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 two Pro Se Law Clerk positions. |
| Location | San Diego, CA |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 05/04/2026 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade | JSP |
| Salary | $85,307 - $186,785 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | http://www.casd.uscourts.gov |
| Announcement Number | 26-20 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
Pro Se Law Clerks perform substantive screening of state and federal immigration habeas corpus petitions and civil rights complaints. Pro Se Law Clerks conduct research and assist the entire Court in preparing opinions and orders in these cases. Pro Se Law Clerks work independently and as part of a team, 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 duties as required and dependent on the Court’s caseload. Pro Se Law Clerks report 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, immigration or staff attorney, judicial clerkship, or judicial externship experience preferred, but not required.
Bar Membership and Salary Level:
- To be placed at Grades 12, 13 or 14, you must be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.
- *For attorneys entering the federal court system for the first time, to qualify for grade 12, an individual must have one year of legal work experience after graduation from law school. To qualify for grade 13, an individual must have two years of legal work experience after graduation from law school. To qualify for grade 14, an individual must have three years of legal work experience after graduation from law school. All entering attorneys will be placed at salary range minimum.
- For current federal employees, salary placement will be determined by highest previous grade and step.
Legal Work 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.
Miscellaneous
Pro Se Law Clerks perform substantive screening of state and federal immigration habeas corpus petitions and civil rights complaints. Pro Se Law Clerks conduct research and assist the entire Court in preparing opinions and orders in these cases. Pro Se Law Clerks work independently and as part of a team, 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 duties as required and dependent on the Court’s caseload. Pro Se Law Clerks report 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, writing sample, and two references.
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 Nos. 26-20)
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.