Job Details for Term Law Clerk
| Court Name/Organization | Colorado District Court |
| Overview of the Position | The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado is currently accepting applications for a full-time judicial law clerk to U.S. District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney. The position is available immediately and is expected to continue through Sept. 30, 2026. |
| Location | Denver, CO |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 05/05/2025 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade | JSP Grades 11-13 |
| Salary | $82,440 - $117,501 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | https://www.cod.uscourts.gov/HR/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx |
| Announcement Number | 2025-15-USDC |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
The law clerk will support the judge by conducting legal research, preparing memoranda, drafting orders, and attending trials and other court proceedings. The clerk will also serve as a legal advisor. This position will involve a substantial workload focused primarily on criminal law matters. The clerk is expected to maintain a courteous and professional demeanor at all times—within chambers, in the courtroom, with the bar, and with the public.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
To qualify for a JSP 11/1, a person must be a law school graduate (or be certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) from a law school of recognized standing, and have demonstrated one of the following accomplishments or proficiencies:
- Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
- Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school;
- Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
- Proficiency in legal studies that, in the opinion of the appointing judge, is the equivalent of one of the above.
To qualify for a JSP 12/1, a person must meet the above but also have at least one year of full-time legal work experience after graduation from law school and must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.
To qualify for a JSP 13/1, a person must meet the above but also have at least two years of full-time legal work experience after graduation from law school and must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.
Specialized Experience
Preferred Qualifications
Judge Sweeney prefers applicants with the following qualifications:
- Substantial experience in criminal law;
- Two years or more of legal work experience after graduation from law school;
- Prior experience as a federal court law clerk after graduation from law school;
- Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school.
Employee Benefits
Term law clerk appointments are limited to a total of four years, including all previous appointments held under a federal term law clerk capacity. Term law clerks are subject to social security deductions and are eligible for health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage. Term law clerks are not eligible to participate in the federal employee’s retirement system (FERS) or the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Based on the judge’s discretion, term law clerks may or may not be placed on the Leave Act. Career law clerks are eligible for all Federal Judiciary Benefits.
Miscellaneous
The law clerk will support the judge by conducting legal research, preparing memoranda, drafting orders, and attending trials and other court proceedings. The clerk will also serve as a legal advisor. This position will involve a substantial workload focused primarily on criminal law matters. The clerk is expected to maintain a courteous and professional demeanor at all times—within chambers, in the courtroom, with the bar, and with the public.
Application Info
Through OSCAR, each applicant should submit:
- Cover letter
- Current resume;
- Application form AO78. All applicants for this position must also complete the “Optional Background Information” section of the AO 78 (page 5) to be considered;
- Two substantial writing samples which reflect no more than de minimis editing by a third party; and Contact information for three professional references.
Please do not send any application materials to us through any other means, including in hard copy or via email. Only qualified applicants will be considered for an interview for this position. Applicants who do not timely submit all required materials, as stated in the How to Apply section of the Vacancy Announcement, will not be considered.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.