Law Clerk - Probate and Family Court -2027-2028

Title: Law Clerk - Probate and Family Court – 2027-2028

Pay Grade: Grade 16

Starting Pay: $83,495.88

Departmental Mission Statement: To deliver timely justice to the public by providing equal access to a fair, equitable and efficient forum to resolve family and probate legal matters and to assist and protect all individuals, families and children in an impartial and respectful manner.

Organizational Profile: http://mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/pfc/

Notes: 

The application period will remain open through February 12, 2027. However, we anticipate reviewing applications as they are received. Qualified candidates who apply early may be considered for interviews before the application deadline. We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.

This position currently offers a hybrid work schedule.

This clerkship term is from August 30, 2027 – August 25, 2028.

This is a posting to serve as a Probate and Family Court Law Clerk in courthouses located in either Metro Boston or Central West.

Metro Boston may be assigned to the following Divisions of the Probate and Family Court: Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk.

Central West may be assigned to the following Divisions of the Probate and Family Court: Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester.

Applicants must indicate whether they would like to be considered for a law clerk position in either Metro Boston, Central West, or both.

All applicants must upload a resume, prior writing sample, and current transcript with the online application at the Trial Court website. The resume must be in PDF format and its filename must start with the applicant’s last name. The current transcript may be official or unofficial. The prior writing sample must be in PDF format, its filename must start with the applicant’s last name, it can be no longer than 10 pages and must include a cover letter describing the writing sample and any supervisory review.  Applicants are also encouraged to submit a statement of interest.

Letters of recommendation are not requested or required. Applicants may be asked to submit additional materials after their application is reviewed, including another writing sample to be written in response to a fact pattern provided by the Probate and Family Court.

Position Summary: The law clerk position is responsible for performing legal research and writing assignments to assist the judges of the Probate and Family Court. The judicial clerkship term is one year and runs until August 25, 2028. There may be the opportunity to apply for an additional one-year clerkship term. Law clerks work directly with the judges, and under the supervision of the First Justice of the division to which they are assigned, supported by the research attorneys in their division, the Deputy Legal Counsel, and the Chief Justice.

A reliable car and the willingness to travel to courthouses throughout the Commonwealth are requirements of the position.  All law clerks must reside in Massachusetts for the duration of the law clerk term.

A judicial clerkship in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court offers a unique, exciting and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal career. The Probate and Family Court hears cases on subjects relating to all aspects of a person’s life, from birth to death. Law clerks in the Probate and Family Court are exposed to a wide variety of family, probate and equity cases, including adoption, paternity, custody, divorce, guardianships, legal bioethics, petitions to partition real estate, trust reformations and will contests. The law in these areas is constantly evolving and cases of first impression often confront the Court, making a clerkship experience in the Probate and Family Court interesting and challenging. Cutting edge issues such as the changing definition of family are not uncommon.

Law clerks apply to serve in either Metro Boston, Central West or both. The majority of opportunities to serve are in Metro Boston. All law clerks are assigned to rotations by the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court, with the final approval of the Chief Justice. The rotation system gives law clerks the opportunity to work with numerous judges and to gain a broader understanding of the work of the Probate and Family Court.

The Probate and Family 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.

Duties:

• 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
• Performing additional legal research and analysis and further review and revision of written work products as appropriate
• Discussing legal issues
• Attending hearings, portions of trials, and other courtroom proceedings, as needed
• Rotating among various Probate and Family Court locations every six months, as assigned by the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court
• Accurately and timely submitting all required administrative forms
• Maintaining law clerk offices and work areas, including updating pocket parts of books as necessary
• Performing related tasks as required

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 Microsoft Word and legal research services such as Lexis and 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, research attorneys, court staff, and other law clerks
• Genuine commitment to serving the full, one-year term of the clerkship in its entirety

Additional preferred qualifications include:

• Membership in the Massachusetts Bar and intent to practice law in Massachusetts
• Substantial legal research and writing experience, including prior experience as a judicial intern for a Probate and Family Court judge and/or participation on a law school journal
• Courses in probate and/or family law, research assistant positions, clinical placements, and prior work experience in the areas of probate and family law.
• Familiarity with legal research resources beyond Westlaw and Lexis
• Demonstrated commitment to government, public service, or access to justice