what is a law clerk?
As a law clerk, you work in a court or law firm handling routine administrative and legal tasks. You work under experienced lawyers and judges, helping them to execute their duties. The roles in the legal system vary depending on your assignment.
Your job is to help judges manage the paperwork filed in court. Also, you help them shape their decisions on various cases before the court. You can do this through legal research and by analyzing every case to explain why the judge and the court gave a specific verdict.
You don't need experience or a law degree to work as a law clerk. Most judges begin their careers as law clerks before attaining their qualifications. Besides supporting teams, a stint as a law clerk provides you with valuable learning opportunities. It also gives you a feel for the job and builds the foundation for your career.
After working as a law clerk for between one and two years, you often move higher up the ladder of the legal system. This transition gives fresh and energetic graduates a chance to get into clerkships. Ultimately, this role gives chambers a constant flow of new thoughts and ideas.
Would working as a law clerk suit your administrative skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a law clerk role.
law clerk jobsaverage law clerk salary
According to Job Bank, law clerks make an average salary of $60,000 per year. That means you get an hourly pay of $30.81. When you have entry-level experience and skills, your salary starts at $48,741 annually. However, as you improve your skills and gain experience, you have the potential to earn more. The highest-paid law clerks take home over $80,101 yearly.
what factors affect the salary of a law clerk?
Various factors affect your earnings as a law clerk. For instance, where you work impacts your salary scale. When you work in the public sector, your salary will depend on the duties you perform and the hours you work. For instance, working longer shifts or outside traditional office hours increases your earnings. The private sector salary of a law clerk depends on the size of the company. When you work for a start-up firm, your hourly rates are lower than those working in a large law firm.
Your qualifications and experience also influence your earnings. A recent law graduate could earn more working as a clerk due to the additional qualifications. When you have a few years of experience, your take-home salary is also higher than law clerks with less than a year of experience.
types of law clerks
If you're keen to get into a law clerkship, there are different types of jobs that you could do. Here are some types of law clerk jobs:
- entry-level law clerk: you can become a law clerk without undertaking any prior on-the-job training. This means working as a law clerk while still attending college. It will allow you to build your resume and learn more about the legal field.
- virtual law clerk: it is also very common to get employed as a remote law clerk. In this role, you handle the office's telephone calls, emails and conference calls. Also, it entails any other task that's doable outside your employer's office.
- law clerk internship: if you have completed college, you can get employed as an intern. Although this role pays little or no money, it’s a chance to hone your skills. It would benefit your future job search because most employers look for internships on a prospect’s resume.
- temporary law clerk: you can get employed to fill a law clerk position for a set period. This is usually when an employer has a specific project or certain seasonal needs. Such agreements occasionally change into ongoing or full-time roles, depending on your performance and availability.
- director law clerk: in this case, your employer assigns you a managerial role for a specific project. Your work in this role is to lead other employees to achieve specific goals. You plan, execute and manage different day-to-day business activities.
working as a law clerk
Before you become a law clerk, discover the tasks associated with the role. Remember to look at the job outlook and work schedule associated with law clerks.
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what does a law clerk do?
A law clerk is a right-hand person to a judge, a public official who oversees the legal process in a court. Working as a law clerk offers a unique judicial process perspective. A judge can assign many job duties to a law clerk, including:
- researching legal precedents: as a law clerk, you research legal precedents and laws that guide judges and lawyers. Your familiarity with the legal procedures and the law makes it easier for you to find relevant cases and precedents to use.
- advising the legal team: since you research cases for lawyers and judges, you are familiar with the facts. That means you can advise lawyers and the legal team on the facts of the case.
- drafting legal documents: as a law clerk, you perform administrative duties like writing legal documents and preparing them for court. You write the trial briefs and record legal proceedings in court.
- interviewing witnesses: in a law firm, you interview witnesses and take statements. Your duties involve managing witnesses, preparing their testimonies and writing down questions that the lawyers should ask. You also assist lawyers in the courtroom.
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work environment of a law clerk
If you want to work as a law clerk, expect to work in a legal setting. You spend most of your time indoors in an office or a courtroom. As a law clerk, you work in the public or private sector. In the public sector, you work at the judge's office and prosecution departments to assist lawyers and judges. In the private sector, you work for law firms and companies with in-house legal departments. It’s also possible to work remotely if your employer and the nature of your work permit it.
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who are your colleagues?
As a law clerk, you work in diverse legal environments and corporate offices. You will likely interact with lawyers, judges and paralegals if you work in a law firm. You also work with legal assistants and administrative assistants to complete administrative tasks in law firms. Other professionals you are likely to interact with include office clerks, data entry clerks and executive assistants.
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law clerk work schedule
A law clerk's job can be quite demanding, and the work environment is sometimes fast-paced. Usually, law clerks work at least 40 hours weekly, depending on the amount of work available and the targets set.
Besides, you should expect to work overtime when there are strict deadlines. It's also common to work at night and on weekends. In short, be ready to put in the hours to become a law clerk. Despite this, it comes with immense benefits that will propel your career in the future.
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career opportunities as a law clerk
The demand for law clerks in Canada is promising. Besides, you’ll gain a lot of hands-on experience as a law clerk. You can also set aside time for more educational and professional development. Taking another course in the same field as your work is vital. It helps you change roles faster and even advance in your career to ensure you earn a better salary.
You can also advance your career in many other ways after working as a law clerk and specializing in a specific area, such as corporate, real estate, family or litigation law. Becoming a judge is also an option once you finish your law studies and gain enough experience in various law-related roles.
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advantages of finding a job as a law clerk through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
law clerk skills and education
The requirements for becoming a law clerk in Canada include the following:
- education: you require a bachelor’s degree in law or a college diploma and legal training to work as a law clerk. Since you require knowledge of legal principles, having paralegal training prepares you for the role. If you perform advanced legal services, you are expected to have a paralegal licence in Ontario from the Law Society of Upper Canada.
- work experience: gain experience through on-the-job training in a law firm or a courtroom. If your duties involve administering oaths, you require a provincial licence or membership in the Society of Notaries.
competencies and characteristics of law clerks
To succeed in your law clerk role, you need these important skills:
- organization: you take charge of the office paperwork once you begin working as a law clerk. Properly organizing files ensures they're easy to retrieve when needed.
- communication: communicating effectively on the phone or by email is an excellent skill for a law clerk. You need good etiquette, eloquence, and great listening skills. You sometimes work in teams with other legal professionals, so it's vital to collaborate with others and communicate your ideas and opinions clearly.
- typing: you need good typing skills to succeed as a law clerk. This skill helps you keep records faster when attending court hearings and will also help you generate reports quickly.
- computer skills: it is easier to get hired as a law clear when you have Microsoft Office and other computer skills. In these modern days, clerks work more with computers than they do with paper.
- knowledge of the legal system: as a law clerk, you require an in-depth understanding of the law and court procedures. You should be familiar with the relevant federal and provincial laws to understand the legal system and be able to draft legal documents.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a law clerk.
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Is being a law clerk a good job?
Careers in law are lucrative, and you can expect a relatively good salary. With experience and seniority, you take up additional roles in law firms. Most law clerks also progress to become paralegals and lawyers.
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what are the responsibilities of law clerks?
As a law clerk, your duties include preparing legal documents, drafting briefs and conducting legal research. You compile case materials for judges and lawyers and help them manage witnesses.
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how much is a law clerk's salary in Canada?
The average salary for law clerks is $60,000 annually. With minimal experience, you start with an annual salary of $48,741, while experienced law clerks take home over $80,101 per year. Your earnings depend on experience and educational qualifications.
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what is the difference between law clerks and paralegals?
While law clerks and paralegals perform research duties for lawyers or judges, a paralegal combines their research duties with administrative tasks. A law clerk works alongside the judge and performs case-specific duties.
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how do I become a law clerk?
To become a law clerk, complete a college diploma or a bachelor’s degree in law. You will learn your duties through on-the-job training and working alongside lawyers and judges.
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how do I find a job as a law clerk?
Finding a job near you as a law clerk is easy. Search our job offers. Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
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