Main content

Job Details for Temporary Law Clerk

Court Name/Organization: Indiana Southern District Court
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Opening and Closing Dates: 11/05/2024 - 12/30/2024
Appointment Type: Temporary
Classification Level/Grade: JSP 11 - JSP 13
Salary: $73,218 - $104,356
Link to Court Careers Information: https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/employment-opportunities
Link to Job Announcement
Position Description

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications for a temporary Judicial Law Clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Kellie M. Barr. Responsibilities include management of civil cases, research, preparation of legal memoranda, and drafting orders, opinions, and reports and recommendations. Other duties include proofreading, verification of citations, assistance in courtroom proceedings, and special projects. Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications and prior years of legal work experience. For appointment at JSP Grade 12, the applicant must have one year of legal work experience and bar membership. For appointment at JSP Grade 13, the applicant must have two years of legal work experience and bar membership. Salary may be higher with previous experience as a law clerk to a federal judge. Employment is anticipated to commence in late April or early May 2025, on an exact date yet to be determined, and will last for approximately twelve weeks. Preference will be given to those with post JD litigation experience, as well as federal court experience. First consideration may be given to those who apply early.

Qualification

Candidates must have the following minimum qualifications:

  1. Law school graduation in the top half of the graduating class (exception criteria below)
  2. Law review/journal, moot court, and/or other significant legal writing experience
  3. Good character, maturity, and willingness to work long hours when needed
  4. Excellent skills in research, writing, proofreading, communication, and source and cite checking (including use of proper Bluebook form)
  5. Proficiency in computer-assisted legal research
  6. Proficiency in Windows and Word.

Prior law clerk experience, experience researching and writing motions, memoranda of law, and appellate briefs in federal court, or post-graduate litigation experience is preferred and may be considered as a valid substitute for class rank. Candidates must demonstrate an ability and willingness to work collegially with others and to maintain confidentiality.

Benefits

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Applicants are subject to a complete FBI fingerprint check and background investigation. Employment will be provisional and contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the required background investigation. The Federal Financial Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages for court employees. The U.S. District Court is a smoke-free environment. Please note that federal judicial law clerks are governed by certain ethical guidelines that generally prohibit the practice of law and significantly restrict the ability to engage in pro bono legal representation and outside employment. Law clerks also are prohibited from engaging in any political activities, whether partisan or nonpartisan.

How To Apply

Email the following documentation in one PDF document to: HRsubmit@insd.uscourts.gov:

  1. Cover letter
  2. Résumé, including email and telephone contact information
  3. Names of references from three work-related sources, including contact information
  4. Writing sample (no more than 15 pages)
  5. Law school transcript
  6. Completed AO 78 Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (application form is on the court website www.insd.uscourts.gov)

Be sure to include your surname and the words "Barr - Term Law Clerk" in the email subject line.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, 1 pm ET. Faxed and mailed résumés will not be accepted. In order to be considered for this position, candidates must submit the entire application package in the manner prescribed by the instructions. Failure to do so may invalidate the application without further acknowledgement from the Court.

Some applicants may be invited for an in-person interview. Costs will be borne by the applicant. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and a selection may be made prior to the Application Deadline.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.