Law Clerk - Limited Term

Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

The Superior Court of California is seeking Law Clerks to assist in legal research and expedite court calendars. Positions are available for both Bar members and non-Bar members, with a term up to 30 months. The Court offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits including medical, retirement, and paid leave. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills and the ability to conduct independent legal research.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits plan

Paid vacation and sick leave

Retirement pension savings plan

14 paid holidays per year

Qualifications

• Graduated from an accredited school of law with a Juris Doctor degree.
• Licensed to practice law in California and in good standing if applying as a Bar member.
• Current enrollment in Juris Doctor program acceptable for 3Ls.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and analyze motions.
• Prepare written recommendations on calendar matters.
• Perform duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication

Legal Research

Analytical Ability

Education

Juris Doctor degree

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 5,000 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 million 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 there on, 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 12 month and 24 month, and 30 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."
SALARY*
Law Clerk (Non-Bar):$89,485.06 - $94,477.08Annually
Law Clerk (Bar Member):$98,757.84- $110,077.08Annually

*Incoming law clerks with less than three years of California-licensed attorney experience will be compensated at the entry-level point within the salary range.

THE COURT OFFERS UNBEATABLE BENEFITS

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

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

• LAW CLERK (NON-BAR):
  • Graduation from an accredited school of law with a Juris Doctor degree.
• 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.

Please note: 3Ls are also eligible to apply; however, the recruitment process for this position will not open until later. The requirements for 3Ls are as follows: Current enrollment in a Juris Doctor program at an accredited school of law, in good standing, and within six months of graduation. Please do not apply through this posting. Instead, wait for our Law Clerk 3L Cohort 2026 recruitment to open and apply directly to that posting.

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

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 orletter 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 extended offers of employment.
Step 4 - Interviews for placement in specific assignments occur thereafter, when a judge has a vacancy, these interviews may take place before or after court employment begins, with the managing research attorneys and judge interviewing candidates and making placement 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 theOnline 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 [e-mail].

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