LAW CLERK

Full-time

No

## Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals Law Clerk Positions

**The Oregon Judicial Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer**

The Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals are looking for talented and qualified individuals to join their Law Clerk program. The Law Clerk program offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insight into the judicial system and to work closely with the judges of the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals.

**Application and Hiring Process**

The Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals use a central law clerk hiring process, which opens each Spring and closes in August. The positions begin in August of the following year. Applicants may request to be considered for a specific court or for as many as are hiring. Interviews occur in late September, with offers following thereafter. The Oregon Judicial Department’s Human Resource Services Division accepts law clerk applications only through the State of Oregon’s Oregon Job Opportunities page. The job announcement, which can be viewed only while the recruitment is open, explains specific application requirements.

**Law Clerk Qualifications**

Many second-year law students apply for clerkship positions, with the expectation to begin the clerkship in August after graduation. Third-year law students and graduates also may apply, although the August start date of the following year remains the same. Law clerks must possess a juris doctorate (JD) or equivalent, from an ABA-accredited law school, before their clerkship begins. Many law clerks take a bar examination prior to the start of their clerkship; however, bar membership is not a prerequisite to employment as a law clerk.

**Benefits of Clerkship**

Clerking for the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable insight into the judicial system. Among law clerk alumni are current members of the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals, law professors, heads of government agencies and legal divisions, partners in major law firms, state appellate division lawyers and public defense lawyers, and legal aid attorneys. The national recruitment draws students from across the country and from many leading law schools.

**Salary and Benefits**

Law clerks are hired as full-time, non-permanent employees of the Oregon Judicial Department with a salary of $5,423 per month. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) participation; vacation, personal, and sick leave; and holidays.

**The Appellate Courts**

The primary function of the Oregon Supreme Court involves discretionary review of decisions of the Oregon Court of Appeals. The Court also has discretionary review in certain types of cases (such as mandamus, habeas corpus, and certified questions), and has mandatory review in other types of cases (such as death penalty appeals, tax appeals, certain criminal appeals, certain agency reviews, certain elections matters, and lawyer discipline and judicial fitness matters). The court has seven justices.

The function of the Oregon Court of Appeals is to provide a mandatory appeal or review of right for litigants dissatisfied with judgments or certain orders issued by the Oregon circuit courts or certain orders issued by administrative agencies. The court has 13 judges. Both courts reside in Salem, Oregon. The Supreme Court regularly hears arguments in Salem. The Court of Appeals conducts arguments remotely or in person in Salem. Both courts also occasionally hear in-person arguments in other cities throughout the state.

The Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals offer a unique opportunity for law students and graduates to gain valuable insight into the judicial system. Law clerks are hired as full-time, non-permanent employees of the Oregon Judicial Department with a salary of $5,423 per month and receive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) participation; vacation, personal, and sick leave; and holidays.

## Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals Law Clerk Positions

**Overview**

The Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals are looking for qualified individuals to join their Law Clerk program. Clerking for the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable insight into the judicial system. The Law Clerk program offers a salary of $5,423 per month with additional benefits.

**Application and Hiring Process**

The Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals use a central law clerk hiring process, which opens each Spring and closes in August. The positions begin in August of the following year. Applicants may request to be considered for a specific court or for as many as are hiring. Interviews occur in late September, with offers following thereafter. The Oregon Judicial Department’s Human Resource Services Division accepts law clerk applications only through the State of Oregon’s Oregon Job Opportunities page. The job announcement, which can be viewed only while the recruitment is open, explains specific application requirements.

**Law Clerk Qualifications**

Many second-year law students apply for clerkship positions, with the expectation to begin the clerkship in August after graduation. Third-year law students and graduates also may apply, although the August start date of the following year remains the same. Law clerks must possess a juris doctorate (JD) or equivalent, from an ABA-accredited law school, before their clerkship begins. Many law clerks take a bar examination prior to the start of their clerkship; however, bar membership is not a prerequisite to employment as a law clerk.

None

Equal opportunity, affirmative action employer

None

Law Clerk hiring process

Juris doctorate (JD) or equivalent, from an ABA-accredited law school

Through the State of Oregon’s Oregon Job Opportunities page

Qualification and Experience Juris doctorate (JD) or equivalent, from an ABA-accredited law school

Legal