Law Clerk - Juvenile Court Department

Massachusetts Trial Court • Boston, MA

19h • Hybrid

About The Position

It is the mission of the Juvenile Court to protect children from abuse and neglect and promote opportunities for children to reside in safe, stable, permanent family environments whenever possible, to strengthen families when their children are in need of services, to rehabilitate juveniles, to protect the public from delinquent and criminal activity while holding offenders accountable and addressing the harm suffered by the community and the victim, and to decide all cases fairly and impartially with dedication, integrity and professionalism. This posting is for a Law Clerk position to start on August 31, 2026. The position will end on August 27, 2027, with a possibility of renewal for an additional year. This posting is for Law Clerk positions in Eastern or Western Massachusetts. All law clerks are assigned by the Deputy Legal Counsel – Research Services, with the final approval of the Chief Justice, to rotations. The rotation system gives law clerks the opportunity to work with numerous judges and to gain a broader understanding of the work of the Juvenile court. The law clerk is responsible for performing legal research and writing assignments to assist the judges of the Juvenile Court. Law clerks work directly with the judges, and under the supervision of the Deputy Legal Counsel – Research Services, Assistant Deputy Court Administrator – Chief Legal Counsel, and the Chief Justice. A judicial clerkship in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court offers a unique, exciting, and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal career. The Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over delinquency, youthful offender, children requiring assistance, care and protection, guardianship, and adoption proceedings.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school or eligibility to sit for the Massachusetts bar exam, as of the start of the clerkship
• Excellent legal writing and communication skills
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills, using both online and book resources
• High professional and ethical standards
• Access to a reliable car and the willingness and ability to travel to courthouses as assigned
• Experience and knowledge in the use of personal computers, including word processing programs such as Microsoft Word and legal research services such as Lexis or Westlaw
• Demonstrated ability to follow written and oral instructions
• Demonstrated ability to manage, prioritize, and complete simultaneous assignments from various judges
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently while maintaining productivity and demonstrating good judgment
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and otherwise complete assignments in a timely manner
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a professional setting, including judges, managers, court staff, and other law clerks
• Genuine commitment to serving the full term of the clerkship

Nice To Haves

• Current legal practice or intent to practice law in Massachusetts
• Substantial legal research and writing experience, including prior experience as a judicial intern for a Juvenile Court judge
• Courses in juvenile law, research assistant positions, prior work experience in the areas of juvenile law and clinical placements
• Familiarity with legal research resources beyond Westlaw and Lexis
• Demonstrated commitment to government or public service
• Well-rounded and distinguished recent law school graduates and practicing attorneys
• Solid academic credentials
• All law clerks must reside in Massachusetts for the duration of the law clerk term

Responsibilities

• Discussing legal issues with judges
• Performing careful and accurate legal research and analysis, using both online and book resources
• Clearly and concisely conveying results of research and analysis to judges, orally and in writing
• Preparing well-written and error-free legal research memoranda, and drafting findings of fact, conclusions of law, rationales, judgments and memoranda of decision
• Completing assignments in a timely manner and within deadlines established by judges
• Performing additional legal research and analysis and further review and revision of written work products as appropriate
• Attending hearings, portions of trials, and other courtroom proceedings, as needed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees