Law Clerk (Trainee) (Honors Law Clerk)

National Labor Relations Board • Washington, DC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of the National Labor Relations Board Honors Program, specifically in the Board-side program area. It provides experience across the agency’s legal practices. Under direct supervision, the Law Clerk reviews trial and hearing records, conducts legal research, prepares bench memoranda in consultation with the Assistant Chief Counsel, presents cases orally to Board Members, and drafts Board decisions, orders, and separate opinions. This is not a virtual or remote position. The position is in the Excepted Service and part of the Bargaining Unit. Applicants may be required to serve a two-year trial period and must sign an Honors Program Participant Agreement. Transcripts are required, and a selectee may be subject to a background investigation before appointment. Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be pursuing a first professional law degree (J.D. or LL.B.) at an American Bar Association-accredited law school, with anticipated graduation no later than June 2027.
• Must not be barred or licensed at the time of application.
• Must meet at least one basic eligibility criterion: GPA of 3.0 or higher (or equivalent), placement in the top 25% of the law school class, or attendance at a school that does not use numerical GPA or class rank; prior internship or work at the NLRB or another labor agency; or specialized labor law or labor relations experience.
• Must provide complete support for the stated qualifications in the resume.
• Must submit transcripts and complete the online application by the announcement’s closing date.
• Applicants using foreign education to meet qualifications must provide an evaluation showing equivalence to accredited U.S. education or documentation of full credit at an accredited U.S. college or university.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must sign an Honors Program Participant Agreement.
• May be required to complete a two-year trial period.
• A selectee may be subject to a background investigation before appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Strong academic law school record.
• Excellent legal research, oral communication, and written communication skills.
• Experience or coursework relevant to labor law, industrial relations, or employment law.

Responsibilities

• Review formal trial or hearing records, including testimony transcripts, exhibits, Hearing Officer reports, Administrative Law Judge decisions, Regional Director decisions, exceptions, requests for review, and briefs.
• Research statutes, decisions, opinions, regulations, legislative history, and other legal authorities, and apply the research to cases.
• Prepare bench memoranda in consultation with the Assistant Chief Counsel, describing contested issues, relevant facts, prior dispositions, party arguments, and recommendations for resolving issues.
• Orally present cases to Board Members for disposition.
• Draft official Board decisions and orders, and Board Members’ separate dissenting or concurring opinions, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Counsel.

Benefits

• Alternative work schedules, telework, Employee Assistance Program, and Child Care Subsidy Program.
• Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Life Insurance.
• Long-Term Care Insurance.
• Thrift Savings Plan.
• Transit Benefit Program.
• Competitive starting salaries and potential for performance-based increases.
• Flexible hours and the ability to achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed