Applications are only accepted when a position vacancy exists and is posted to this website.

Courtroom Deputy (posted 11/07/2024)

Operations Generalist (posted 10/15/2024)

Human Resources Department:

The Human Resources Department for the District of Minnesota recruits for all vacancies for the U.S. District Court Clerk's Office. Please follow the application procedures noted on specific vacancy announcements when submitting application materials.

AO-78 (required for Clerk’s Office vacancies)

Conditions of Employment

• The Court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews.
• All judicial employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct.
• Applicants must be United States citizens or lawful permanent residents currently seeking citizenship or intending to become a citizen after meeting the eligibility requirement as outlined in 8 U.S.C § 1324b(a)(3)(B).
• False statements or omissions of information on any application materials or the inability to meet conditions of employment may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
• All information is subject to verification and background investigation.
• An FBI fingerprint and background check is required for all individuals appointed to positions in the U.S. Courts.  New employees are considered "provisional hires" pending the successful completion of the FBI background check. 
• Employees of the United States Courts serve under “Excepted Appointments” and are considered “at will” employees.  As such, employment can be terminated at any time.  Furthermore, Federal Civil Service classifications do not apply.
• Employees are subject to mandatory participation in electronic funds transfer (EFT) for payment of net pay (i.e., Direct Deposit).
• The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of posted job announcements or to withdraw an announcement entirely, either of which may occur without prior written or other notice.

Citizenship Requirements

Employees of the United States Courts must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens must execute an affidavit indicating their intent to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact chambers to learn whether or not applications are being accepted. https://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/chambers-contact-information

Currently, no positions are available

Law clerks are typically hired for a one or two-year term, with hiring decisions usually made one-two years prior to an intended employment date.

Value of Federal Law Clerk Experience
A judicial clerkship provides direct insight into the judicial process and is a valuable and enriching experience. A law clerk gains practical experience by attending judicial proceedings, performing legal research, and providing other assistance to the judge. Law clerks are exposed to the methods and customs of practitioners and learn the level of professional behavior expected of lawyers. Many former law clerks find the prestige and experience associated with service as a federal judicial law clerk broadens their future employment opportunities.

Duties of Federal Law Clerks
The duties and functions of a federal judicial law clerk are determined by the employing judge.  In most chambers, law clerks concentrate on legal research and writing. Typically, the broad range of duties assigned to a law clerk includes conducting legal research, preparing bench memos, drafting orders and opinions, proofreading the judge’s orders and opinions, verifying citations, communicating with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements, and assisting the judge during courtroom proceedings. Some judges also may assign maintaining the chambers library and other administrative duties to the law clerk.

Judicial law clerks are also expected to work cooperatively with chambers staff and court personnel. The employing judge must be confident in the law clerk’s professionalism in interacting with counsel, litigants and the public. A law clerk is bound by the ethical standards established by the judge and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.

Types of Appointments and Benefits
There are different types of law clerk appointments in the federal judiciary.

• Term Appointment is the most common. Term law clerks serve an appointment less than four years, generally one- or two-year appointments. Individuals who hold this job title are covered by Social Security and are eligible to participate in health and life insurance programs including long-term care insurance, and pre-tax health and dependent care supplemental insurance programs. Term law clerks are not eligible to participate in the retirement system or Thrift Savings Plan.
• Career Appointment includes an expectation that employment will last for four or more years. Career law clerks are entitled to participate in all benefit programs offered including health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, pre-tax health and dependent care supplemental insurance, retirement system and the Thrift Savings Plan. A chambers may only employ one career law clerk.

Law Clerk Benefits Grid

Law Clerk Qualifications and Salary
The salary available to a law clerk depends upon legal work experience subsequent to graduation from law school and bar membership.

• JSP Grade 11:  Law school graduates (or those certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) with high academic achievement.
• JSP Grade 12:  In addition to the above qualifications, one full year of post-graduate legal experience and bar membership.
• JSP Grade 13:  In addition to the qualifications for Grade 11, at least two full years of post-graduate legal experience and bar membership.
• JSP Grade 14:  At least three full years of post-graduate work experience which includes at least two full-time years as a federal judicial law clerk.  A chambers may only employ one full-time law clerk at the JSP Grade 14 pay rate.

Law Clerk Salary Matrix

Some federal judge use an online system called OSCAR to collect resumes.  More information at the OSCAR link:

Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR)

https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/who-works-judiciary/legal-careers

District of Minnesota Probation and Pretrial Services applications are typically accepted through their on-line application system, NEOGOV. U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office site: https://www.mnp.uscourts.gov/content/careers.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer