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Law clerks provide assistance to the judges and the attorneys in the writing opinions on the cases before the proceedings of the court. They help in analyzing the cases by referring various legal books and sections of the legislation that can help in deriving appropriate conclusions of the cases that abide the constitution. They also perform may other critical duties related to court procedures. Most of the times individuals who are pursuing a law degree or who have just graduated from a law school work as law clerks. Working as a law clerk at their initial stages of career they can make a strong foundation in the legal procedures, so beginners should always look for such position. We have tried to provide you a comprehensive law clerk job description to make you aware of their duties and responsibilities.

Many people mistaken law clerks with courtroom deputies or court clerks, but they are not the same. Their duties and responsibilities and the entire work profile is different from those of the law clerks. The knowledge and experience gained by working as a law clerk is helpful in making a bright career in any legal profile. Law clerks can work in local, federal and state judiciary.

Professional Responsibilities of Law Clerks:

The duties of law clerks are somewhat different in different countries, and they are also known by different names in different countries. However, here we have tried to enlist some the general duties of a law clerk.

• They research and analyze legal books and documents to provide support to present a particular case or argument in the court
• He interviews witnesses prior to the court proceedings and after court proceedings and records the information collected to be presented in the court
• Prepares legal documents such as affidavits, case papers, briefs, drafts, etc. which are important for running a case smoothly
• Files the prepared affidavits, pleadings, petitions and motions in the court and oversees the further process to be carried out in the court
• Communicates with all the people involved in the case such as attorneys, judges, witness, etc. and solves their queries
• Prepare closing statements of the cases and hands the necessary documents to the prosecutors, opponents, etc.

• Law clerks should have in-depth knowledge of the legal procedures and an ability to understand complex legal documents
• Should be able to derive appropriate conclusions from the cases presented and highlight key points of the case
• Competence in written and verbal communication
• Should posses good analytical skills with problem solving skills
• Good time management skills and ability to solve critical problems related to the case
• Must be familiar with the legal jargons and court room procedures

Educational Qualifications for Law Clerks:

Most of the law clerks are legal or paralegal assistant degree holders while some are law students or fresh graduate from the law school. Experience is not necessary for law clerks. Law clerks, after obtaining respectable number of years of experience can work as lawyers, attorneys, etc.

Salaries Offered to Law Clerks:

The annual earning potential of a law clerk depends upon his qualification and the type of court he is working in. If a law clerk is working in a local court then his earning may be less than those working in a state and federal court. Salaries also vary depending upon the state and the country, though each state offers fixed wages decided by the government of the country to all the law clerks working in the same court. The average yearly earning potential of a law clerk is about $46,120 to $100,000 annually.

Law students who work as law clerks get hands on experience in law procedures which can be helpful in their career. If you want to know more about the law clerk job description you can contact us.