Apply for an Appeals Court law clerk position

Law Clerk -- Massachusetts Appeals Court

US -- MA -- Boston and Springfield

Posting Date:  8/1/2024     Closing Date:  8/31/2024

Salary:  $77,073 (as of July 2024)

Mission Statement and General Information

The Massachusetts Appeals Court is committed to doing justice under the law by rendering thoughtful, well-reasoned appellate decisions in a timely and efficient manner, treating all those who come before the court fairly and impartially.  It is a court of general appellate jurisdiction, with a large caseload in both criminal and civil matters.  Created in 1972, the Appeals Court is comprised of a Chief Justice and twenty-four Associate Justices.  The Chief Justice has two law clerks; the Associate Justices each have one law clerk.  The application period for law clerk positions for the 2025-2026 court year will begin on August 1, 2024, and will end on August 31, 2024.

Organizational Profile: Appeals Court 

Position Summary

Law clerks are law school graduates who each work with one (and occasionally more than one) of the Justices.  They perform a variety of responsibilities, including preparing for oral arguments, writing legal memoranda, and assisting in researching and drafting judicial decisions.  The Appeals Court expects to hire approximately twenty-six law clerks for the 2025-2026 court year (August of 2025 through August of 2026).  Interviews will be conducted and hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis between August and December, 2024.

Major Duties

Reading briefs, record appendices, and transcripts in preparation for oral arguments.

Researching and writing legal memoranda on a wide variety of criminal and civil issues.

Attending oral arguments.

Discussing and analyzing pending cases with a Justice.

Assisting with researching and drafting judicial decisions.

Editing, cite checking, and proofreading legal memoranda and draft decisions.

Assisting with supervision and education of judicial interns, as needed.

Performing other related work, as required.

Position Requirements

Graduation from an accredited law school.  It is not necessary to sit for the Massachusetts Bar Exam.

Superior academic achievement.

Strong interest in and ability to perform legal research and writing.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally with all court personnel.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to work independently and prioritize assignments.

Knowledge of, and ability to use, Microsoft Windows, Word, and legal research tools, including Lexis.

Massachusetts residence by the starting date of the clerkship.

Application Process

Applicants for the 2025-2026 court year must complete this online application between August 1, 2024, and August 31, 2024.  (Note:  this hyperlink will become active at 9:00 AM Eastern on August 1, 2024).  Completion of the online application is a mandatory component of the application process. 

In addition, applicants are required to submit (as separate PDF documents) the materials described below to LCapplications@appct.state.ma.us:

1. Cover letter.
2. Resume.
3. Copy of law school transcript.  For students whose law school provides written course evaluations and/or work evaluations, they should also be provided.
4. Writing sample not to exceed 10-15 pages and not edited by another.  A persuasive memorandum, rather than a comment/note/article for a journal, is strongly preferred.
5. Two letters of recommendation (additional letters may be submitted but are not required).  Letters from employers are preferred, but letters from law school faculty are acceptable.  

Paper applications will not be accepted.  All applicants will be notified when the hiring process is completed.  Employment is contingent on passage of a criminal record check.

The Appeals Court is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.  It seeks out, welcomes, and encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.