Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Judicial Law Clerks
Judicial Law Clerks assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.
Table of contents
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
Is this job meaningful
65% said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they found their job meaningful.
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
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
Average hourly wage
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 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Law
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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