Legal
Judicial Law Clerks
Also called: Appellate Law Clerk, Career Judicial Law Clerk, Career Law Clerk, Judicial Assistant
US median pay
$64,920
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,500
14,000 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.
What they do day to day
- Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
- Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
- Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
- Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
- Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
- Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
- Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.
- Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
- Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.
- Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
- Negotiation2.8/5
- Service Orientation2.6/5
Knowledge
- Law and Government4.9/5
- English Language4.5/5
- Administrative3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics2.9/5
- Public Safety and Security2.7/5
- Administration and Management2.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Doctoral degree52%
- Post-doctoral training20%
- First professional degree17%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.