clerk will attend hearings and trials, observe proceedings, take detailed notes, research legal questions as they arise, and help ensure proceedings continue efficiently and without interruption. The clerk will participate in pretrial conferences, identify issues of law, anticipate potential procedural or substantive matters, and prepare research and draft opinions addressing those matters. The position requires ongoing discussion of cases with Judge Gavin to ensure consideration of all relevant legal issues, drafting opinions in civil, criminal, and sentencing matters, ensuring proper citation, and responding to questions about legal intent, citation accuracy, and document structure. Additional responsibilities include providing backup support to other court positions as necessary, completing duties as assigned, and occasional travel for training or case‑related needs.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctorate degree or education equivalent to completion of a law degree from an accredited college or university, and eligibility for admittance to the Pennsylvania Bar. One year of experience. Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability insurance.
• paid vacation, sick, and personal leave, along with 14 County-paid Government Holidays
• Access to a pension plan as well as the option to participate in a 457b plan and flexible spending accounts.

Salary information

Starting Salary is $65,000, with the possibility of a higher salary based on experience.

A clerkship with a Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas judge offers a caliber of legal education that no classroom can replicate.

From your first weeks as a law clerk, you will be immersed in a behind-the-scenes look at court operations, often with exposure to the broad spectrum of cases on the court's docket - civil and criminal, family, trust and estates, motions and trials, as well as appeals.

You will draft opinions, conduct legal research on novel questions, observe witness examinations and jury voir dire, and work in close collaboration with a sitting judge (if there are open positions, you will find them on the left).