Law Clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals

06/22/2026

Agency:
Judicial Department

Salary Range:
$7,042 - $8,152

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:
Law Clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals

Job Description:
Law Clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals

Oregon Court of Appeals judges are hiring for post-graduate law clerk positions for an immediate hire – starting July/August 2026. This is separate from the already posted annual Law Clerk recruitment for a starting date of August 2027.

The positions are full-time and limited duration, typically for a period of two years. However, some judges may choose to hire clerks for only a one-year term, and a one-year option is available by joint agreement between the hiring judge and the clerk before the start of the clerkship.

Our Law Clerk Positions
Our law clerk positions provide a unique opportunity for law school graduates to both employ and improve their analytical, research, and writing skills, while working closely with judges, staff attorneys, and other staff to resolve all manner of cases that come before the courts. Our work is complex, interesting, and ever-changing, and it is a critical component of our state's judicial branch operations. Law clerks participate in many different and important steps in the case-resolution process.

Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is our state's intermediate appellate court. With the exception of a limited number of appeals that go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court--most notably death penalty cases, ballot title cases, lawyer discipline matters, and tax court cases--the Court of Appeals reviews appeals on every subject from Oregon's trial courts and administrative agencies. The Court has a high caseload compared to its number of judges and staff, which means that the Court's workload is very demanding. And for the vast majority of Oregon cases, it is the court of last resort. Because the Court of Appeals hears a wide variety of cases, you will gain familiarity and experience with many different areas of law.

The court has 13 judges and typically employs 22 to 24 law clerks at any given time.

Court of Appeals law clerks are generally hired to work with a particular judge. While the exact role of a clerk will differ among chambers, most of your time will be spent researching, writing, reviewing, and editing. Examples of common tasks for clerks include researching discrete legal issues, writing case-related legal memoranda, preparing bench memos prior to oral arguments, and preparing draft opinions. Clerks also are responsible for the final editing prior to publication for most of the court's decisions, which requires meticulous proofreading and cite checking. Clerks can expect to discuss legal issues and draft opinions with their judge and can be called upon to work with their judge to critically examine the research and proposed outcome for a case. Judges on the Court of Appeals sit in three-judge panels, and clerks attend pre-and post-argument conferences where the judges share preliminary thoughts on the cases and arguments. The Court of Appeals has a robust training program, so clerks can connect with peers across chambers as they learn how best to do the vital work of the Court.

In general, the judges are looking for law clerks who are skilled writers, critical thinkers, and who excel at legal research. Because clerks are closely involved in the resolution of cases, judges must be able to trust their work and their judgment, and that clerks will effectively and respectfully communicate differing views on legal analysis or outcomes to ensure that the judge has all the necessary information to make the correct decision. It is also important for clerks to be able to respectfully engage with different viewpoints and positions, and to be open to changing their mind about an initial position. Law clerks are expected to handle and safeguard information that may be disturbing, controversial, or confidential, and the Court expects that clerks will uphold the highest standard of ethics.

The law clerk role comes with many benefits, including opportunities to:

• Develop practical skills, such as researching, writing, editing, and exercising sound judgment;
• Gain familiarity with a variety of areas of procedural and substantive law, both state and federal;
• Hone the ability to efficiently learn new areas of law and manage multiple projects;
• Observe and learn from different styles of advocacy in briefs and oral arguments;
• Help resolve novel, complex, and important legal issues;
• Work closely with judges and other experienced legal experts with diverse legal backgrounds;
• Attend trainings and continuing legal education programs;
• Connect with members of the Oregon legal community; and
• Be part of a team committed to public service and access to justice for all.

Our Mission:
The mission of the Oregon judicial branch is to provide fair and accessible justice services that protect the rights of individuals, preserve community welfare, and inspire public confidence. As part of that mission, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive staff to reflect the diversity of the people we serve across the state.

Benefits and Working Conditions
The annual salary ranges from $84,501 – 97,822.

• The position includes paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave, as well as a benefits package with health insurance and participation, after six months' employment, in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.
• Law clerks who are members of the bar may also be eligible for bar dues payments up to the cost of bar dues for the Oregon State Bar.
• This is a full-time position, clerks are expected to work during the court's business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is not eligible for overtime compensation for hours worked more than 40 per work week.
• You may be required to work outside those regular hours when necessary to meet deadlines or otherwise timely complete your work assignment.
• Law clerks are permitted to work remotely, but in varying degrees, depending on the needs of each court and the supervising judge. Any remote work schedule must be approved by the administrative authority for the court, and out-of-state remote work requires special authorization.
• Law clerks are expected to use standard office equipment, including an employer-provided computer.
• Application Information and Instructions

Applications are completed online using Workday. Some judges choose to provide additional information about work in their chambers; that information can be found here: Oregon Judicial Department: Law Clerk Opportunities: Going to Court

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school by the start of the clerkship.

To apply, you must submit a completed online Workday application, cover letter, resume, undergraduate and law school transcripts, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation.

All submitted documents must be in an unprotected Adobe PDF format (no password if possible).

• Because you must submit a resume, you do not need to complete the work history section of the online Workday application.
• In your resume, please include your law school GPA and class rank.
• In your cover letter, please describe why you are interested in clerking for the Oregon Court of Appeals and how your experience has prepared you for the position.
• Your writing sample must be 10 pages or less (5-7 pages is preferred). Please choose a sample that contains legal analysis and, on a cover page, describe how, if at all, the sample was edited by others and how, if at all, generative artificial intelligence was used to prepare the sample.
• You may submit letters of recommendation as part of your electronic application, or your recommenders may submit them by email (preferred) or mail. Letters sent by your recommenders must be emailed or postmarked by the application deadline.
• Emailed letters must be sent to OJD.HRSD@ojd.state.or.us (this method is preferred). The subject line must read: "Law Clerk Recommendation for the Oregon Court of Appeals – Applicant's First and Last Name"
• Mailed letters (postmarked no later than the deadline date) must be sent to:
• Law Clerk Recommendation for the Oregon Court of Appeals – Applicant's First and Last Name

Oregon Judicial Department (OJD)
Human Resource Services Division (HRSD)

1163 State St, Salem, OR 97301

Our Human Resource Services Division will notify you by email before the application deadline if we have not received one or more of your letters of recommendation.