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Job title · SOC 23-1012

Judicial Law Clerk

01

Overview

Sourced

Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

O*NET definition of Judicial Law Clerks (SOC 23-1012) · Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed.

13,270
in government (SOC 23-1012)
—
of this occupation works for government
Set per position
pay set by law, ordinance or board
Federal · State
levels of government

Titles employers use

Judicial AssistantJudicial ClerkJudicial Law ClerkLaw ClerkAppellate Law ClerkCareer Judicial Law ClerkCareer Law ClerkLaw ResearcherPro Se Law ClerkTerm Law Clerk
How people usually get in Editorial
JD; 1–2 year term. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

02

Requirements

Sourced
Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 23-1012)
Education needed to enter
Doctoral or professional degree
Related work experience
None
On-the-job training
None

Education workers say the job requires

High School Diploma or the equivalent
7%
Post-Secondary Certificate
2%
Master's Degree
2%
First Professional Degree
17%
Doctoral Degree
52%

Share of surveyed workers in Judicial Law Clerks (SOC 23-1012) naming each level as required to be hired, 16 respondents, O*NET survey August 2021. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

04

Academy and training

Sourced
Training to become competent (BLS)
SOC 23-1012
None
Preparation level (O*NET)
Job zone
Extensive Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

06

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Fixed salary (elected, appointed or per diem): pay set per position by statute, ordinance, board, contract or per-diem rate. Typical structure for a elected, appointed or per-diem position; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

  1. Pay set per position by statute, ordinance, board, contract or per-diem/per-course rate (no ladder — compare peers)

Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).

07

Pay

Sourced

Pay for this position is set position by position — by law, ordinance, a board or an appointing authority — so it varies widely. The figures below describe the whole occupation code SOC 23-1012 (Judicial Law Clerks) in government, not this position specifically.

Federal
Not published
State
$67,340
Local
$62,760
All government
$64,920
Private sector
Not published

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer typeWorkers10th pct.25thMedian75th90th
State7,570$48,290$56,470$67,340$91,060$143,350
Local5,710$41,480$50,000$62,760$77,960$83,380
All government13,270$46,200$52,920$64,920$80,420$113,210

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Judicial Law Clerk in 1 state civil-service plan. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

StateJob classes in the state planAnnual range
TexasCourt Law Clerk I–II
2 classes · effective September 1, 2025 · Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team
$48,244 – $87,046

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Rates are converted from each plan's pay period; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 1 official state pay plan, linked in each row.

08

Schedule

Sourced
Work schedule
Regular
100%
Irregular
0%
Seasonal
0%
Typical work week
Less than 40 hours
4%
40 hours
65%
More than 40 hours
32%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2021). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

12

Day-to-day work

Sourced
  1. Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.4.8
  2. Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.4.8
  3. Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.4.8
  4. Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.4.6
  5. Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.4.6
  6. Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.4.1
  7. Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.4.0
  8. Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.3.5
  9. Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.3.4
  10. Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.3.3

The 10 most important of 10 core tasks for Judicial Law Clerks, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2021.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer
Same job family
Court Clerk
Same job family
Court Interpreter
Same job family
Court Officer / Bailiff
Same job family
Court Reporter (official)
Same job family
Government Attorney (agency counsel)
Same job family
Judge / Magistrate
Same job family
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney
Same job family
16

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Judicial Law Clerks (SOC 23-1012) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

StateWorkers10th pct.Median90th pct.
Massachusetts500$82,210$143,350$143,350
New York850$82,190$133,320$171,870
Connecticut270$61,640$98,670$146,370
Oregon30$77,370$86,870$86,870
North Dakota40$70,690$85,530$111,580
Washington580$62,400$80,240$113,700
Arkansas50$47,050$80,150$112,690
California1,800$59,620$79,030$90,680
Idaho60$49,480$75,540$79,880
Tennessee400$50,240$75,190$100,100
Minnesota410$64,980$71,070$79,850
Maryland370$59,900$70,110$90,120
Nevada70$53,300$69,600$96,610
Maine30$67,890$67,890$92,190
Alaska140$62,820$67,580$93,140
Colorado140$61,530$67,230$70,890
Missouri100$59,530$66,060$74,710
Virginia380$54,310$65,940$89,960
Delaware100$60,910$64,720$64,720
Iowa90$55,210$64,260$86,350
Louisiana90$40,410$63,180$83,230
Texas220$46,320$63,130$82,400
Michigan280$48,690$62,260$83,380
Arizona250$46,580$60,170$77,710
New Jersey530$58,890$58,890$69,740
Indiana70$38,830$57,140$96,520
Florida1,300$44,950$55,180$63,730
Georgia560$42,260$55,120$78,050
Wisconsin180$48,480$54,250$67,900
West Virginia260$52,120$52,120$83,890
Utah630$45,430$51,900$85,700
Pennsylvania970$34,310$50,590$76,250
South Carolina230$41,100$50,330$82,490
Ohio240$41,730$49,840$102,440
Nebraska110$38,350$49,570$104,860
Montana40$44,240$47,320$66,970
Hawaii330$40,250$47,010$73,840
Kansas40$33,350$45,720$68,920
Oklahoma130$31,200$44,990$125,990

39 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

  • 03 Hiring process
    The steps in order and how long they take: application, written and physical tests, oral board, background check, polygraph, psychological and medical exams, eligibility list
    Not yet collected
  • 05 Probation
    Probation length and what ends it
    Not yet collected
  • 09 Benefits and pension
    Pension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
    Not yet collected
  • 10 Union contracts
    Bargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
    Not yet collected
  • 11 Transfers and lateral entry
    Lateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies
    Not yet collected
  • 14 Exam practice
    Named entrance and licensing exams, with free practice tests where they exist
    Not yet collected
  • 15 Employer directory
    Every public employer that hires this job, with its own pay and rules
    Not yet collected