Description
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION
Judicial Law Clerk to District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson
JSP 11-13 ($75,374 - $107,428) dependent on background and experience
CLOSING DATE: Monday, June 1, 2026, or until filled.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications for a
Judicial Law Clerk to District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Responsibilities include management of civil
and criminal cases, research, preparation of legal memoranda, bench memos, orders, opinions, reports
and recommendations. Other duties include proofreading, verification of citations, assistance in
courtroom proceedings, and special projects.
Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications, prior years of legal work experience and bar admission.
For appointment at JSP Grade 12, the applicant must have one year of legal work experience and bar
membership. For appointment at JSP Grade 13, the applicant must have two years of legal work
experience and bar membership. Salary may be higher with previous experience as a law clerk to a
federal judge. The term of employment can range from 1-2 years. Employment will commence no
earlier than October 1, 2026. Preference will be given to those with post JD litigation experience, as well
as federal court experience. First consideration may be given to those who apply early.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must have the following minimum qualifications: (1) law school graduation in the top
quarter of the graduating class; (2) law review/journal or other significant legal writing experience;
(3) the equivalent of one full year of legal experience through employment, internships, and/or
externships; (4) good character, maturity, and willingness to work long hours; (5) excellent skills in
research, writing, proofreading, communication, and source and cite checking (including use of proper
Bluebook form); (6) proficiency in computer-assisted legal research; and (7) proficiency in Windows,
Word and WordPerfect. Prior law clerk experience, experience researching and writing motions,
memoranda of law, and appellate briefs in federal court, or post-graduate litigation experience is
preferred and may be considered as a valid substitute for class rank. Candidates must demonstrate an
ability and willingness to work collegially with others and to maintain confidentiality.
HOW TO APPLY
Résumés (including GPA and class rank, as well as day and evening telephone numbers), one writing
sample (no more than 15 pages), a law school transcript, references, a completed AO 78 Application for
Judicial Branch Federal Employment (application form is on the court website www.insd.uscourts.gov),
and a cover letter indicating why you are interested in the position, should be emailed to:
DJLawClerk@insd.uscourts.gov. Faxed and mailed résumés will not be accepted. The application
deadline is June 1, 2026.
The Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are subject to a complete FBI fingerprint check
and background investigation. Employment will be provisional and contingent upon the satisfactory
completion of the required background investigation. The Federal Financial Reform Act requires direct
deposit of federal wages for court employees. The United States District Court is a smoke-free
environment. Please note that federal judicial law clerks are governed by certain ethical guidelines that
generally prohibit the practice of law and significantly restrict the ability to engage in pro bono legal
representation and outside employment. Law clerks also are prohibited from engaging in any political
activities, whether partisan or nonpartisan.
