Judicial Law Clerks
Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.
Also called: Appellate Law Clerk, Attorney Law Clerk, Career Judicial Law Clerk, Career Law Clerk, Chancery Clerk, Court of Appeals Law Clerk
Median pay
$64,920
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$46,180 – $113,140
People employed
13,290
Holland code
CEI
Conventional · Enterprising · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 4.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 5.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 6.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Judicial Law Clerks pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (39 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What judicial law clerks do
- 01Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
- 02Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
- 03Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
- 04Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
- 05Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
- 06Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from judicial law clerks
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants83% · −3%
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts83% · group pay
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers81% · group pay
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants78% · −14%
- Compliance Officers78% · +24%
Majors that lead here
- Law
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.