What Does it Take to Be a Judicial Law Clerk?

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

Life As a Judicial Law Clerk

• Verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.
• Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
• Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.
• Compile court-related statistics.
• Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
• Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.

What a Judicial Law Clerk Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Judicial Law Clerks say are important on the job.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Deputy Clerk
• Federal Court of Appeals Law Clerk
• Federal District Law Clerk
• Chancery Clerk
• Law Clerk

Are There Job Opportunities for Judicial Law Clerks?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 14,000 jobs in the United States for Judicial Law Clerks.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.5% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 800 new jobs for Judicial Law Clerks by 2026. The BLS estimates 800 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Judicial Law Clerks are Texas, New York, and Washington.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, New Jersey, or Colorado. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Judicial Law Clerk Make?

The typical yearly salary for Judicial Law Clerks is somewhere between $33,890 and $95,530. A Judicial Law Clerk median salary is $53,540.

How much do Judicial Law Clerks make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
New York	$121,110
Connecticut	$77,550
North Dakota	$71,580
Illinois	$70,490
Nevada	$68,890
Iowa	$67,960
West Virginia	$66,500
Oklahoma	$66,090
California	$63,610
Washington	$62,100
Arkansas	$55,910
Ohio	$55,690
Tennessee	$55,060
Colorado	$54,180
Virginia	$54,020
Minnesota	$53,110
Georgia	$52,940
Oregon	$52,270
Texas	$51,180
New Jersey	$51,160
Idaho	$51,050
Florida	$46,490
Michigan	$46,120
Missouri	$45,390
Wisconsin	$45,100
Louisiana	$42,530
Pennsylvania	$40,550
Montana	$40,500
Utah	$38,820
South Carolina	$38,210
Indiana	$33,500
Mississippi	$32,340
Kentucky	$31,230

What Tools do Judicial Law Clerks Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Judicial Law Clerks:

• Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint

How do I Become a Judicial Law Clerk?

Individuals working as Judicial Law Clerks have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become Judicial Law Clerk?

Where Judicial Law Clerks Are Employed

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being a Judicial Law Clerk may also be interested in:

• Archivists
• Historians

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons