Law Clerk

State of Oregon • Salem, OR

19d

About The Position

Law Clerk The Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals are hiring for post-graduate law clerk positions that begin in August 2027. The positions are full-time and limited duration, typically for a period of two years. However, some judges may choose to hire clerks for only a one-year term, and a one-year option is available by joint agreement between the hiring judge and the clerk before the start of the clerkship. Our Law Clerk Positions Our law clerk positions provide a unique opportunity for law school graduates to both employ and improve their analytical, research, and writing skills, while working closely with judges, staff attorneys, and other staff to resolve all manner of cases that come before the courts. Our work is complex, interesting, and ever-changing, and it is a critical component of our state's judicial branch operations. Law clerks participate in many different and important steps in the case-resolution process. Our Courts Oregon Supreme Court The Oregon Supreme Court is our state's appellate court of last resort. The primary work of the court involves discretionary review of decisions of the Oregon Court of Appeals. It also has discretionary review in certain types of cases (such as mandamus, habeas corpus, and certified questions) and has mandatory review of other types of cases (such as death penalty appeals, tax appeals, certain criminal, agency, and elections matters, and lawyer discipline and judicial fitness matters). The court regularly hears arguments in its courthouse in Salem. The court has seven justices and typically employs seven to nine law clerks at any given time. Because clerks may be hired for two-year terms, not all judges hire new clerks each year. Supreme Court clerks are generally hired to work for a particular judge. Working as a law clerk, you will spend most of your time assisting your judge with petitions for review and opinions assigned to their chambers. You will be researching and writing petition memoranda and draft opinions, as well as engaging in extensive discussion, editing, and proofreading. You also will prepare final opinion summaries and media releases, and perform other tasks as needed for the court. For example, a few times a year, the Oregon Supreme Court holds oral arguments at law schools or other locations in the community, and you may have an opportunity to attend those arguments and share your experience at the court with students and other members of the community. Along with your judge, you may also be called to lead community tours of the beautifully renovated, historic Supreme Court building. While acting as a vital resource to your judge, you will be involved in important discussions with your fellow clerks, staff attorneys, and all the justices that help shape the law. Finally, you will be provided thoughtful training and gain in-depth perspective about how our courts function and serve the community. Oregon Court of Appeals The Oregon Court of Appeals is our state's intermediate appellate court. With the exception of a limited number of appeals that go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court--most notably death penalty cases, ballot title cases, lawyer discipline matters, and tax court cases--the Court of Appeals reviews appeals on every subject from Oregon's trial courts and administrative agencies. The Court has a high caseload compared to its number of judges and staff, which means that the Court's workload is very demanding. And for the vast majority of Oregon cases, it is the court of last resort. Because the Court of Appeals hears a wide variety of cases, you will gain familiarity and experience with many different areas of law. The court has 13 judges and typically employs 22 to 24 law clerks at any given time. Because of our two-year clerkship terms, not all judges hire new clerks each year. Court of Appeals law clerks are generally hired to work with a particular judge. Some judges hire two clerks, while others hire only one. While the exact role of a clerk will differ among chambers, most of your time will be spent researching, writing, reviewing, and editing. Examples of common tasks for clerks include researching discrete legal issues, writing case-related legal memoranda, preparing bench memos prior to oral arguments, and preparing draft opinions. Clerks also are responsible for the final editing prior to publication for most of the court's decisions, which requires meticulous proofreading and cite checking. Clerks can expect to discuss legal issues and draft opinions with their judge and can be called upon to work with their judge to critically examine the research and proposed outcome for a case. Judges on the Court of Appeals sit in three-judge panels, and clerks attend pre-and post-argument conferences where the judges share preliminary thoughts on the cases and arguments. The Court of Appeals has a robust training program, so clerks can connect with peers across chambers as they learn how best to do the vital work of the Court. In general, all judges are looking for law clerks who are skilled writers, critical thinkers, and who excel at legal research. Because clerks are closely involved in the resolution of cases, judges must be able to trust their work and their judgment, and that clerks will effectively and respectfully communicate differing views on legal analysis or outcomes to ensure that the judge has all the necessary information to make the correct decision. It is also important for clerks to be able to respectfully engage with different viewpoints and positions, and to be open to changing their mind about an initial position. Law clerks are expected to handle and safeguard information that may be disturbing, controversial, or confidential, and the Court expects that clerks will uphold the highest standard of ethics. The law clerk role at both courts comes with many benefits, including opportunities to: Develop practical skills, such as researching, writing, editing, and exercising sound judgment; Gain familiarity with a variety of areas of procedural and substantive law, both state and federal; Hone the ability to efficiently learn new areas of law and manage multiple projects; Observe and learn from different styles of advocacy in briefs and oral arguments; Help resolve novel, complex, and important legal issues; Work closely with judges and other experienced legal experts with diverse legal backgrounds; Attend trainings and continuing legal education programs; Connect with members of the Oregon legal community; and Be part of a team committed to public service and access to justice for all.

Requirements

• Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school by the start of the clerkship.
• skilled writers
• critical thinkers
• excel at legal research

Responsibilities

• researching and writing petition memoranda and draft opinions
• engaging in extensive discussion, editing, and proofreading
• prepare final opinion summaries and media releases
• researching discrete legal issues
• writing case-related legal memoranda
• preparing bench memos prior to oral arguments
• preparing draft opinions
• final editing prior to publication for most of the court's decisions, which requires meticulous proofreading and cite checking

Benefits

• paid holidays
• vacation
• sick leave
• health insurance
• participation, after six months' employment, in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System
• Law clerks who are members of the bar may also be eligible for bar dues payments up to the cost of bar dues for the Oregon State Bar.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree