Law Clerk - Massachusetts Appeals Court

Massachusetts Trial Court • Boston, MA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Massachusetts Appeals Court is committed to doing justice under the law by rendering thoughtful, well-reasoned appellate decisions in a timely and efficient manner, treating all those who come before the court fairly and impartially. It is a court of general appellate jurisdiction, with a large caseload in both criminal and civil matters. The Appeals Court expects to hire approximately twenty-six law clerks for the 2027-2028 court year (August of 2027 through August of 2028). Law clerks are law school graduates who each work with one (and occasionally more than one) of the Justices. Interviews will be conducted and hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis between August and December, 2026.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited law school. It is not necessary to sit for the Massachusetts Bar Exam.
• Superior academic achievement.
• Strong interest in and ability to perform legal research and writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally with all court personnel.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize assignments.
• Knowledge of, and ability to use, Microsoft Windows, Word, and legal research tools, including Lexis.
• Massachusetts residence by the starting date of the clerkship.

Nice To Haves

• A persuasive memorandum, rather than a comment/note/article for a journal, is strongly preferred for the writing sample.
• Letters from employers are preferred for letters of recommendation, but letters from law school faculty are acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Reading briefs, record appendices, and transcripts in preparation for oral arguments.
• Researching and writing legal memoranda on a wide variety of criminal and civil issues.
• Attending oral arguments.
• Discussing and analyzing pending cases with a Justice.
• Assisting with researching and drafting judicial decisions.
• Editing, cite checking, and proofreading legal memoranda and draft decisions.
• Assisting with supervision and education of judicial interns, as needed.
• Performing other related work, as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level