THIS RECRUITMENT IS TO ESTABLISH A REGISTER for current and future LAW CLERK vacancies in the Public Defense Services Department.

Salary Grade: 7

Law clerks assist attorneys in such tasks as preparing pleadings and legal memoranda, conducting legal research, reviewing and summarizing disclosure and records, meeting with clients at the jail, and observing court proceedings. Law clerks assist with research and writing assignments in the areas of criminal defense, juvenile delinquency proceedings, and dependency proceedings. Law clerks are expected to be recent law graduates who are either (a) awaiting bar results or character and fitness results OR (b) are currently preparing to take the bar. All applicants must demonstrate an interest in remaining with Pima County Public Defense Services after their clerkship and be promoted to trial attorney. Extensive efforts are made by the office to incorporate and include Law Clerks in various training and professional development opportunities with an eye toward becoming attorneys within the office.

This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.

(Work assignments may vary depending on the department's needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.)
 
Researches appeals and prepares drafts of preliminary briefs or arguments based on statutory law or decisions;
Conducts legal research through the use of computerized legal research systems such as Lexis and Westlaw, or statutes, U.S. Constitution, legal periodicals, law reviews, digests, legal encyclopedias, codes, regional and federal reporters, slip opinions and various case law;
Researches points and rules of law and prepares written reports summarizing research;
Updates or shepardizes case law to distinguish and analogize the case to the fact situation at hand;
Identifies applicable statutes or rules that are in force and effect for the particular matter;
Researches points and rules of law and prepares written reports summarizing research;
Performs research and studies legal records and comments to obtain data applicable to the case under consideration;
Drafts motions, responses and legal memoranda; Interviews victims and witnesses;
Serves copies of pleadings on opposing counsel and delivers documents to various county offices;
Conducts routine investigations on less serious charges for background and basic information;
Confers with attorneys regarding legal issues;
Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties;
May supervise, train, and assign and review the work of other law clerks;
Maintains electronic and paper files as necessary.
 
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
 
Knowledge of:

• legal code of ethics and terminology;
• legal research methods;
• statutes, codes and case laws;
• rules of court, criminal justice and court systems;
• Lexis or Westlaw data information systems;
• principles, procedures and methods of legal research;
• civil and criminal procedures;
• Constitutional Law;
• Arizona Rules of Evidence.

• performing legal research using appropriate techniques and methods;
• interviewing techniques appropriate to a legal investigation;
• understanding and applying legal terminology;
• processing and preparing summaries of legal opinions from cases from Arizona and other jurisdictions;
• establishing and maintaining effective working relationships;
• communicating effectively;
• legal writing and formatting.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:                       
 
(1) Second or third-year law student in or graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

OR:

(2)  Completion of coursework from an accredited college of law in criminal procedures, constitutional law, and legal research.
(Additional relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college of law may be substituted.)
 
Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application.  Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Selection Procedure:
Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum/desired qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience.  Candidates meeting the minimum/desired qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process. 

Licenses and Certificates: Some positions require a valid Arizona Class D driver's license at the time of application.  Failure to maintain the required licensure shall be grounds for termination.
 
Special Notice Items: The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County.
 
Physical/Sensory Requirements:  Physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position.

EEO Information: Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.