Position Information
LAW CLERK
Deadline to apply for this recruitment is Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
HOURLY RATE
$30.31
Benefits Highlights
Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (2.50% at 67 formula)
Choice of five medical plans
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Vacation and sick leave packages
14 paid holidays per year
Educational & professional reimbursement
Optional deferred compensation program (457 plan)
About Orange County Superior Court
The Orange County Superior Court is the third largest court of general jurisdiction in California. We have courthouses throughout the county, including locations in Orange, Westminster, Fullerton, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana. We have a staff of approximately 1,500 and an operating budget of nearly $250 million. The court's judges, commissioners, and employees are recognized for their high standards of achievement, integrity, and diversity. The court is committed to ensuring equal access to court services and enhancing public confidence in the court system.
To learn more about the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, visit our homepage at www.occourts.org.
Opportunity Details
About The Position
Under direct supervision, the Law Clerk performs a variety of legal tasks, including attending informal discovery conference hearings, reviewing and analyzing discovery motions, performing legal research, drafting objective memoranda on civil discovery matters, and preparing tentative rulings for judicial officers. The Law Clerk also delivers high-quality service to judicial officers, the public, and court staff, provides administrative support to higher-level management staff, and performs related duties as assigned.
The Law Clerk is an entry-level classification reporting to the Supervising Research Attorney. This is a limited-term classification with a duration of up to twelve (12) months . Incumbents may be offered the option to extend their term for an additional twelve (12) months upon demonstrating successful performance during their first term of service and subject to the needs of the court. There is no permanent status in this classification, as the classification is designated for persons who have earned a Juris Doctor degree and are either preparing for or awaiting results from the California State Bar Examination.
Law Clerk assignments may vary by location based on the needs of the court. Law Clerks are responsible for assisting judicial officers with accurate legal research, summarizing and analyzing motions, and providing timely recommendations on case rulings. The classification is required to exercise excellent judgment and perform duties with the highest degree of integrity in order to uphold the public's trust and confidence in the administration of justice.
The Law Clerk is distinguished from the Associate Research Attorney or Research Attorney in that the latter classifications are members of the California State Bar and require advanced knowledge and skills in performing high-quality and timely legal research and analyses on behalf of judicial officers.
Duties for the classification may include, but are not limited to:
Attends and assists with civil informal discovery conferences (IDC) held by the judicial officer.
Reviews case histories and discovery motions filed by the parties; researches and applies the relevant applicable law; and provides the judicial officer with a recommended ruling for each motion.
Reviews pleadings, motions, and discovery materials; organizes exhibits, evidence, and important case documents; and verifies compliance with filing deadlines and procedural requirements.
Complies with all legal, ethical, and professional standards of responsibility; maintains all confidentiality requirements; and remains neutral and professional during proceedings or conferences and in performing all functions and assignments within areas of responsibility.
For more details and to read the entire job description, click the following link:
LAW CLERK
Minimum Qualifications
REQUIRED EDUCATION:
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited school of law -
OR- possession of a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree by the date of appointment.
Required Experience
Candidate must be eligible to take the California State Bar Examination or awaiting California State Bar Examination results.
Writing Sample
Applicants must submit a self-edited writing sample with their application.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (Licenses, Certifications, Testing, Etc.)
Must submit to and pass a thorough background check.
Law Clerks may not actively engage in the practice of law while holding this position.
Additional Information
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. To learn more about how to create an application, click HERE.
Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire. For tips on completing/updating your application, refer to our "Helpful Application Tips" guide by clicking HERE.
SELECTION PROCESS
STEP 1: Applications will be reviewed by Human Resources to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and/or desirables. It is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience. When listing court experience, please include dates and classification of each position held, if more than one. Only those who meet the minimum qualifications and desirables (if applicable) will proceed to the next step in the recruitment process.
STEP 2: Candidates' supplemental question responses may be evaluated and ranked. Depending on the number of applications, additional assessments and/or screening interviews may be conducted.
STEP 3: Those candidates who are successful in the assessment/review may be placed on the eligible list. Placement on the eligible list is not a guarantee of interview or employment. All candidates will be notified via email of their status at each step of the process. Additional steps in the selection process will include a local background check and a reference check.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Orange County Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, upon request. Please contact the Human Resources Department at HRStaffing@occourts.org if you feel that you will need a reasonable accommodation for any aspect of the selection process.
ELIGIBLE LIST
This recruitment may be used to establish an eligible list for current and future vacancies. The eligible list may remain active until the list is exhausted, or a new recruitment opens.
STATUS NOTIFICATIONS
You will be notified by email during the process of this recruitment through GovernmentJobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with GovernmentJobs.com and occourts.org. If your information changes, please update your profile at http://www.governmentjobs.com/.
E-VERIFY
The Superior Court of California, County of Orange participates in the E-Verify program which confirms employment eligibility of new hires.
QUESTIONS?
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Mary Ann Huynh at m1huynh@occourts.org. For general employment information, please click HERE.
Orange County Superior Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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MEDICAL INSURANCE: Employees have an option to enroll in one of five medical plans; three HMO's (Cigna Select, Cigna Choice, and Kaiser Choice) and two PPO's (Wellwise Choice or Sharewell Choice), both administered by Blue Shield. The employee contributions toward the HMO or PPO insurance vary based on plan, coverage level and participation in the annual wellness credit program. To view health plan rates and summaries of benefits and coverage, click here.
HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT: The Court will contribute $60.00 per pay period into individual employee Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) accounts for eligible full-time employees ($30 per pay period for part-time). This Court contribution will increase 2.5% annually each first full pay period in July, beginning July 2024.
DENTAL INSURANCE: The Court pays the premiums for Indemnity dental plan. Co-payments, deductibles, and caps on major dental services apply. Spouse and children less than 26 years old are eligible dependents.
VISION INSURANCE: The Court pays the premiums for employee only vision insurance coverage provided by VSP. Employees may elect to purchase coverage for spouse and dependent children less than 26 years old.
LIFE INSURANCE: The Court pays for employee basic life insurance policy of $100,000. Additional voluntary life insurance can be purchased for employee, spouse, and dependent children.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT (AD&D) INSURANCE: The Court pays for employee basic AD&D insurance policy in the same amount as term life insurance. Additional voluntary coverage can be purchased for employee and family.
SHORT-TERM DISABILITY (STD) PLAN: The Court provides STD which provides 60% of regular monthly income (no maximum) for 12 months (reduced by income from other sources). Benefits begin after all sick leave has been used or 7 days, whichever is greater. The Court continues to pay same amount of medical, life, and AD&D insurance premiums while employee is receiving STD benefits.
LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD) PLAN: The Court provides LTD which provides 60% of regular monthly income (up to a maximum benefit of $20,000 per month) until age 65 if the employee is not able to return to work similar occupation (reduced by income from other sources). Benefits begin immediately after STD expires.
OTHER VOLUNTARY BENEFITS: Employees may elect to enroll in additional voluntary plans administered by Unum. Available plans include Accident Insurance, Critical Illness/Cancer Insurance and Hospital Confinement Insurance. Coverage may be purchased for employee, spouse, and dependent children.
LONG-TERM CARE: CalPERS Long-Term Care coverage is available to current and former California public employees, retirees, their spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings (including stepbrothers and stepsisters), grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law between the ages of 18 and 79 when they apply. Eligible family members may apply even if the public employee or retiree who makes them eligible does not apply or is not approved for coverage.
NOTICE: CalPERS has temporarily suspended open enrollment for the Long-Term Care Program due to current uncertainty in the long-term care market. Therefore, until further notice, CalPERS will no longer accept new applications for coverage at this time.
OPTIONAL BENEFIT PLAN (OBP): The Court provides employees $3,500 per calendar year (pro-rated for new employees) which can be received as cash (taxable) or allocated to several benefits ranging from health, County 457 Defined Contribution Plan and AD&D premiums (non-taxable).
RETIREMENT: Defined Benefit, fully qualified plan based on the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Government Code Section 31450 et. al.). Employee and Court contributions are based on several variables including age, hire date, and salary. The plan is administered by an independent agency, Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), and has reciprocity with various California systems. Currently, eligible new employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in a defined benefit retirement plan referred to as Plan U (2.5% at 67 formula). *If you were employed by an OCERS employer or reciprocal agency prior to January 1, 2013, you have less than a six-month break in service, and reciprocity is established, you may be eligible to select from two other retirement pension formula options (Plan J or Plan P). See OCERS website for more information.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Optional deferred compensation 457 & Roth 457 Deferred Contribution Plans are available.
VACATION ACCRUAL: 0-3 years, 120 hours per year; 4-9 years, 160 hours per year; 10 or more years, 200 hours per year. Maximum accrual of hours: 0-9 years, 360 hours; 10 or more years, 480 hours. Part-time employees accrue vacation on a prorated basis.
HOLIDAYS: 14 paid holidays per year.
SICK LEAVE: 0-3 years accrue 72 hours of sick time per year as full-time employees. After 3 years, full-time employees accrue 96 hours per year. Part-time employees accrue sick leave on a prorated basis.
COMP TIME: All employees receive compensatory time every March. Full-time employees receive 4 hours and part-time employees receive 2 hours.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: 5 days of paid leave per qualifying instance.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: The Court pays into county administered insurance fund.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION: Administered by the Judicial Council's, third party administrator.
EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT: Court reimburses up to $3,500 per year of tuition for approved, necessary courses, subject to availability of funds.
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT AND FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS: Employees of the Court may be eligible for Federal Student Loan Repayment and Loan Forgiveness Programs. The Court offers access to GotZoom services at discounted rate; a service provider that identifies, enrolls, and annually re-certifies employees into eligible student loan repayment/forgiveness programs.
BILINGUAL PAY: Available at additional $0.58/hour for selected classes in selected positions.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): Court offers EAP confidential services to assist employees with marital, family, emotional, legal, financial, and chemical dependency problems. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DISCOUNT PROGRAMS: There are numerous discount programs available to Court employees. These include, but are not limited to discounts on hearing aids, pet insurance, local attractions, technology products, wellness services and gym memberships.
ONLINE PRIVACY BENEFIT: Employees may elect to enroll in a voluntary online privacy protection plan provided by IronWall360. This benefit helps protect employee’s online privacy by searching the Internet and locating any personal information and making sure it is removed.
Provisions are subject to terms: Personnel Policies and Regulations.
01
INSTRUCTIONS: The information you provide on this questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the selection process and may also be used in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. If you do not have experience in an area, please answer "N/A." Statements such as "see application," will not be accepted in lieu of a response. All employers referenced on this questionnaire must be listed on your application. Do you understand these instructions?
02
I understand that a résumé
MAY NOT be submitted in lieu of the employment application (or completion of the work history section of the application). A résumé may be submitted in addition to the employment application, but applicants are selected for an interview and/or testing based primarily on information supplied by the application and supplemental forms. Do you understand these instructions?
03
RESIDENCY/WORK ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT: I understand that I may live outside of the State of California while participating in a recruitment process; however if am selected for a position, I must reside within the state to be eligible for court employment. In addition, work performed while working for the court, even remote work, must be done within the State of California. I also understand that the Orange County Superior Court does not provide US visa or employment sponsorship. Do you understand this requirement? Yes No
04
Have you graduated from an accredited school of law with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
05
Enter the name of accredited law school from which you graduated.
06
Provide your final cumulative law school grade point average?
07
Education Verification: A clear copy of your transcript must be attached with your application. Do you understand that if no transcripts are attached, your application will not be considered?
- Yes, I have attached a copy of my transcript(s).
- No, I did not attach a copy of my transcript(s).
08
Have you taken the California State Bar exam?
- Yes, and I have passed.
- Yes, and I am awaiting results.
- No, but I plan to take it.
09
I understand that a self-edited writing sample is required for my application to be considered complete. I confirm that the submitted writing sample was created without assistance and have attached one to my online application.
10
I understand that the Law Clerk opportunity is a limited-term position with a duration of up to twelve (12) months. There is no permanent status in this classification; however, incumbents may be offered, but are not guaranteed, the option to extend their term for an additional twelve (12) months upon demonstrating successful performance during their first term of service and subject to the needs of the court. Do you understand these instructions?
11
I understand that if employed by the court as a Law Clerk, I am prohibited from any outside employment, including working for myself or other lawyers or law firms, the district attorney's office, the public defender's office, or county counsel in any capacity, including unpaid internships or externships. Do you understand these instructions?
