Law Clerk - Limited Term

Los Angeles Superior Court; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious institution as a Law Clerk, where you'll conduct legal research and analyze motions to support the court's operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to work within the largest unified trial court in the U.S., contributing to the efficiency of the judicial process. With a commitment to excellence, you'll engage in meaningful work while developing your legal skills in a collaborative environment. The Court provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and retirement plans, making it an attractive place to start your legal career. If you're passionate about the law and eager to make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits plan

Retirement pension savings plan

Paid vacation and sick leave

14 paid holidays per year

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree is required.
• Must be a licensed attorney in California for the Bar member position.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and analyze motions to expedite court calendars.
• Prepare written recommendations and perform related duties.

Skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Legal research

Analytical skills

Ability to manage competing priorities

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Current enrollment in Juris Doctor program

Licensed to practice law in California

Job description

ABOUT THE COURT

Los Angeles Superior Court is the largest unified trial court in the United States. Its 580 judges and commissioners work in one of the 36 facilities within the Court's 12 judicial districts and are supported by more than 4,800 full-time Court employees. The Court has an annual budget of more than $1 billion. Located in Southern California, Los Angeles County is geographically one of the nation's largest counties, covering 4,752 square miles and, with over 10,400,000 residents, is also one of its most populous counties.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Law Clerks conduct legal research, analyze motions and other matters on calendar to expedite court calendars, prepare written recommendations thereon, and perform related duties as assigned.

A detailed job description is available at the following links: Law Clerk (Bar Member), Law Clerk (Non-Bar).

Special Conditions of Employment: Law clerks may be employed for a limited term of up to 30 months, with formal performance appraisals given at the 6 month and 18-month anniversary. Law Clerks may not practice law, receive legal fees, and/or represent a party as counsel during their employment by the Court as Law Clerks. Other outside employment must be approved in advance. Employment is "at will."

REQUIREMENTS

To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements at the time of application:

1. LAW CLERK (NON-BAR): Graduation from an accredited school of law with a Juris Doctor degree.
2. LAW CLERK (NON-BAR, PRE-GRADUATION): Current enrollment in a Juris Doctor program at an accredited school of law, in good standing, and within six months of graduation (if selected, offer will be contingent upon proof of both graduation and eligibility to take the California Bar Examination.) If you qualify under this option, please apply directly to our Law Clerk 3L Cohort 2025 posting.
3. LAW CLERK (BAR MEMBER): Licensed to practice law in the state of California and an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to conduct legal research independently, apply the law to the facts and reach a sound, well-supported conclusion about the motion or other matter
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial officers and others in the workplace
• Ability to manage competing priorities effectively and meet deadlines

THE COURT OFFERS UNBEATABLE BENEFITS

• Comprehensive benefits plan (with options for medical, dental, vision, disability, and life)
• A retirement pension savings plan
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 14 paid holidays per year

PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION

Step 1 - Submit an online application. You will need the following documents/information:

• Resume
• 3 professional references
• Bar member number (Bar members only)
• Law School Diploma or letter from your law school's Registrar's Office verifying that a degree has been conferred* (pre-graduation applicants are exempt from this requirement at the time of filing.)
• Law School transcripts from all law schools attended (unofficial transcripts accepted)
• 2 writing samples demonstrating your analytical ability (i.e. drafted pleading, legal publication, legal writing class assignment, etc.; an introductory paragraph explaining the nature of the writing sample is encouraged, i.e., indicating the purpose for which it was written, how much is your own original work, if it is an excerpt from a larger work, etc.)

Step 2 - The management team will review all qualified applications and invite those who are among the best qualified to interview with the hiring committee.

Step 3 - The hiring committee will interview applicants and identify those who will be placed on the eligibility list.

Step 4 - When a judge has a vacancy, the managing research attorneys and judge will interview candidates and make final hiring decisions.

You will be notified of the outcome after each step of the process. You may also check your application status through your governmentjobs.com account.

Please provide a current and accurate e-mail address for the Court to communicate with you about this job opportunity. We recommend adding [e-mail] to your e-mail address book/safe senders list to avoid the notification being filtered as spam.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

For general application information, please access the Online Employment Application Guide.

Los Angeles Superior Court reserves the right to verify all submitted documentation prior to appointment.

Applicants with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the recruitment process can contact the email address provided below.

Los Angeles Superior Court is an equal opportunity employer.

Questions regarding this posting may be emailed to [e-mail].

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