Law Clerk - Philadelphia County
The Clerk provides professional level legal work as a research assistant supporting The Honorable Natasha Taylor-Smith and other judges of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Judicial Law Clerk work involves providing members of the judiciary with assistance in preparation of writing briefs, opinions and similar material.
The ideal candidate for this role is a graduate of an accredited law and is strongly interested in criminal law, especially major felony cases including but not limited to drug possessions, weapons possession, violent crimes, and sexual assault.
By Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, effective September 1, 2005, all law clerks employed by judges of the courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the division/section of the court in which the judge by whom they are employed serves. Further, in courts which have no formally established divisions or sections, the law clerks are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the court itself.
The ideal candidate for this role is a graduate of an accredited law and is strongly interested in criminal law, especially major felony cases including but not limited to drug possessions, weapons possession, violent crimes, and sexual assault.
By Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, effective September 1, 2005, all law clerks employed by judges of the courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the division/section of the court in which the judge by whom they are employed serves. Further, in courts which have no formally established divisions or sections, the law clerks are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the court itself.
Candidates must submit a resume and writing sample by 11:59 PM on 11/01/2026.
Job Duties
- Researches legal sources for briefs or opinions based on statutory law, decisions and precedents of higher courts.
- Searches for and studies legal records and documents to obtain data applicable to cases under consideration.
- Prepares rough drafts of opinions.
- Maintains file on case documents and all related correspondence.
Minimum Qualifications
- Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
- Membership of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not a requirement for Law Clerk 1; however, if you are a current member of the Bar, you must be and remain in good standing.
- Superior writing and analytical skills.
- Must work in person (not remote).
- Appropriate experience in the use of Windows Software applications.
- Strong interest in criminal law.
- Knowledge of Pennsylvania criminal procedure and law preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest is a plus.
- Strong academic background.
- Satisfactory clearance of a criminal background investigation.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
Benefits Summary
- FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.
- 8-weeks of paid parental leave
- Generous paid time off: 10 days’ vacation, 15 sicks days, 5 annual (paid personal) leave days, 12 paid holidays.
- Comprehensive and affordable health coverage to meet you and your family’s needs.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness forgives the remaining balance on your federal Direct Loans after you’ve made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for an eligible employer such as the FJD.
- Pension through Philadelphia Municipal Employees Retirement Plan.
- 457 (b) Deferred Compensation Plan is tax-advantage retirement plan to accelerate your retirement savings by putting money aside pretax into investment portfolios. This is separate from your pension.
- Tuition Discounts and Scholarships: FJD participates in the City of Philadelphia’s Return to Learning Partnership Program to provide access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Discounts range between 10% to 40%.
Salary information
Annual Salary Range: $62,476 - $68,734
Source: workday. Description and metadata as published by the employer or its applicant tracking system on 2026-10-27. The apply link goes to the original source. Paige JobBank does not accept applications on the employer's behalf.