Judicial Law Clerks - 23-1012.00

Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

Sample of reported job titles: Appellate Law Clerk, Career Law Clerk, Child Support Officer, Clerk to Justice, Deputy Clerk, Federal Law Clerk, Judicial Assistant, Judicial Clerk, Judicial Law Clerk, Law Clerk

Tasks

• Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
• Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
• Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
• Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
• Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
• Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
• Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.
• Verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.
• Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
• Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.
• Enter information into computerized court calendar, filing, or case management systems.
• Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.
• Participate in conferences or discussions between trial attorneys and judges.
• Coordinate judges' meeting and appointment schedules.

Technology Skills

• Analytical or scientific software - LexisNexis CourtLink Strategic Profiles
• Calendar and scheduling software - Aderant CompuLaw; American Legalnet Smart Dockets; Compugov DocketView; Infocom JACS (see all 6 examples)
• Data base user interface and query software - Microsoft Access ; PTS Solutions WinJuris Court Solutions
• Electronic mail software - Microsoft Outlook
• Information retrieval or search software - LexisNexis; LexisNexis Smartlinx; Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER); Thomson Reuters WestlawNext (see all 5 examples)
• Internet browser software - Web browser software
• Office suite software - Corel Office; Corel WordPerfect Office Suite; Microsoft Office
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Project management software - Canyon Solutions Jcats; Legal Files software; New Dawn Technologies JustWare Court; Thomson Reuters Elite ProLaw (see all 7 examples)
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Web platform development software - Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word

Tools Used

• Inkjet printers - Computer inkjet printers
• Laser fax machine - Laser facsimile machines
• Laser printers - Computer laser printers
• Personal computers
• Photocopiers - Photocopying equipment
• Scanners - Document scanners
• Tablet computers

Knowledge

• Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Skills

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Interests

• Interest code: CEI
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Work Context

• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 98% responded “Every day.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 74% responded “Every day.”
• Electronic Mail - 63% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 82% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 68% responded “Extremely important.”
• Letters and Memos - 66% responded “Every day.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 51% responded “Very important results.”
• Telephone - 43% responded “Every day.”
• Time Pressure - 39% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 35% responded “Some freedom.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 38% responded “Every day.”
• Contact With Others - 34% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 50% responded “40 hours.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 30% responded “Extremely important.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 41% responded “Very little freedom.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 28% responded “Extremely important.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
56%	Doctoral degree
29%	Professional degree
7%	High school diploma or equivalent

Work Styles

• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Work Values

• Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
• Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $24.68 hourly, $51,330 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 14,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Average (5% to 9%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 800