Law Clerk I (01024)

The first review of applications will be June 26 2025. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisors name/phone number for each position.
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References
• Writing Sample
• Unofficial Law School Transcript (if less than 3 years from obtaining a Juris Doctor degree)

Applications without the required documents will not be reviewed in the recruitment process.

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.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.

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 Helena MT. Helena exists as a crossroads between past and present tame and untamed mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. A place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul stroll through our charming downtown and enjoy breweries with breathtaking viewsall in the same day.

From the early roots of Blackfeet Salish Crow and Bannock tribes who found this land abundant with bison and natural resources - to the four lucky prospectors who in their last efforts struck gold in 1864 - Helena is a place rich with history beauty and life.

Learn more about Montana at

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 Chris Abbott in the 1^st Judicial District Helena 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 observing court and presiding over proceedings as a special master or referee under the district court judges supervision.
• May assist with preparation of training materials.

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.
• Skill in the operation of a computer with word processing and legal research software.

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.