A law clerk is a legal professional who works for a lawyer or judge, helping them research and determine legal options in a case
. Their main responsibilities include:
- Conducting legal research : Law clerks research and analyze information from case and statutory law, as well as consult journals, legal books, prior cases, and legal magazines
- Drafting legal opinions : They assist in drafting orders, opinions, and other legal documents
- Proofreading : Law clerks proofread the judge's orders and opinions to ensure accuracy and proper formatting
- Verifying citations : They verify the accuracy of citations in legal documents
- Communicating with counsel : Law clerks communicate with attorneys regarding case management and procedural requirements
- Assisting the judge during courtroom proceedings : They provide support to the judge during trials and hearings
In some cases, law clerks may also be responsible for maintaining the chambers library and other administrative duties
. Law clerks are often recent law school graduates who performed at or near the top of their class and/or attended highly ranked law schools
. Serving as a law clerk, especially to a U.S. federal judge, is considered one of the most prestigious positions in legal circles and tends to open up wide-ranging opportunities in academia, law firm practice, and influential government work
