Who is a law clerk?
A law clerk is best described as a legal professional who advises and assists lawyers and judges; they also perform additional responsibilities such as preparing legal documents, conducting legal research and analysis, compiling case materials, and writing reports and memoranda.
A career path as a law clerk is commendable as the pay is very lucrative and indeed a demanding career.
For an individual that has an interest in the legal world, the job of a law clerk could be a suitable choice as it comes with different benefits such as
- Practicing in different areas like corporate, family, litigation, real estate, and wills
- Become exposed to more employment opportunities
- A highly remunerative income
- Being more exposed to the legal world
- Being a problem solver
I’m sure some of you will agree with the above-listed benefits accompanying being a law clerk.
How to become a law clerk
- Obtain an undergraduate degree from an accredited law school
- Pass the law school admission test (LSAT)
- Apply for law school if you pass the exam
- Get a Juris Doctorate Degree after three years in the law school
- Scale through by passing the bar examination
- Gain experience by working with a judge
- Land yourself a career as a law clerk
Duties of a law clerk
- They help in assisting lawyers and judges when carrying out their duties
- They counsel lawyers and judges
- They conduct legal research and analysis
- They prepare legal documents
- They ensure that case documents are prepared
- They supervise the activities that are being carried out in the courthouse
- They keep the law library updated
Skills a law clerk should possess
- Good communication skills (oral and written)
- Friendly and warm nature
- Critical thinking skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Document management skills
Law clerk jobs can be found HERE.
In summary, I believe this article has given insight into what a law clerk job is all about, how to become one, and the duties of a law clerk.