Law Clerk - Juvenile Court Department 2026-2027

Title: Law Clerk – Juvenile Court Department 2026-2027

Pay Grade: Grade 16

Starting Pay: $77,452.44

Departmental Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Juvenile Court to protect children from abuse and neglect and promote opportunities for children to reside in safe, stable, permanent family environments whenever possible, to strengthen families when their children are in need of services, to rehabilitate juveniles, to protect the public from delinquent and criminal activity while holding offenders accountable and addressing the harm suffered by the community and the victim, and to decide all cases fairly and impartially with dedication, integrity and professionalism.

Notes:

• This posting is for Law Clerk positions to start on August 31, 2026. The position will end on August 27, 2027, with a possibility of renewal for an additional year.
• This posting will remain open until filled; however, preference will be given to candidates that applied during the initial 14 day posting period.

This posting is for Law Clerk positions in Eastern or Western Massachusetts.  All law clerks are assigned by the Deputy Legal Counsel – Research Services, with the final approval of the Chief Justice, to rotations.  In Eastern Massachusetts, the law clerks may be assigned to any of the following eight divisions:  Bristol, Barnstable, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester.  In Western Massachusetts, the law clerks may be assigned to any of the following three divisions: Hampden County, Franklin/Hampshire County, and Berkshire County. The rotation system gives law clerks the opportunity to work with numerous judges and to gain a broader understanding of the work of the Juvenile court.

New law clerks are required to report to their assigned courthouses in-person for the first three months.  After that period, they may begin a hybrid work schedule at the discretion of the department head and pursuant to Trial Court Policy. 

Please read the following instructions carefully before starting the Trial Court online application process. Applications that do not comply with the following, may be screened out.

1. Resumes: Resumes must be converted to PDFs (Microsoft Word and text documents will not be accepted) and uploaded with the online application. Resumes should not include a list of references.

2. GPA: Unless your school does not provide a GPA, you must include your cumulative law school GPA on your resume.

3. Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation are optional. Applicants who choose to submit a letter of recommendation must do so via the online application process. Therefore, before starting the online applications, applicants must have PDFs of any letters of recommendation ready to upload. Please do not submit letters of recommendation by other means, such as mail, email, fax, or hand-delivery.

4. Writing Sample: Applicants shall submit a writing sample in response to the question listed at the end of the job posting. Applicants must submit the writing sample via email to the following address: admin-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us.  The sample must be submitted by email only (regular mail, fax or walk-ins will not be accepted).

Please note that a complete application must include a writing sample, as described in the prompt provided at the end of this posting. The writing sample must be submitted by email only to the address indicated. Applications will not be considered complete without submission of the required writing sample.

5. Other Materials: Applicants selected for interviews should be prepared to submit additional materials if requested, including a statement of interest, an official law school transcript and an additional writing sample.

Position Summary: The law clerk is responsible for performing legal research and writing assignments to assist the judges of the Juvenile Court.  Law clerks work directly with the judges, and under the supervision of the Deputy Legal Counsel – Research Services, Assistant Deputy Court Administrator – Chief Legal Counsel, and the Chief Justice.  

A reliable car and the willingness to travel to courthouses throughout the Commonwealth are requirements of the position.  

A judicial clerkship in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court offers a unique, exciting, and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal career.  The Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over delinquency, youthful offender, children requiring assistance, care and protection, guardianship, and adoption proceedings.     

Duties:

Assists judges in matters before the court by:  

Discussing legal issues with judges;  

Performing careful and accurate legal research and analysis, using both online and book resources;  

Clearly and concisely conveying results of research and analysis to judges, orally and in writing;  

Preparing well-written and error-free legal research memoranda, and drafting findings of fact, conclusions of law, rationales, judgments and memoranda of decision;  

Completing assignments in a timely manner and within deadlines established by judges;  

Performing additional legal research and analysis and further review and revision of written work products as appropriate;

and Attending hearings, portions of trials, and other courtroom proceedings, as needed.  

Minimum Requirements:

These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Law Clerk:  

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school or eligibility to sit for the Massachusetts bar exam, as of the start of the clerkship.

Excellent legal writing and communication skills.  

Excellent legal research and analytical skills, using both online and book resources.  

High professional and ethical standards.  

Access to a reliable car and the willingness and ability to travel to courthouses as assigned.  

Experience and knowledge in the use of personal computers, including word processing programs such as Microsoft Word and legal research services such as Lexis or Westlaw.  

Demonstrated ability to follow written and oral instructions.  

Demonstrated ability to manage, prioritize, and complete simultaneous assignments from various judges.  

Demonstrated ability to work well independently while maintaining productivity and demonstrating good judgment.  

Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and otherwise complete assignments in a timely manner.  

Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a professional setting, including judges, managers, court staff, and other law clerks.  

Genuine commitment to serving the full term of the clerkship.                          

Additional preferred qualifications include:            

Current legal practice or intent to practice law in Massachusetts.  

Substantial legal research and writing experience, including prior experience as a judicial intern for a Juvenile Court judge.  

Courses in juvenile law, research assistant positions, prior work experience in the areas of juvenile law and clinical placements.  

Familiarity with legal research resources beyond Westlaw and Lexis.  

Demonstrated commitment to government or public service.  

The Juvenile Court invites well-rounded and distinguished recent law school graduates and practicing attorneys to apply for the clerkship positions.

Solid academic credentials are important, however, there are no rigid requirements regarding class rank or standing.  

All law clerks must reside in Massachusetts for the duration of the law clerk term.

Fall 2026-2027 Law Clerk Application Hypothetical

INSTRUCTIONS:  Please format your response as a legal memorandum addressed to Judge Brown.  The memo cannot be longer than 5 pages, double spaced, in Times New Roman size 12 font.  Please email your response to admin-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us.

Judge Brown has two cases scheduled for jury trial in the Juvenile Court, both of which involve carrying a firearm without a license pursuant to G. L. c. 269, § 10 (a).  She asks that you submit a memorandum addressing potential sentencing options for the two juvenile defendants, Eliza Hill and Gabriel Martin.

Eliza Hill has been involved with the Juvenile Court off and on since the age of fourteen.  At age seventeen, while she was on probation for shoplifting, Eliza was caught with a firearm and placed in Department of Youth Services (DYS) custody.  Eliza was subsequently indicted as a youthful offender under G. L. c. 119, § 54, on a charge of carrying a firearm without a license per G. L. c. 269, § 10 (a).  She remained in a DYS facility for six months awaiting trial as her father was unable to post bail.  Eliza has shown remarkable growth during her six months in DYS custody.  She has actively participated in group and individual therapy, maintained the highest behavioral level, and is currently working toward obtaining her general equivalency diploma (GED).  Eliza’s father wants her back home and plans to support her progress.

• If Eliza Hill is adjudicated a youthful offender, what sentencing options are available to Judge Brown?
• Judge Brown expects the Commonwealth to recommend that Eliza be sentenced to eighteen months in a house of correction.  Judge Brown expects the juvenile’s attorney to recommend she be committed to DYS until her twenty-first birthday but to suspend that commitment with conditions of probation.  Does Judge Brown have the authority to give either of those sentences in a Youthful Offender case?  Why or why not?

Sixteen-year-old Gabriel Martin was a front seat passenger in a car that was lawfully stopped for a motor vehicle offense.  The police officer effectuating the stop saw a firearm in plain view at Gabriel’s feet.  Gabriel was charged via a delinquency complaint pursuant to G. L. c. 119, § 58, on a charge of carrying a firearm without a license per G. L. c. 269 § 10 (a).  Gabriel had no prior record and has been in full compliance with his conditions while out on bail awaiting trial. 

• If Gabriel Martin is found delinquent, what sentencing options are available to Judge Brown? 
• Judge Brown expects that the Commonwealth will request Gabriel be committed to DYS until age eighteen, and that the juvenile’s attorney will suggest a commitment to DYS until his eighteenth birthday suspended with conditions of probation. Does Judge Brown have the authority to suspend a delinquency commitment with probation under the circumstances of Gabriel’s case? Why or why not?