2026-2027 Judicial Law Clerkship for Judge Christopher J. O'Neil
About The Position
Accepting clerkship applications and materials from recent and/or anticipated law school graduates for an 12-month position to begin in August 2026. Under the direction of the Chambers Judge, a Law Clerk’s primary responsibility is to review briefs and the court record and to prepare a pre-draft decision in assigned cases. This position presents a rare opportunity to work directly with experienced judges and staff lawyers on complex and fascinating legal issues, improve writing and analytical skills, and make a lasting contribution to the law in Arizona. Cases that are assigned to a particular panel of judges are divided among the three judges on the panel, and draft decisions are prepared by law clerks or staff attorneys working with an individual judge. Law clerks may be asked to write an initial draft decision, with varying degrees of input from the assigned judge. Law Clerks are bound by the ethical standards established by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and Code of Judicial Ethics.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (B.A./ B.S.)
- Law degree from an accredited college/university and law school.
- Knowledge and understanding of law, court procedures, and court systems.
- Knowledge of legal research tools (Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, etc.).
- Ability to work with professionalism in a busy environment.
- High ethical standards: Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding pending court cases and business processes.
- Ability to organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and changes in responsibilities, duties, and procedures through cross training.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills.
- Superior research and analytical skills.
- Show initiative and sound judgement in decision making.
- Close attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Excellent interpersonal skills in a variety of situations.
- Skilled in citation formatting.
- Ability to apply common sense and understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, and diagram form.
- Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.
- Ability to apply knowledge and experience to each case using parallels from other cases and deductive reasoning.
- Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk working on a computer.
- Retrieve boxes and case files from low and high storage areas.
- Lift and move up to 30 pounds.
Nice To Haves
- Prior legal experience, including work as a lawyer, extern, or intern, is a plus.
- Other professional experience, particularly involving research and writing, is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Review the appellate record, analyze appellate briefs, and conduct legal research
- Draft written decisions and submit to judge
- Cite-check drafts prepared by co-clerk or staff attorneys as directed
- Confer with judge regarding drafts and other matters, participating in conferences with supervising judge and other judges or staff as directed
- Access and utilize the Court’s case management system
- Attend and participate in continuing legal education programs as directed
- Access and utilize Office 365 (Microsoft Word specifically).
- Case law or statutory research
- Assistance in handling requests for special action relief.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
