The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is one of the busiest federal district courts in the country. We are accepting applications for a court law clerk to serve a term of one year in Atlanta, Georgia, which may be extended but is contingent on, among other things, funding and law clerk term limits. This position will require in-person attendance, although working remotely on certain days may be allowed with supervisor approval. Employment may commence as early as 3/9/2026.
Duties
Court law clerks will be primarily responsible for legal research and the preparation of draft orders and opinions. They may assist on a wide variety of challenging and complex civil and criminal cases that come before the Court. Although court law clerks may not necessarily work within any individual judge's chambers, their duties will be ultimately supervised by one or more federal judges, and their work product will be heavily relied upon.
Salary
Qualifications
Applicants must not only be a graduate of a law school of recognized standing, but must also have an excellent academic record, a demonstrated proficiency in writing and legal analysis, and an ability to produce outstanding work product efficiently and under demanding time pressures. The successful candidate must have also passed the bar and acquired bar membership before their start date. To qualify for the JSP 13 level, the candidate must have at least two years of legal work experience. Legal work experience means progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, legal research, or legal administration or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Preference will be given to applicants with prior judicial law clerk experience, as well as those who have served on the editorial board of a law review. The job responsibilities require interaction with judges, attorneys, and other law clerks or chambers staff. The ability to work independently and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, is critical. Applicants must also have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks in a timely manner.
Education
Must be a graduate of a law school of recognized standing with an excellent academic record.
Required Documents
Form AO-78, Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment Cover letter addressing qualifications and relevant experience. Chronological resume including education, employment, and salary history. Legal writing sample not to exceed 10 pages and not heavily edited by others. Law school transcript. List of references.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, qualified applicants should submit: Form AO-78, Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment Cover letter addressing qualifications and relevant experience. Chronological resume including education, employment, and salary history. Legal writing sample not to exceed 10 pages and not heavily edited by others. Law school transcript. List of references. Submit your completed package as a single PDF electronically to: HR_GAND@gand.uscourts.gov. or via mail to: United States District Court Attn: Human Resources Manager, Vacancy #26-13 75 Ted Turner Drive, SW Room 2013 Atlanta, GA 30303-3338 This position is open until filled. Early application is encouraged.
Benefits
Court law clerks are eligible for health insurance. Depending on the length of the term, clerks also may be eligible for dental, vision, and life insurance. Paid vacation time and paid sick time may also be available. Court law clerks are not eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
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