Judicial Law Clerks
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $34K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $43K
Median Salary: $57K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $76K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $105K
Demand
Core Tasks
Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
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.
Enter information into computerized court calendar, filing, or case management systems.
Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
Verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.
Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.
Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.
Coordinate judges' meeting and appointment schedules.
Participate in conferences or discussions between trial attorneys and judges.
Prepare periodic reports on court proceedings, as required.
Compile court-related statistics.
Supervise law students, volunteers, or other personnel assigned to the court.
Maintain judges' law libraries by assembling or updating appropriate documents.
Perform courtroom duties, including calling calendars, administering oaths, and swearing in jury panels and witnesses.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Law and Government
98%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language
89%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
70%
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.
Computers and Electronics
58%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Public Safety and Security
55%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Administration and Management
46%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Communications and Media
45%
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Customer and Personal Service
40%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
History and Archeology
36%
Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Economics and Accounting
35%
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Top 10 Skills
Reading Comprehension
90%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
85%
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
85%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing
83%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
80%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
75%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
70%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
65%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management
65%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination
60%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Top 10 Abilities
Written Comprehension
90%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension
85%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Expression
85%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Oral Expression
83%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision
78%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity
78%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
78%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Deductive Reasoning
75%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering
75%
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).
Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
97%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing Data or Information
92%
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
83%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Processing Information
81%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
80%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Interacting With Computers
79%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
79%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
77%
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
75%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
72%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Detailed Work Activities
Prepare documentation of legal proceedings.
Prepare legal documents.
Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.
Confer with court staff to clarify information.
Identify implications for cases from legal precedents or other legal information.
Meet with individuals involved in legal processes to provide information and clarify issues.
Record information from legal proceedings.
Direct courtroom activities or procedures.
Maintain the order of legal documents.
Coordinate legal schedules or activities.
Supervise activities of other legal personnel.
Administer oaths to court participants.
Work Context
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Letters and Memos
How often does the job require written letters and memos?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Education
Interests
Conventional
81%
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
77%
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
58%
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.
Artistic
29%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social
29%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Realistic
15%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
98%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Attention to Detail
96%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Analytical Thinking
95%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Dependability
92%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
91%
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.
Achievement/Effort
83%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Initiative
78%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence
75%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance
75%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Cooperation
74%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Work Values
Achievement
72%
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.
Support
62%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions
62%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Relationships
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
