What Does A Judicial Law Clerk Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Judicial Law Clerks

Judicial Law Clerks assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

Salary
$63860
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Judicial Law Clerks assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

  • Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
  • Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
  • Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
  • Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Judicial Law Clerks confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders. They research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.

A typical day for a Judicial Law Clerk will also include:

  • Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
  • Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
  • Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or the basis for relief.
  • Enter information into computerized court calendars, filing, or case management systems.
  • Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Judicial Law Clerks also participate in conferences or discussions between trial attorneys and judges. They may also communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Judicial Law Clerks verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order. They might also attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.

In addition, they keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.

To some Judicial Law Clerks, it is also their responsibility to maintain judges’ law libraries by assembling or updating appropriate documents.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Average

Is this job meaningful

Average

65% said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they found their job meaningful.


Multiple courts

I served as a law clerk for multiple courts between 1996 and 2000. While the technology has changed, the role of the law clerk I believe has remained the same. The job of a law clerk is to provide research and writing support for the judge in writing his or her opinions. The law clerk … Read More


Western District of Pennsylvania

I clerked in the United State District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania a little over two years ago. At the district level, we had a busy docket of both criminal cases and civil cases. Criminal cases always took priority. On a given day, I would have to make sure that the prosecutor and … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to follow routines.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Good salary (earns more than 50% of the careers out there).

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

How much do they make

Average salary

$63860 per year

Average hourly wage

$31 per hour

Entry-level Judicial Law Clerks with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $34,220 to $43,400 per year or $16 to $21 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $105,620 $51
Senior (Top 25%) $76,140 $37
Median $57,510 $28
Junior (Bottom 25%) $43,400 $21
No experience (Bottom 10%) $34,220 $16

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Judicial Law Clerks based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
State Government $74310 $35.72
Local Government $53270 $25.61

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Judicial Law Clerks work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Judicial Law Clerks including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
State Government 7350 $74310 $35.72
Local Government 7120 $53270 $25.61

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
12%

40 hours
50%

More than 40 hours
37%

Working schedule

95%

5%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
37%

Every day
63%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
25%

Every day
43%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
20%

Every day
74%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
66%

Once a year
29%

Once a month
5%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
34%

Slightly competitive
4%

Moderately competitive
27%

Highly competitive
15%

Extremely competitive
20%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
2%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
98%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
7%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
7%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
29%

Doctoral Degree
56%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Law

A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of law, for taking state and national bar examinations, and for advanced research in jurisprudence. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of the legal system, including the statutory, administrative, and judicial components of civil and criminal law.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
52%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
1%

1 to 2 years
26%

2 to 4 years
7%

4 to 6 years
1%

6 to 8 years
7%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
27%

1 month
54%

1 to 3 months
10%

3 to 6 months
1%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
8%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Organizer

People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.

The Builder
14%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
57%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
29%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
29%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
76%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
81%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
71%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
62%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
52%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
52%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
62%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
43%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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