Job Description

An employee in this class is responsible for professional legal work as a law clerk reviewing and drafting dispositions on petitions for relief under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). The primary task of a law clerk in the PCRA Unit is to review motions and case history to draft 907 notices, orders, and opinions for review by the designated PCRA Judge. Work performed involves a greater degree of expertise due to the greater volume of cases for review and the need to function in a specialized area of law.

By Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, effective September 1, 2005, all law clerks employed by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Courts are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the division/section of the court in which they work and are employed. Further, in courts with no formally established divisions or sections, the law clerks are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the court itself.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

THE FOLLOWING DUTIES ARE NORMAL FOR THIS POSITION. THESE ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS EXCLUSIVE OR ALL-INCLUSIVE. OTHER DUTIES MAY BE REQUIRED AND ASSIGNED.

• Review petitions and procedural history
• Research legal sources for briefs or opinions based on statutory law, decisions, and precedents of higher courts.
• Searches for and studies legal records and documents to obtain data applicable to cases under consideration.
• Prepares high-quality briefs, orders, and opinions by reviewing documents, files, and case correspondence and submit to assigned judicial authority for review and signature in a timely manner.
• Completes docketing and service of notices, orders, and opinions.
• Maintains files on case documents and all related correspondence.
• Completes administrative tasks associated with assigned caseload.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, members of the judiciary, court and departmental administrators, and diverse court clientele and members of the public.
• Performs related work as required.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide general information about the assigned functions.
• Performs related work as required.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Standard clerical office conditions.
• Direct contact with diverse court clientele.

YOU MUST VISIT FJDCAREERS.PHILA.GOV TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 @4PM. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED AT FJDCAREERS.PHILA.GOV.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

• Law degree from an accredited law school; AND
• Three years of experience as a law clerk or practicing attorney preferred.
• Membership of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not a requirement for Law Clerk 1; however, if you are a current member of the Bar, you must be, and remain in good standing.
• Knowledge of the techniques and processes of legal research and preparation of memoranda, petitions, and similar instruments.
• Ability to prepare, for judicial approval, 907 notices, orders, and opinions.
• Strong communication skills.
• Superior writing and analytical skills.
• City residency required within six (6) months of satisfactory completion of a six (6) month orientation period.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Knowledge of the components and functions of the justice system.
• Knowledge of legal research techniques and preparation of memoranda, petitions, and similar instruments.
• Ability to prepare, for judicial approval, 907 notices, orders, and opinions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of the judiciary, court personnel, departmental administrators, attorneys, and associates.
• Ability to perform administrative tasks in an effective and organized fashion.
• Ability to use Westlaw and criminal court databases.
• Ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduate of an accredited law school. Three years of experience as a law clerk or practicing attorney preferred.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL STANDARDS

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

*Membership of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not a requirement for Law Clerk 1; however, if you are a current member of the Bar, you must be, and remain in good standing.

YOU MUST VISIT FJDCAREERS.PHILA.GOV TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 @4PM. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED AT FJDCAREERS.PHILA.GOV.

Additional Information

SALARY RANGE: $51,874 - $57,069

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday, July 12, 2021, @4pm

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST BE A CITY OF PHILADELPHIA RESIDENT WITHIN SIX MONTH’S COMPLETION OF A SUCCESSFUL SIX-MONTH EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION PERIOD.

The First Judicial District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the First Judicial District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

YOU MUST VISIT FJDCAREERS.PHILA.GOV TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 @4PM. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED AT FJDCAREERS.PHILA.GOV.