Job Details for Pro Se Law Clerk
| Court Name/Organization | California Southern District Court |
| Overview of the Position | The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California seeks applicants for the position of a Pro Se Law Clerk. |
| Location | San Diego, CA |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 11/17/2025 - 01/16/2026 |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Salary | $84,462 - $184,929 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | http://www.casd.uscourts.gov |
| Announcement Number | 25-29 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
The Pro Se Law Clerk performs substantive screening of civil rights complaints and habeas corpus petitions filed by prisoners not represented by counsel, conducts research, and assists the entire Court in preparing opinions and orders in these cases. The Pro Se Law Clerk works independently and as part of a team, must review and monitor prisoner case docket activity to ensure proper progression, maintain internal case review records and statistics, prioritize work-flow, advise chambers’ and clerk’s office staff, and perform other administrative duties as required. The Pro Se Law Clerk reports to the judge supervising the Pro Se Law Clerk program and the Supervisory Pro Se Law Clerk.
Qualifications
To qualify for the position of Pro Se Law Clerk, an individual must be a law school graduate. Prior pro se law clerk, staff attorney, judicial clerkship, or judicial externship experience preferred, but not required.
General Experience
Legal work experience is progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities while in military service may be credited, on a month-for-month basis whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation from law school.
Employee Benefits
Salary is just one component of the comprehensive compensation package offered by the Federal Court. Federal court employees are eligible for a full range of benefits that include 13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid holidays per year, a flexible work schedule, immediate matching Thrift Savings Plan, pre-tax programs (health, dependent care and transportation), and insurance plans (i.e., health, life, disability, and long-term care), car-pooling options and a transportation subsidy. Employer benefit contributions equate to no less than 33% of an employee’s total compensation.
For more information about federal court benefits visit the U.S. Courts website.
Miscellaneous
The Pro Se Law Clerk performs substantive screening of civil rights complaints and habeas corpus petitions filed by prisoners not represented by counsel, conducts research, and assists the entire Court in preparing opinions and orders in these cases. The Pro Se Law Clerk works independently and as part of a team, must review and monitor prisoner case docket activity to ensure proper progression, maintain internal case review records and statistics, prioritize work-flow, advise chambers’ and clerk’s office staff, and perform other administrative duties as required. The Pro Se Law Clerk reports to the judge supervising the Pro Se Law Clerk program and the Supervisory Pro Se Law Clerk.
Application Info
Qualified candidates must submit a cover letter, a resume that includes their name, address, telephone number, email address, education, work history, and a writing sample. The cover letter, resume, writing sample and all other supporting documentation should be emailed to: casd_hr@casd.uscourts.gov (PDF preferred) Attn: Pro Se Law Clerk Vacancy No. 25-29
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.