Judicial Law Clerk I for the Honorable Jennifer Schultz - Criminal Trial Division

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Agency Description

The Criminal Section has jurisdiction over all felony cases and appeals from Municipal Court for a trial de novo (new trial) including a right to a trial by jury. Among the types of cases that fall within the assignments of the Trial Division Criminal Section are homicide cases, capital PCRA cases and felony cases. The Probation Department and Pretrial Services are included in the Criminal Section of the Division.

Position Summary

This is a confidential position that serves at the sole discretion and pleasure of this Judge presently assigned to the PCRA program.  Should the judicial assignment change, the operational need for this position will be eliminated. 

This is professional legal work as a research assistant assigned to the Judge of the Post Conviction Relief Act program.  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 the judicial law clerk is to review motions and case history to draft, bench memos, 907 notices, orders, and opinions for review by the assigned 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 judges of the courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the division/section of the court in which the judge by whom they are employed serves.  Further, in courts which have no formally established divisions or sections, the law clerks are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the court itself.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

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 memos 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 bench memos, orders, and opinions by reviewing briefs, motions, evidence, transcripts, and prior case history and submit to assigned judicial authority for review and signature in a timely manner.
• 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

Performs related work as required.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Standard courtroom and clerical office conditions.

Direct contact with diverse court clientele.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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, Excel, Outlook and OneDrive

Work-Life

Working hours are 40 hours per week.  This is a full-time, in person position with the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

1. Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. 

AND

1. Three years of experience as a law clerk or practicing attorney preferred.
2. Knowledge of the techniques and processes of legal research and preparation of memoranda, petitions, and similar instruments.
3. Ability to prepare bench memos, 907 notices, orders, and opinions.
4. Strong organizational, communication, and writing skills.
5. Superior writing and analytical skills.
6. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
7. Must successfully complete a criminal background investigation.
8. Must work in person (not remote).

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Salary: $60,656 

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Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

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