Career Law Clerk

About the role

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia seeks a Career Law Clerk for Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen beginning June 1, 2026. Duties include legal research, reviewing filings, drafting memos and orders, and managing chambers operations.

Strong writing skills are required; prior federal clerkship experience is preferred.

What you will do

• Closely monitor dockets of all pending cases and draft orders, as appropriate, for scheduling and discovery-related issues, default proceedings, service deficiencies, and other miscellaneous matters.
• Serve as chambers liaison for all outside personnel, including other District and Magistrate Judges, the Clerk of Court, the Clerk's Office staff, the Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
• Train, assist and supervise the two bi-annual term law clerks extensively.
• Receive, screen, and refer telephone and in-person callers.
• Prepare in final form the judge's written correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, and other items.
• Assemble and attach supplemental material as required.
• Monitor all incoming mail and email communication; screen incoming mail daily, routing the mail to appropriate recipients; review all outgoing mail for accuracy.
• Maintain the judge's calendar; schedule, change, and cancel meetings, appointments, and hearings as directed; relieve the judge of routine details and oversee chambers supply stock and general chambers' management.
• Arrange all business travel itineraries for the judge, including plane tickets, hotel reservations, lodging plans, car rentals, and other arrangements.
• Perform other miscellaneous administrative duties as assigned by the judge and as necessary for the efficient operation of chambers.
• LAW CLERK DUTIES: Research and analyze novel and complex legal issues in diverse areas of federal criminal law and civil litigation.
• Draft orders and memorandum opinions in civil and criminal cases for the judge's review.
• Prepare bench memoranda and other written materials for motions hearings and trial proceedings, as directed.
• Provide information and guidance to the judge on individual cases, as directed.
• Perform extensive computer legal research via Westlaw and/or Lexis.
• Monitor significant changes in federal statutes, sentencing guidelines, and Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit precedent.
• Review and edit orders, opinions and memoranda drafted by term law clerks and staff attorneys.

Requirements

• Employees must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
• Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees, which is available to applicants to review upon request.
• Employees will be hired provisionally pending the results of a background investigation.
• Employees are required to use the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit.

Education

A graduate of an ABA accredited law school with an excellent law school record (top 10% ranking and law review editorial board experience is preferred). Possess a legal license, with Virginia Bar membership preferred but not required.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and support documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If your complete application meets the basic qualifications, it will be forwarded to the hiring official for further consideration and scored on your level of experience and competencies needed to perform the duties of the position.

Documents you must provide

• Cover letter describing the applicant's qualifications, skills and experience necessary to perform the job; Current resume, including a list of at least three professional references; Law school transcript; and Completed AO 78 Form, Application for Federal Judicial Branch Employment TWO writing samples consisting of (1) an analysis of a complex criminal issue and (2) an analysis of a complex civil matter.
• These samples should be primarily the work of the applicant and not heavily edited or rewritten by others.

Benefits

Pay is only part of the generous total compensation package you will receive while working for the federal Judiciary. We offer employees a diverse group of benefit programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family.

What to expect next

Applicants selected for an interview will be asked to participate in a remote/zoom interview with the judge's staff and then a remote/zoom interview with the judge; successful candidates will then be asked to visit Norfolk for an in-person interview with the judge.

Additional information

Employees of the United States District Court are Excepted Service Appointments. Excepted service appointments are "at will" and can be terminated with or without cause by the Court.

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, or to fill the position sooner than the closing date, if a closing date is shown; any of these actions may occur without any prior written or other type of notice. To view the full job announcement please visit our website at ***

The United States District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity Employer.