Judicial Law Clerk I for the Honorable Christopher R. Hall
About FJD
The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania is the Philadelphia County Court System composed of two courts: the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. Our mission is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia.
About Department
The Civil Section has jurisdiction over actions at law and equity along with appeals from Municipal Court and certain administrative agencies and boards. The Trial Division Civil Section has jurisdiction over civil claims involving amounts in excess of $10,000. The variety of civil actions that may be brought in the Trial Division Civil Section includes Negligence, Contract and Equity Action.
Position Summary
The FJD is hiring a Judicial Law Clerk I to The Honorable Christopher R. Hall. The Clerk provides professional level legal work as a research assistant supporting 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 school with superior writing and analytical skills, and an appetite to learn. 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 Judicial Law Clerk is a confidential employee and serves at the discretion and pleasure of the judge.
Requirements
- Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
- Superior writing and analytical skills.
- Membership of a Bar is not required for Law Clerk 1; however, members must remain in good standing.
- Facility in the use of MS Office software applications.
- Satisfactory clearance of a criminal background investigation.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Must work in person (not remote).
Essential Functions
- Legal research and writing and review of court records for draft opinions and orders.
- Manage tracking databases for pending motions and appeals.
- Maintain case files.
- Manage law school and undergraduate interns.
Marginal functions: Provide general information about the assigned functions. Performs related work as required.
Environmental conditions: Standard courtroom and clerical office conditions. Direct contact with diverse court clientele.
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 sick 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%.
Pay
Salary range: $62,476–$6