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Job Details for Temporary to Term Law Clerk

Court Name/Organization Florida Middle District Court
Location Jacksonville, FL
Opening and Closing Dates 03/05/2025 - Open Until Filled
Appointment Type Permanent
Classification Level/Grade JS 11 - JS 13
Salary $73,939 - $124,531
Announcement Number 25-19

Position Description

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida is accepting applications for a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Marcia Morales Howard, chief U.S. District Judge. The judicial law clerk will research issues of law, draft opinions and bench briefs, attend trials and other court proceedings, and act as an advisor, making recommendations based on the law. The position includes responsibility for some administrative tasks as well. The caseload in the jurisdiction is heavy, and the types of cases presented are varied, often involving novel issues of law. While the nature of the matters presented is serious, the office environment is personable. There is daily interaction with the Judge and other law clerks.

Qualifications

At the time of appointment, the applicant must be a law school graduate and must possess excellent research and writing skills. Experience on the editorial board of law review, participation on moot court, or publication of a noteworthy article and high academic standing is preferred. Bar membership and postgraduate legal experience is preferred but not required.

Employee Benefits

Some of the benefits of the judicial law clerk position are:

  • Participation in the federal health insurance program of your choice.
  • Participation in a group life insurance program when in the term law clerk position.
  • Participation in a flexible spending account for medical and/or dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
  • A minimum of eleven paid holidays per year. Other vacation to be scheduled as agreed upon between the law clerk and the judge.
  • Prescribed salary progression through classification level based on acceptable performance.

Miscellaneous

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida is accepting applications for a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Marcia Morales Howard, chief U.S. District Judge. The judicial law clerk will research issues of law, draft opinions and bench briefs, attend trials and other court proceedings, and act as an advisor, making recommendations based on the law. The position includes responsibility for some administrative tasks as well. The caseload in the jurisdiction is heavy, and the types of cases presented are varied, often involving novel issues of law. While the nature of the matters presented is serious, the office environment is personable. There is daily interaction with the Judge and other law clerks.

Application Info

The position is available immediately. This position will start as a temporary clerkship and can turn into a term clerkship. Interested candidates must be willing to commit to a clerkship through the end of October 2026. Judge Howard will evaluate the employment relationship at the end of one year.

All applications will be considered when received and should be submitted as soon as possible. Selected interviews will be scheduled until the position is filled. Due to the volume of applications usually received, receipt of individual applications will not be acknowledged. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, self-edited writing sample, and three reference letters to chambers_flmd_howard@flmd.uscourts.gov. The cover letter should address the candidate’s interest in the Jacksonville Division, or more broadly, the Middle District of Florida.

Salary is determined by work experience, federal service, and pay history. Employees are required to use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States. The selected candidate will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.