Law Clerk I with Judge Angela K. Paton (April 2026 - December 2026)

Arizona Court of Appeals•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Judicial Law Clerkship with Judge Angela K. Paton April 2026 December 2026 Title: Law Clerk I Grade: Fixed Rate Reports To: Judicial Officer Department: Judicial Chambers Exempt Status: Exempt Status: Full-Time (40 hours per week) Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 hours per day Salary: $60,170 Minimum Requirements: Must be a law school graduate or a current law school student expecting to graduate before the employment start date. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Judge Angela K. Paton with the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One is accepting clerkship applications and materials from law school graduates, current Law Clerks, and practicing attorneys who wish to apply for a clerkship that will begin in April 2026 (flexible start date) and end in December 2026. If the selected candidate qualifies, a promotion to Law Clerk II may be possible in August 2026. The first review date will be Tuesday, March 3, 2026, however, interviews may be conducted as applications are received. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application material as soon as possible. Position Summary: The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, Law Clerk I position is an exempt salaried position. Under the direction of the Chambers Judge, a Law Clerks 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 their writing and analytical skills, and make a lasting contribution to the law in Arizona. Cases assigned to a particular panel of three judges are divided among the 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, in consultation with the assigned judge. The draft is then circulated to the other judges on the panel for consideration when the case is set for conference. At conference, the law clerk who has drafted a proposed decision may be asked to present the case to the panel of judges. The law clerks presentation generally includes a summary of the relevant facts and an analysis of the relevant law. The law clerk is expected to have thoroughly reviewed the trial court record and to be available to help answer questions about the record. The law clerk who prepared the initial draft may also be asked to assist with post-conference editing and with cite-checking the draft. During conference, law clerks also take notes on all cases presented, including cases presented by staff attorneys and other law clerks.

Requirements

Must be a law school graduate or a current law school student expecting to graduate before the employment start date.
Bachelors 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 and maintaining confidentiality about 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 proofreading and commitment to accuracy.
Excellent interpersonal skills in various situations.
Skilled in citation formatting.

Nice To Haves

Legal experience, including work as a lawyer, extern, or intern, is a plus.
Other professional experience, particularly involving research and writing is preferred.

Responsibilities

Analyze the record and legal issues and undertake legal research.
Draft proposed written decisions for consideration by judges.
Participate in conference, answer judges questions, and attend oral arguments.
Access and use the Courts case management system.
Access and use SharePoint and Office 365.
Serve as bailiff for oral arguments.
Law clerks may be given other projects by their judge(s). Such projects may include case law or statutory research, assistance in handling requests for special action relief and other legal research and writing.
An effective law clerk also helps with projects as assigned to help resolve cases efficiently and productively.
Law clerks have shared administrative responsibilities with the chambers Judicial Assistant.
Law clerks may be assigned general supervisory responsibilities for externs working in their chambers.
Law clerks are bound by the ethical standards established by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.