TRIAL COURT STAFF ATTORNEY II - 22012373

Florida; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 58,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

State Courts System seeks a Trial Court Staff Attorney II (Legal Clerk) to support judges across civil, criminal, family, and other divisions. The role emphasizes rigorous legal research, drafting memoranda, and assisting in decision-making processes in a two-year term.

The selected attorney must hold a Juris Doctor and be a member of the Florida Bar or eligible within one year. Salary is state-funded and non-negotiable with competitive differential pay.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school by the start date.
• Active Florida Bar membership or eligibility within one year of hire.
• Strong academic record.
• Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Preferred: law review/moot court/public service exposure.

Responsibilities

• Research substantive and procedural matters.
• Prepare legal documents including memoranda, judgments, and orders.
• Review case files and advise judges on a variety of legal issues.
• Provide immediate legal research and recommendations for court sessions.
• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
• Prepare appellate bench memoranda to a three-judge panel.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Oral communication

Analytical reasoning

Discretion/confidentiality

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

Microsoft Word

Job description

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TRIAL COURT STAFF ATTORNEY II - 22012373

Date: Oct 1, 2026

Requisition No:884788

Agency: State Courts System

Working Title: TRIAL COURT STAFF ATTORNEY II - 22012373

Job Title: Trial Court Staff Attorney (Legal Clerk) - Office of the General Counsel (State Funded)

SALARY: $68,067.48 Annually

OPENING DATE: 10/01/2026

CLOSING DATE: 10/31/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Salary is Non-Negotiable. The successful candidate will be hired at the minimum salary. NEW SALARY: $68,067.48 (annual salary of $64,999.44 plus Competitive Area Differential pay of $255.67 per month).

The following application materials are required: cover letter; resume; names, phone numbers, email addresses, and relationships of two professional references; law school transcripts (official or unofficial) and; legal writing sample not exceeding 5 pages. These documents must be uploaded by the closing date. Only completed applications with supporting documents will be considered. Receipt of an application does not guarantee an interview.

The Trial Court Law Clerk Program is an excellent way for attorneys (especially graduating 3Ls and recent law school graduates) to become familiar with state court practice and procedure by working with different trial judges in different court divisions. The program is designed to allow Trial Court Law Clerks the opportunity to obtain broad exposure to a variety of legal subject areas; strengthen research, writing, and oral communication skills; gain in-depth insight into the process of judicial decision-making; interact with, and learn from, seasoned court staff; attend judicial proceedings, periodic in-house “lunch & learns,” and trainings; learn about various judicial programs and services offered in the Circuit; and become involved with the legal community and bar associations in Miami-Dade County. The primary function of Trial Court Law Clerks is to assist county and circuit judges in the disposition of legal issues. The work performed by Trial Court Law Clerks involves considerable interpretation and judgment in the analysis of legal issues arising under the jurisdiction of the county and circuit courts. Trial Court Law Clerks are rotated through different court divisions and exposed to various areas of law, including civil, criminal, juvenile, probate, family, and domestic violence.

Working contacts are established with judges and other trial court personnel. Work is performed and reviewed under the general supervision of a Supervising Staff Attorney.

Work will be performed in-person/on-site at a courthouse location.

Term: Two-year term.

Responsibilities

• Research substantive and procedural matters.
• Prepares legal documents, including memoranda of law and proposed opinions, judgments, and orders.
• Reviews case files, evidence, depositions, pleadings, motions, legal briefs, memoranda of law, proposed orders, and other related documents to advise judges in a variety of legal areas.
• Provides immediate legal research and recommendations required by judges conducting court sessions.
• Attends staff meetings; professional workshops, seminars or conferences; and judicial proceedings as required.
• Prepares and presents appellate bench memoranda and proposed opinions to a three-judge panel.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school by the start date of November or December 2026.
• Member of Florida Bar in good standing at the time of hire or within one year after hire.
• Strong academic record.
• Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Law review/journal membership, moot court participation, court system/teaching/research work experience, or commitment to public service preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of and ability to use word processing software such as Word; must have sufficient typing ability to produce own memos, orders, etc.
• Ability to conduct legal research, including proficiency in the use of legal publications and on-line services, such as Westlaw and/or Lexis.
• Ability to understand and apply legal principles, statutory and case law, court rules and procedures.
• Ability to reason logically and analytically.
• Ability to grasp, comprehend, and analyze complex legal issues and complicated factual details.
• Ability to perform exacting work.
• Ability to communicate ideas and concepts effectively and succinctly, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, impartiality and honesty in handling matters before the court.
• Ability to work effectively with others and/or to work independently.

For candidates who have graduated from an accredited Law School, but have not passed the Florida Bar, the salary will be 10% below the minimum, which will be NEW SALARY: $61,567.56 (annual salary of $58,499.52 plus Competitive Area Differential pay of $255.67 per month).

Working Conditions/Physical Demands/Licenses Certifications

Working Conditions:

• Moderate noise; business office setting.

Physical Demands:

• Work involves a significant amount of standing, walking, sitting, talking, listening, balancing, stooping, and reaching with hands and arms; must be able to transfer up to 10 lbs.

Licenses Certifications:

• Florida Bar membership in good standing at the time of hire, or within one year after hire, is required.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time.

Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.