What does a judicial law clerk do?
A Judicial Law Clerk assists judges in court by conducting research and preparing legal documents. They respond to phone calls and written inquiries from the public and from attorneys.
Judicial law clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real judicial law clerk resumes:
- Review wills and applications to ensure that they meet the statutory requirements to be admit to probate.
- Research and write judicial orders in civil, criminal, family, juvenile, child protection, and probate matters.
- Compile accurate information from other departments in order to answer complaints, interrogatories and other legal documents on a timely basis.
- Appeal of deny Medicaid eligibility; settlement result in reinstatement of Medicaid eligibility and services.
Judicial law clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Judicial Law Clerks are proficient in Legal Issues, District Court, and Litigation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Judicial Law Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Legal Issues, 10%
Researched relevant legal issues on appeal, including public participation requirements for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits.
- District Court, 8%
Reviewed district court and administrative appeals.
- Litigation, 6%
Gained familiarity with complex litigation and the judicial decision-making process at the federal level.
- Legal Memoranda, 6%
Conducted research, analyzed legal data, prepared legal memoranda, processed emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions.
- Appeals, 6%
Analyzed petitions for allowance of appeal, appellate briefs, and intermediate appellate opinions in preparing for disposition of discretionary appeals.
- Court Proceedings, 5%
Participated regularly in court proceedings, including management of Friday motions days.
"legal issues," "district court," and "litigation" are among the most common skills that judicial law clerks use at work. You can find even more judicial law clerk responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a judicial law clerk to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Judicial law clerks often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "researched, analyzed and wrote dispositions or motions and judicial opinions on matters related to corporate litigation and commercial/residential mortgage foreclosures. "
Interpersonal skills. Many judicial law clerk duties rely on interpersonal skills. "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community.," so a judicial law clerk will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways judicial law clerk responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "used interpersonal and persuasive skills in mediations, negotiations, and trials provided day-to-day legal advice department of human services"
Problem-solving skills. judicial law clerks are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to judicial law clerk responsibilities, because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." A judicial law clerk resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "worked closely and extensively with the justices to discuss cases and assist with reaching a resolution of issues on appeal. "
Research skills. For certain judicial law clerk responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "research skills." The day-to-day duties of a judicial law clerk rely on this skill, as "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what judicial law clerks do: "researched substantive and procedural issues pertaining to motions, civil litigation, and criminal litigation. "
The three companies that hire the most judicial law clerks are:
- United States Courts6 judicial law clerks jobs
- City of Baltimore3 judicial law clerks jobs
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Compare different judicial law clerks
Judicial law clerk vs. Staff attorney
Staff Attorneys are legal employees who work for a variety of organizations, often as full-time employees. They use their legal expertise to help deal with day-to-day legal issues with which their organization needs regular assistance.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, judicial law clerk responsibilities require skills like "court orders," "judicial opinions," "court sessions," and "family law." Meanwhile a typical staff attorney has skills in areas such as "legal services," "juris," "legal advice," and "administrative agencies." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Staff attorneys tend to make the most money working in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $113,835. In contrast, judicial law clerks make the biggest average salary, $58,406, in the government industry.On average, staff attorneys reach similar levels of education than judicial law clerks. Staff attorneys are 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 5.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Judicial law clerk vs. Legal extern
Legal externs are law students who took the opportunity to do on-the-job training at a law firm. Instead of monetary compensation, they receive academic credits. Legal externs primarily engage in job shadowing. They are usually assigned mentors in the law firm, and they would shadow their mentors in their daily routines. Legal externs are exposed to the actual work done by lawyers. Legal externs are involved in cases, providing insights while building a solid case for their client, giving advice to clients, and representing clients under the supervision of the actual lawyers in the firm. They are usually not given administrative or clerical tasks since they are expected to do more tasks directly related to being a lawyer.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that judicial law clerk responsibilities requires skills like "legal memoranda," "appeals," "court orders," and "judicial opinions." But a legal extern might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "legal intern," "legal memos," "intellectual property," and "pre-trial motions."
Legal externs may earn a lower salary than judicial law clerks, but legal externs earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $69,693. On the other hand, judicial law clerks receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $58,406.legal externs earn similar levels of education than judicial law clerks in general. They're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Judicial law clerk vs. Law internship
A law internship is a program that is designed for law students to give them valuable insight into the professional lives of attorneys and judges. Law interns need to understand and observe what being a lawyer involves. They are required to conduct research and present it to their superiors for case preparations. They must assist their senior lawyers in organizing all of their legal paperwork that includes case files, evidence records, and legal documents. Law interns are also required to be present in the courtroom to assist lawyers and experience actual courtroom proceedings.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, judicial law clerks are more likely to have skills like "legal memoranda," "appeals," "court orders," and "judicial opinions." But a law internship is more likely to have skills like "trial preparation," "legal memos," "legal intern," and "intellectual property."
Most law interns achieve a similar degree level compared to judicial law clerks. For example, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 34.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Judicial law clerk vs. Clerk
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between judicial law clerks and clerks, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a judicial law clerk might have more use for skills like "legal issues," "district court," "litigation," and "legal memoranda." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of clerks require skills like "basic math," "math," "data entry," and "customer service. "
In general, clerks earn the most working in the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,380. The highest-paying industry for a judicial law clerk is the government industry.clerks reach similar levels of education compared to judicial law clerks, in general. The difference is that they're 2.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 50.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of judicial law clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
