LAW CLERK

The salary for this position is: $5,275 - $7,034 monthly

Thurston County Superior Court is recruiting for a Law Clerk! As a Law Clerk within Thurston County's Superior Court, you will perform research of legal issues as assigned by judges and perform legal research for the court regarding administrative issues under the supervision of judges and a Staff Attorney. Law Clerks review motions, briefs, and memoranda; research cited law; prepare written memoranda, reports, and draft orders; and make recommendations to senior staff and judges.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform legal research projects as assigned, research all statutes and case law necessary to complete projects.
• Perform legal research in cases and advise judge(s) as to questions of law, statutes and legal process as required.
• Receive, organize, and review motions of Court cases and prepare written/oral summaries and recommendations for the judges for briefs and memoranda pertaining to complex litigation; review legal documents and assist judge with organization.
• Perform legal research of proposed legislation, Court rules, and Court administrative concerns, and provide written evaluations and recommendations based on findings as assigned by the Presiding Judge.
• Draft legal memoranda and prepare reports.
• Coordinate with Court staff in contacting and disseminating information to lawyers and litigants and the scheduling of conferences and hearings.
• Communicate on behalf of the Judge or Court with lawyers, litigants, and the public at the direction of the judicial officer, staff attorney or Court administrator.

To view the full job classification, click here: Law Clerk

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment – Office setting in Olympia, Washington. 
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Travel Requirements - Occasional travel between Courthouses may be required.
• Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public.

WHO WE ARE:

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

   

DESIRED SKILLS: 

• Candidates for this position should have excellent legal writing and research skills.
• Graduation from an accredited law school with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better.
• Successful passing of the Washington State Bar Examination or admission to the Washington State Bar within one year from date of hire.

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact Matt Morbello, matt.morbello@co.thurston.wa.us

This position is:

• At-Will and works at the pleasure of the Board of Judges
• NOT represented by a Union
• May be eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
• Contingent upon passing a background check

Items requested for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Supplemental Questions 
• Writing Sample(s): Please submit a legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages in PDF format. You may submit a self-contained section from a longer piece, but please include a brief cover page explaining its context. The most helpful samples are objective legal memoranda, briefs, or scholarly papers that demonstrate strong analytic, writing, and citation skills. The sample must reflect your own work and should not have been heavily edited by others or AI. Please redact any confidential client information. You should attach this document to your application along with your resume and letter of interest.

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498.  Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.