State of Montana

Law Clerk I (08006) - (24143249) 

The first review of applications will be December 23, 2024. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor’s name/phone number for each position.
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References
• Writing Sample

When submitting the required documents, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Applicants that do not submit the required documents will not be considered in the recruitment process. The Judicial Branch is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period. The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check. Travel may be required and working hours may include evenings & weekends. 

For a complete job description, please email katie.erickson@mt.gov 

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch: 

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF 

This position is in Great Falls, MT. Great Falls is often referred to as Montana’s basecamp as our city of just over 60,000 people is centrally located and home to an international airport. Nestled in between 4 mountain ranges, 3 rivers, 2 wilderness areas and 1 wildlife refuge, adventure is easily accessible in every direction. Did we mention we’re about halfway between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park? Great Falls makes the perfect stopover. Stretch your legs on the picturesque 53 miles of trail that runs along the famed Missouri River that goes right through town. Add to that the 11 museums and over 25 wall murals that make our downtown Montana’s biggest art gallery. For more information, visit https://visitgreatfallsmontana.org/

Learn more about Montana at https://www.visitmt.com/

­Job Overview:

Law clerks serving more than two years may be moved to senior law clerk status. This is professional legal work performed for the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Best of the 8th Judicial District in Great Falls, Montana. 

Work involves the performance of professional legal research and other related clerical/administrative work in the preparation of memoranda, opinions, or orders for a judge concerning the cases before him/her. Work is performed under general supervision of a judge and is reviewed through conferences and written reports. 

Job Duties:

• Reviews, studies, research, and annotates laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
• Prepares briefs, legal memoranda, statement of issues involved, draft opinions and orders including appropriate suggestions or recommendations to the judge.
• Compiles references on laws and decisions necessary for legal determinations.
• Confers with judge concerning legal questions, legal theories, construction of documents, and preparation of orders.
• Attends court sessions to hear testimony and record necessary case information; maintains records attendant to court proceedings; assists judge in the selection and preparation of jury instructions.
• May perform courtroom duties including recording court testimony or arguments and providing bailiff services.
• May transcribe the record of court proceedings if required by the position.
• May maintain a law library collection. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge of general law, state law, established precedent, and sources of legal reference.
• Knowledge of trial court practices, rules, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles.
• Ability to represent the court in a respectful manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
• Ability to transcribe audio tapes, if required by the position.
• Skill in the operation of a computer with word processing and legal research software.
• Skill in the operation of electronic recording equipment to record trial court proceedings.

Working Conditions: 

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting or a courtroom.

Physical Demands: 

• Work is essentially sedentary with occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying items up to 25 pounds such as papers and files. Some positions may require periods of extended sitting, standing or computer use. Some positions may require standing on a ladder to retrieve files from high shelves.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience): 

• A Juris Doctorate is required.
• Legal research experience.
• Excellent writing skills.

New graduates as well as experienced attorneys will be considered.

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment: Not Applicable 

Salary: $

29.14 - 29.14 Hourly 

Telework Eligibility: Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.) Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan 

Number of Openings

: 1 Employee Status: Regular Schedule: Full-Time 

Job Type

: Standard 

Shift

: Day Job 

Travel

: Yes, 5 % of the Time 

Primary Location

: Great Falls 

Agency: Judicial Branch Union: 000 - None 

Posting Date

: Dec 6, 2024, 8:09:02 PM 

Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone)

: Ongoing 

Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Resume, References 

Contact Name: Katie Erickson | Contact Email: katie.erickson@mt.gov | Contact Phone: 406-841-2965 The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency's HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.

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