# Judicial Law Clerks

> Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/judicial-law-clerks
- SOC code: 23-1012.00
- Career family: Legal
- Median annual pay: $64,920 (10th percentile $46,180, 90th percentile $113,140)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.8%
- Openings a year: 1,500
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CEI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 10 |
| Investigative (I) | 50 |
| Artistic (A) | 18 |
| Social (S) | 40 |
| Enterprising (E) | 59 |
| Conventional (C) | 68 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 96/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 75/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 74/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 71/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 68/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing, Speaking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination

## Knowledge

Law and Government, English Language, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Communications and Media, Customer and Personal Service, History and Archeology, Economics and Accounting

## Also called

Appellate Law Clerk, Attorney Law Clerk, Career Judicial Law Clerk, Career Law Clerk, Chancery Clerk, Court of Appeals Law Clerk, District Clerk, District Court Law Clerk, Family Law Associate, Federal Appellate Clerk

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Law](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2201) (CIP 2201, 182 colleges)

## Related careers

- [Lawyers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lawyers): $159,670 median pay
- [Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/judges-magistrate-judges-and-magistrates): $153,990 median pay
- [Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/administrative-law-judges-adjudicators-and-hearing-officers): $117,860 median pay
- [Paralegals and Legal Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/paralegals-and-legal-assistants): $62,890 median pay
- [Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/legal-secretaries-and-administrative-assistants): $55,570 median pay
- [Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/court-reporters-and-simultaneous-captioners): $72,420 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.