Legal Fellow

New York State Unified Court System; New York (NY); Sur place; USD 65 000 - 85 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

20 Paid Vacation Days within the first

Résumé du poste

The New York State Unified Court System seeks a Legal Fellow for the New York City Family Court in Queens County. This one-year fellowship, renewable for one additional year, offers hands-on experience in a busy trial court, working with jurists, court attorneys, and staff on custody, guardianship, and family matters.

Fellows must have a JD and be within three years of graduation; the role emphasizes public service and access to justice, with opportunities to observe trials and contribute to

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school; graduates no more than 3 years prior to appointment.
• Interest in public service and access to justice.

Responsabilités

• Conduct legal research and analysis of Family Court Act, Domestic Relations Law, and Social Services Law.
• Draft bench memoranda, legal opinions, proposed orders, and correspondence.
• Assist jurists with settlement conferences and case management.
• Observe and support trials.
• Proofread judicial decisions and ensure correct application of law.
• Utilize Family Court technologies including e-filing, case tracking, and digital databases.
• Participate in access to justice activities and family law policy developments.

Connaissances

Legal research

Legal analysis

Drafting legal documents

Formation

Juris Doctor (JD)

Description du poste

The New York State Unified Court System (NYS UCS) is one of the largest and most diverse court systems in the nation, responsible for delivering fair, efficient, and accessible justice to the people of New York. With courts operating in every county statewide, NYS UCS supports a wide range of legal proceedings and provides essential services that uphold the rule of law. The court system is committed to integrity, professionalism, and public service across all operations.

Position Overview

The New York State Unified Court System is seeking to hire a Legal Fellow for the New York City Family Court in Queens County.

The New York City Family Court, in collaboration with the New York State Unified Court System, is pleased to offer a one-year Legal Fellowship for recent law school graduates with a demonstrated interest in public service and access to justice. This prestigious Fellowship, renewable for one additional year at the discretion of the NYC Family Court, provides new attorneys with a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in one of the busiest trial courts in the state.

The Legal Fellow will be assigned to Queens County in New York City Family Court, where they will work closely with jurists, Court Attorneys, and administrative staff to support the resolution of custody, visitation, guardianship, family offense, support, paternity, parentage, child abuse, child neglect, juvenile delinquency and other Family Court related matters.

Key Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducting legal research and analysis of various aspects of the Family Court Act, Domestic Relations Law, and Social Services Law
• Drafting bench memoranda, legal opinions, proposed orders, and correspondence
• Assisting jurists with settlement conferences and case management
• Observing and supporting trials
• Proofreading judicial decisions and ensuring accurate application of the law
• Utilizing Family Court technologies, including e-filing systems, case tracking tools, and digital databases
• Participating in access to justice activities and family law policy developments

Qualifications

• Receipt of a Juris Doctor degree from a fully accredited law school. Applicants must have graduated no more than 3 years prior to the date of appointment.
• Employment Type:

Temporary 1-Year Fellowship (renewable for up to one year)

What the Courts Offer

• 20 Paid Vacation Days within the first year

Applications must be postmarked or received by: November 10, 2026

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

It is the policy of the UCS to ensure equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including freedom from sexual harassment), sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or, in certain circumstances, prior criminal record.