Term Law Clerk

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is seeking a full-time term law clerk for United States Magistrate Judge Jerusha Adams in Montgomery, Alabama. This is a term law clerk position for one year with the intent to extend the position up to a total of four years based on satisfactory job performance and eligibility.

 

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reviews legal submissions; performs legal research; drafts bench memoranda and proposed decisions in connection with civil and criminal cases. Researches and drafts orders addressing a wide variety of issues. Assists with case management through the Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system. May perform administrative office functions such as editing, proofreading, telephone communications, and written correspondence.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for the position of judicial law clerk, an individual must be a law school graduate (or be certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) from a law school of recognized standing, and have demonstrated one of the following accomplishments or proficiencies:

• Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school;
• Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
• Proficiency in legal studies that, in the opinion of the appointing judge, is the equivalent of one of the above.

 

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.

The table below shows the number of years of legal work experience required to qualify for appointment as a law clerk at the applicable JSP grade level. Please note that appointment to a JSP-12 or above requires that the candidate be a member of the bar of a state, territory, or federal court of general jurisdiction. The Administrative Office’s Chief Human Resources Officer may, upon request from the appointing judge, waive the bar membership requirement when the candidate has met all requirements for admission, but has not been admitted because they are required to appear in person and are unable to travel to the location to complete the admissions process because of: (1) the expenses involved; and/or (2) the workload in chambers does not allow for the law clerk’s absence.

JSP Grade Level	Years of legal work experience	Bar Membership Required
11	0	No
12	1	Yes
13	2	Yes

  

BENEFITS

The District Court is within the Judicial Branch of the United States Government and its employees are entitled to federal employee benefits including group health insurance, life insurance, dental, vision, long term disability, long term care programs, flexible spending accounts, and generous paid time off.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position.
• Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
• A background investigation with law enforcement agencies, including fingerprint and criminal record check, will be conducted as a condition of employment. Any applicant selected for the position will be hired provisionally pending successful completion of investigation. Unsatisfactory results may result in termination of employment.
• All information provided by applicants is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission(s) of information on any application materials may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment or dismissal after being employed.
• Judiciary employees are considered “at will” and are not covered by federal civil service classifications or regulations. Employees must adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.
• Payment of salary is subject to the mandatory electronic fund transfer (direct deposit) to a financial institution.
• Participation in the interview process will be at the applicant’s own expense. The Court will not pay for relocation expenses. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
• This is a term law clerk position for one year with the intent to extend the position up to a total of four years based on satisfactory job performance and eligibility. Individuals cannot work more than 4 years in a term clerk position.
• The projected start date for this position is August 5, 2026.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

Applications may be submitted via the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR) or as follows:

Submit a single pdf document via e-mail to almd_hr@almd.uscourts.gov that includes the following:

• A cover letter;
• A resume, including a list of professional references;
• A writing sample of no more than ten pages;
• An unofficial law school transcript; and
• A completed AO 78, Application for Federal Judicial Branch Employment
(AO78 available at http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/).

In addition, the applicant should provide two letters of reference via email to almd_hr@almd.uscourts.gov. These may be sent separately from the referring individual.

Starting classification level and salary dependent upon experience and qualifications.
Open to all applicants.

Closes: Open Until Filled

INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS AND SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED.

The United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama, reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, or to fill the position earlier than the closing date. Any of which may occur without prior written notice.

This Court is an Equal Opportunity / EDR Employer.