Job Details for Administrative Law Clerk
| Court Name/Organization | Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals |
| Overview of the Position | The Administrative Law Clerk works under the immediate direction of Mary H. Murguia, chief U.S. circuit judge for the Ninth Circuit and is responsible for performing law clerk and administrative duties as assigned by the chief judge. |
| Location | Phoenix, AZ |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 02/06/2025 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Temporary |
| Classification Level/Grade | JS 11 - JS 14 |
| Salary | $77,343 - $169,343 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/employment/ |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
Under Judicial Conference policy, a chief circuit judge is authorized to hire one additional law clerk (the “administrative law clerk”) beyond the positions allotted to other active circuit judges. The chief judge will rely on the administrative law clerk in her chambers in Phoenix, AZ, for immediate staff support in judicial administration. The administrative law clerk will also carry a reduced workload of traditional law clerk duties. The Ninth Circuit is the largest in the country, covering nine states and two territories, with 29 active circuit judgeships. The Circuit headquarters is in San Francisco, California. Some travel is required.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- J.D. Degree and at least one year of employment as an attorney (as a law clerk or in practice)
- Excellent research, writing, proofreading, and general communication skills
- Exceptional organizational skills: the ability to multitask, to work independently, and to establish and meet deadlines
- Ability to work cooperatively and harmoniously with the chief judge and other judicial officers, other law clerks, and other court and circuit employees
- Poise to support the chief judge and participate in executive meetings and to understand and present the perspective of the chief judge and others fairly, as needed
- High degree of professionalism and discretion
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior judicial clerkship experience
- At least two to three years of experience in the practice of law (or in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school)
- Demonstrated interest in judicial administration, including court policy, court management, judicial collegiality, and civics initiatives
Employee Benefits
- Choice of a variety of employer-subsidized federal health and life insurance plans. Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage.
- Flexible spending account to pay out-of-pocket health and dependent care expenses with tax-free dollars.
Miscellaneous
Under Judicial Conference policy, a chief circuit judge is authorized to hire one additional law clerk (the “administrative law clerk”) beyond the positions allotted to other active circuit judges. The chief judge will rely on the administrative law clerk in her chambers in Phoenix, AZ, for immediate staff support in judicial administration. The administrative law clerk will also carry a reduced workload of traditional law clerk duties. The Ninth Circuit is the largest in the country, covering nine states and two territories, with 29 active circuit judgeships. The Circuit headquarters is in San Francisco, California. Some travel is required.
Application Info
Please submit a PDF application through the court’s Career Portal that includes:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation or a list of three work references
Only complete applications will be considered.
Next Steps
- Priority given to applications received by Feb. 14, 2025
- Video conference interviews available
- Position open until filled
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.