Judicial Law Clerk

Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Appellate Law Clerk; Career Judicial Law Clerk; Career Law Clerk; Judicial Assistant; Judicial Clerk; Judicial Law Clerk; Law Clerk; Law Researcher; Pro Se Law Clerk; Term Law Clerk

Tasks

• Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
• Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
• Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
• Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
• Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
• Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
• Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.
• Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
• Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.
• Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.

Knowledge

• Law and Government
• English Language
• Administrative

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Speaking
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Written Comprehension
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Oral Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Fluency of Ideas
• Selective Attention