How to apply for a law clerk position in the Trial Court

Law Clerk positions within the departments of the Trial Court (Housing Court, Juvenile Court, Land Court and Probate & Family Court) are posted at various times throughout the year. Each Trial Court Department has different application requirements, potentially including submission of transcripts and/or writing samples, so please review the application requirements closely when applying.

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Currently posted Law Clerk positions:

There are no law clerk positions currently posted.

Departmental Law Clerk position summaries:

Clerkships with the Housing Court: Law Clerks, under the supervision of the Administrative Office of the Housing Court, works directly with the justices on a variety of assignments that involve performing legal research, preparing memoranda on cases and legal issues, drafting decisions and orders, and/or attending court sessions.  Research topics will include not only substantive questions of law but also questions involving procedural and evidentiary issues.  Law clerks may also be tasked with various administrative assignments.  The law clerks can expect to complete the clerkship with a solid understanding of landlord-tenant and other housing law, court rules, and general courtroom practice. 

Clerkships with the Juvenile Court: A judicial clerkship in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court offers a unique, exciting and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal career.  The Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over delinquency, youthful offender, children requiring assistance, care and protection, guardianship and adoption proceedings.  The law clerk is responsible for performing legal research and writing assignments to assist the judges of the Juvenile Court.  Law clerks work directly with the judges, and under the supervision of the Assistant Deputy Court Administrator, Manager of Legal Research and the Chief Justice.

Clerkships with the Land Court: The law clerk position in the Land Court is responsible for performing legal research and writing assignments to assist the Justices of the Land Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. The Land Court, located at 3 Pemberton Square, is a trial court of special jurisdiction, and provides an unparalleled opportunity for significant research and writing experience, observation of courtroom practice, and working closely with one or more justices for the duration of the clerkship.  Land Court clerkships are particularly rewarding to those with interests in land use and real property law, and candidates who demonstrate such interests and experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Clerkships with the Probate & Family Court: A judicial clerkship in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court offers a unique, exciting and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal career. The Probate and Family Court hears cases on subjects relating to all aspects of a person’s life, from birth to death. Law clerks in the Probate and Family Court are exposed to a wide variety of family, probate and equity issues; including adoption, paternity, custody, divorce, guardianships, legal bioethics, petitions to partition real estate, trust reformations and will contests. The law in these areas is constantly evolving and cases of first impression often confront the court, making a clerkship experience in the Probate and Family Court interesting and challenging. Cutting edge issues such as the changing definition of family are not uncommon. 

To search and apply for current Law Clerk opportunities, please visit: https://trialcourtjobs.mass.gov/jobs/search

Date published: November 30, 2022
Last updated: September 8, 2023

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