Law Clerk I

State of Montana; Missoula (MT); In loco; USD 35.000 - 50.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Health Insurance

Paid Leave & Holidays

Retirement Plan

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Descrizione del lavoro

Montana Judicial Branch in Missoula seeks a Law Clerk I to support the District Court Judges. The position involves legal research, drafting memoranda and orders, and compiling legal references under supervision.

A Juris Doctorate is required, with strong writing and research skills. The role may include courtroom duties, transcription, and jury instruction preparation as needed. Telework is not indicated.

Competenze

• A Juris Doctorate is required.
• Legal research experience.
• Excellent writing skills.

Mansioni

• Perform professional legal research and prepare memoranda, opinions, or orders for a judge.
• Prepare briefs, memoranda and statements of issues; annotate legal authorities.
• Attend court sessions, maintain records, and assist with jury instructions.

Conoscenze

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication skills

Formazione

Juris Doctorate

Strumenti

Word processing software

Legal research software

Descrizione del lavoro

Job Description - Law Clerk I (26142811)

An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period. The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check. Travel may be required and working hours may include evenings & weekends.

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF

Job Overview:

• Law clerks serving more than two years may be moved to senior law clerk status. This is professional legal work performed for the District Court Judges of the 4th Judicial District in Missoula, Montana.
• Work involves the performance of professional legal research and other related clerical/administrative work in the preparation of memoranda, opinions, or orders for a judge concerning the cases before him/her. Work is performed under general supervision of a judge and is reviewed through conferences and written reports.
• Reviews, studies, research, and annotates laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
• Prepares briefs, legal memoranda, statement of issues involved, draft opinions and orders including appropriate suggestions or recommendations to the judge.
• Compiles references on laws and decisions necessary for legal determinations.
• Confers with judge concerning legal questions, legal theories, construction of documents, and preparation of orders.
• Attends court sessions to hear testimony and record necessary case information; maintains records attendant to court proceedings; assists judge in the selection and preparation of jury instructions.
• May perform courtroom duties including recording court testimony or arguments and providing bailiff services.
• May transcribe the record of court proceedings if required by the position.
• May maintain a law library collection.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of general law, state law, established precedent, and sources of legal reference.
• Knowledge of trial court practices, rules, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles.
• Ability to represent the court in a respectful manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
• Ability to transcribe audio tapes, if required by the position.
• Skill in the operation of a computer with word processing and legal research software.
• Skill in the operation of electronic recording equipment to record trial court proceedings.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Juris Doctorate is required.

Legal research experience.

Excellent writing skills.

Applicant Pool Statement : If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment : Not Applicable

Salary

$31.14 - $31.14 Hourly

Telework Eligibility: Not Telework Eligible

Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings

1

Employee Status

Regular

Schedule

Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Travel

Yes, 5 % of the Time

Posting Date

Nov 5, 2026, 6:37:41 PM

Closing Date

Ongoing

Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.