Judicial Law Clerk

Position Information

Arlington County Circuit Court is seeking multiple Judicial Law Clerks to work closely with an assigned Circuit Court Judge or other judges as assigned, to provide legal support in areas including research, writing, docket management and preparation for motions and trials, and to work with the Circuit Court's Chambers staff and the Circuit Court's Clerk's Office.

Specific duties include:

• Drafting legal memoranda for the judges as requested and assigned;

• Researching legal issues, questions raised in, or presented to the Circuit Court, and reviewing case files;

• Using an electronic database and electronic filing system to retrieve and connect various pleadings to matters currently pending before the court;

• Reviewing uncontested divorce cases, expungement matters, and orders presented to the court for entry;

• Facilitating the Friday civil motions and the ore tenus (uncontested divorce) dockets;

• Using available technology to obtain case information and to retrieve documents for appeals from the General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court;

• Communicating and interacting regularly, in a non-ex parte manner, with counsel and self-represented litigants regarding matters pending before the court to schedule cases and motions; and

• Ensuring that orders are submitted accurately in compliance with applicable statutory requirements, the Rules of the Virginia Supreme Court, and the Court's Local Rules and Preferred Practices.

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• Anticipated candidacy for any State bar exam;

• Effective oral and written communications skills;

• Strong organizational and analytical skills; and

• Knowledge of common law, state and federal law and precedent court decisions.

Arlington County Circuit Court

Located directly across from the Courthouse Metro Station, the office overlooks the Potomac River and the National Mall in Washington D.C., the Arlington Circuit Court is a Virginia state trial court that deals with all legal issues. The Judicial Chambers is composed of four Circuit Court Judges, four judicial law clerks, and four administrative staff persons. For more information please click here.

Selection Criteria

Minimum:

• Currently enrolled in last year of law school or Juris Doctorate Degree was conferred within the past calendar year. See special requirements below.

Desirable: Preference will be given to applicants with experience in the following:

• Anticipated Virginia State Bar Examination;

• Legal research procedures;

• Analyzing statutes and appellate case law; and/or

• Preparing legal memoranda or briefs.

Special Requirements

Paper applications will not be accepted or considered.

• Please attach a copy of your current resume.

• Please attach a copy of your law school transcript.

• Please attach a copy of a writing sample.

Additional Information

This recruitment is for four (4) one-year Judicial Clerkships starting approximately August 2025 through August 2026.

Starting salary is set at $71,760.00 Annually.

A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered

Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.

The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us.

Eligibility for Arlington County Government employee benefits depends on your position type (permanent or temporary) and your status (full-time or part-time).

More detailed information on benefits and conditions of employment is available on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.

Permanent, Full-Time Appointments

All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:

Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases gradually until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Paid parental and family leave benefits are also offered. Leave is pro-rated for part-time employees.

Holidays: There are eleven paid fixed holidays each year, as well as two floating holidays. Initial allotment of floating holidays may vary based on when you are hired.

Health and Dental Insurance: Four group health insurance plans are offered - a health maintenance organization, two plans with in-network only coverage, and a high-deductible plan with in and out-of-network coveerage, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Group dental insurance is also offered, with two options for coverage. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. The County also contributes to the HSA.

Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance may be purchased for yourself, spouse, and/or children.

Retirement: The County retirement program is made up of three parts: a defined benefit (pension) plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. The County also contributes to this plan. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service.

For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)). The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to save for retirement on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your pay. A variety of investment options are available for the 401(a) and 457 plans.

Other Benefits: The County also offers health care, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other benefits.

Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:

Part-time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.

Limited Term Appointments:

Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.

Temporary Regular Appointments:

Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:

Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.

01

Please check ALL THAT APPLY and ensure that your application supports your responses to the supplemental questionnaire. Please check if you have any of the following requirements:

• Currently enrolled in last year of law school or Juris Doctorate Degree was conferred within the past calendar year

• Anticipated candidate for any State bar exam

• None of the above

02

Please ensure your application supports your responses to the following.

• I have experience with legal research procedures
• I have experience applying statutory law to individual cases
• I have experience preparing legal memoranda
• I do not have the above experience

03

What is your understanding of the role of a judicial law clerk?

04

What would you like to achieve from your service as law clerk?

05

What skills and experience do you bring to this position that you believe will make you an asset to the judges on the Circuit Court bench?

06

Please share any life experiences or any interests you have that you wish the judges to consider in evaluating your application.

Required Question

Agency Arlington County

Address 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 511

Arlington, Virginia, 22201

Phone 703-228-3500

Website https://careers.arlingtonva.us/