Law Clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
NOTICE OF VACANCY
POSITION TITLE: Law Clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge
POSITION TYPE: Full-Time Term, Term Limited
ANNOUNCEMENT #: #24-04
LOCATION: Boston, MA
CLASSIFICATION LEVEL: JSP 11 - 13, $81,963- $116,820*
* Starting salary depending on law degree, experience and bar
membership status
OPENS: March 1, 2024 CLOSES: April 12, 2024

U.S. Magistrate Judge is currently accepting applications for a one-year Term Law Clerk position starting in September of 2024, with the possibility of extension to the term depending on performance and the needs of chambers. Duties will include legal analysis, case management, drafting memoranda, orders, and opinions and other duties as assigned, including clerical tasks.

Minimum Qualifications
At the time of appointment, the candidate must possess the following minimum requirements:
• be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school with excellent academic and professional credentials and/or Law Journal Experience
• possess superior research and writing skills
• be proficient in computer assisted research, Windows and Word
• exhibit strong analytical ability
• demonstrate excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills

Desirable Qualifications
• Two to four years relevant legal experience received after graduation from law school
Personal Characteristics
The successful candidate is mature, responsible, poised, possesses tact, good judgment, initiative, always maintains a professional appearance and demeanor, and is able to work harmoniously with others in a collaborative manner.

Salary Qualifications
To qualify for level JSP Grade 11, an individual 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 one or more of the following attributes:
• 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
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal studies, which in the opinion of the judge, is the equivalent of one of the above.
Note: Some examples of criteria which are considered to be acceptable as equivalent include:
• Publication of a noteworthy article in a law school student publication or other scholarly publication;
• Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
• Winning of a moot court competition or membership on a moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools;
• Participation in the legal aid or other law school clinical program sanctioned by the law school;* or
• Summer experience as a law clerk to a state or local judge or law clerk experience on a continuing basis in a private firm while attending school (i.e., working one's way through college).** In order to receive credit, participation and experience could not have been for academic credit.

To qualify for level JSP Grade 12, an individual must have one year of legal work experience after graduation from law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.

To qualify for level JSP Grade 13, an individual must possess at least two years of legal work experience after graduation from law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.

Note: Legal work experience is defined as progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities while on military duty may be credited, on a month-for-month basis whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation from law school.

Candidates for employment will be required to follow the vaccination policy for the District of Massachusetts.

FBI Background Investigation
As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must successfully complete a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background investigation, defined as a technical fingerprint search of the criminal history records of the FBI national fingerprint database.

Hours
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts is open to the public, M - F, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Work hours of the position will be determined by the appointing judge.

Benefits
A generous benefits package is available and includes the following:
• Eleven (11) paid federal holidays
• Health benefits under the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)
• Dental and Vision insurance options under the Federal Employees Vision and Dental Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
• Life insurance benefits under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
• Flexible Benefits Program with Healthcare, Dependent Care, and Commuter/Parking Reimbursement Accounts
• Dental and Vision insurance options under the Federal Employees Vision and Dental Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

How To Apply:
Consideration will only be given to those that apply through the court’s online applicant tracking system. To view openings and to apply, visit our applicant tracking system at https://forms.mad.uscourts.gov/recruitment/
Applicants must submit the following:
1. A cover letter of interest indicating why you are interested in this position and what best qualifies you
2. A current resume
3. A law school transcript
4. A writing sample not to exceed 10 pages; and,
5. A completed AO-78, Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (submitted via applicant system).

Information For Applicants:
The District of Massachusetts is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a diversified workforce. Employees of the U.S. District Court are appointed in the excepted service, are considered “at-will” employees, and serve at the pleasure of the Court. All Court employees are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct, copies of which are available upon request. Applicants must be a United States Citizen or permanently eligible to work in the United States. The United States District Court is a part of the Judicial Branch of the United States government. Although comparable to the Executive Branch (civil service) in salary, leave accrual, health benefits, life insurance benefits, and retirement benefits, generally court employees are not subject to the many statutory and regulatory provisions that govern civil service employment.

The U. S. District Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the job announcement or to fill the position earlier than the closing date, if a closing date is shown, any of which actions may occur without any prior written notice. This job announcement may involve filling more than one position described herein.

The Federal Financial Management Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages.
Due to the expected high volume of applicants for this position, the U.S. District Court will only contact those qualified applicants who will be invited to interview.

NO FAXES PLEASE