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Job Details for Law Clerk - Temporary Term

Court Name/Organization Colorado District Court
Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has an opening for a temporary term law clerk in the chambers of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella. The term will start on June 27, 2025 and end on Jan. 2, 2026.
Location Denver, CO
Opening and Closing Dates 03/11/2025 - Open Until Filled
Appointment Type Temporary
Classification Level/Grade JSP 11 - JSP 13
Salary $82,440 - $117,501
Link to Court Careers Information https://www.cod.uscourts.gov/HR/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx
Announcement Number 2025-12-USDC
Link to Job Announcement

Position Description

The judicial law clerk supports the Judge in managing a busy civil docket. The law clerk also researches legal issues, drafts judicial orders and recommendations, prepares pre-hearing bench memoranda that identify issues for the judge and questions for the parties, and otherwise assists the Judge in preparing for and conducting discovery conferences, hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and trials in consent cases. The law clerk also must maintain a courteous and professional demeanor within chambers, the court, the bar, and with the public at large.

Qualifications

To qualify for a JSP 11/1, a person must be a law school graduate (or be certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) from a law school of recognized standing, and have demonstrated one of the following accomplishments or proficiencies:

  • Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
  • Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school;
  • Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
  • Proficiency in legal studies that, in the opinion of the appointing judge, is the equivalent of one of the above.

To qualify for a JSP 12/1, a person must meet the above but also have at least one year of full-time legal work experience after graduation from law school and must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.

To qualify for a JSP 13/1, a person must meet the above but also have at least two years of full-time legal work experience after graduation from law school and must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.

Specialized Experience

Preference will be given to applicants who have at least one of the following:

  • At least two years of active federal litigation experience after graduation from law school,
  • At least one year of experience as a judicial law clerk for a federal district or magistrate judge.

Employee Benefits

Term law clerk appointments are limited to a total of four years, including all previous appointments held under a federal term law clerk capacity. Term law clerks are subject to social security deductions and are eligible for health insurance coverage. Law clerks under temporary appointments are subject to social security deductions but are not eligible for healthcare coverage if the appointment is less than 90 days. Term law clerks are not eligible to participate in the federal employee’s retirement system (FERS) or the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Based on the Judge’s discretion, term law clerks may or may not be placed on the Leave Act.

Miscellaneous

The judicial law clerk supports the Judge in managing a busy civil docket. The law clerk also researches legal issues, drafts judicial orders and recommendations, prepares pre-hearing bench memoranda that identify issues for the judge and questions for the parties, and otherwise assists the Judge in preparing for and conducting discovery conferences, hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and trials in consent cases. The law clerk also must maintain a courteous and professional demeanor within chambers, the court, the bar, and with the public at large.

Application Info

Applicants must apply online through OSCAR. Through OSCAR, each applicant should submit:

  • Application form AO78;
  • Cover letter & current resume;
  • Writing sample;
  • Law school transcripts;
  • Contact information for two professional references.

Incomplete applications may not be considered. Please do not send any application materials to us through any other means, including in hard copy or via email. Contact our HR Division at cod_hrd@cod.uscourts.gov or 303-335-2494 with questions.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.