Many Federal Magistrate Judges hire law clerks annually. If you are interested in clerking for a magistrate judge, and meet the minimum qualifications for the position, mail your resume directly to the Magistrate Judge's Chambers. Most District Courts maintain websites which include information about judges including addresses. Links to individual District Court webpages may be found at
|
Federal Law Clerk Information System
|
|
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts maintains a searchable listing of Federal Judges who are taking applications for law clerk positions at
|
Based on letters and phone calls, Court Services Branch of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts prepared the following frequently asked questions concerning law clerks:
Are there grade restrictions in promoting law clerks?
Yes. JSP-14 is the highest grade level for an elbow law clerk who was appointed after October 31, 1994.
Are law clerks covered under the Leave Act?
All law clerks are automatically exempt from the Leave Act at the time of their appointment, unless the appointing officer elects to have the law clerk(s) covered.
What is the difference between a "term" and a "career" law clerk?
"Term" appointments are covered by social security only and include eligibility for health and life insurance only. "Career" appointments are covered by all benefits (health, life, retirement and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan).
|
|
 |
Effective November 1, 1994
To qualify for the position of law clerk on the personal staff of a Federal Judge (elbow law clerk),
a person must:
- Be a law school graduate, or
- Be certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree, and
- Have the following experience:
|
PAY LEVEL(NOTE 1)
|
YEARS OF LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE
|
BAR MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
(NOTE 2)
|
| 9 ($38,588) |
0 |
No |
| 11 ($46,689) |
1 |
No |
| 12 ($55,958) |
2 |
Yes |
| 13 ($66,543) |
3 (NOTE 3) |
Yes |
| 14 ($78,635) |
4 (NOTE 4) |
Yes |
Note 1: These pay rates are for 2003 and include an 8.64% Locality Pay Differential. Greater amounts of locality pay may apply in some locations.
Note 2: Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.
Note 3: One year of federal elbow law clerk experience is required in order to be appointed at or promoted to JSP-13
Note 4: Two years of federal elbow law clerk experience are required in order to be appointed at or promoted to JSP-14
Legal Work Experience
Legal work experience is progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities while in military service may be credited, on a month-for-month basis whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation. If an individual meets one of the special criteria described below under Educational Substitutions, one year of education may be substituted for one year of legal work experience.
Educational Substitutions
Graduation (or certification as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) and standing within the upper third of the class from a law school on the approved list of the American Bar Association or that of the Association of American Law Schools; or experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school; or graduation from a law school on the approved list of the American Bar Association or that of the Association of American Law Schools with an LLM degree; or demonstrated proficiency in legal studies which, in the opinion of the appointing judge, is the equivalent of the above, is considered qualifying for grade JSP-11.
The following are examples of criteria which are considered as equivalent:
(1) Publication of a noteworthy article in a law school student publication or other scholarly publication; or
(2) Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif; or
(3) Winning of a moot court competition or membership on a moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools; or
(4) Participation in the legal aid or other law school clinical program sanctioned by the law school not for academic credit; or
(5) Summer experience as a law clerk to a state or local judge or law clerk experience on a continuous basis (either full or part-time) in a private firm while attending school, i.e., "working the way through college," not for academic credit.
Crediting of Bar Examination Preparation Course
In crediting work experience subsequent to graduation from law school. it is the practice of the Administrative Office or the Judiciary when so informed to count as work experience courses required of recent graduates for purposes of passing the bar examination, if a separate examination in addition to completion of law school is required by the state. The time credited is either the actual length of the bar examination preparatory course or a maximum of six weeks, whichever is less. This credit presumes full-time study in such a preparatory course. Part-time study while engaged in full-time employment is not counted. In crediting the six weeks or less, the maximum allowable credit may not always be realized if the time falls between pay periods, since pay increases are effective at the beginning of the next pay period after the Administrative Office is informed that the candidate has met the eligibility criteria.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home