Description

POSITION:  Pro Se Law Clerk
POSITION TYPE:  Temporary, Full-Time
SALARY RANGE:  JSP 11-14 ($74,678 - $163,514) depending on experience, qualifications, and bar membership.
CLOSING DATE:  May 4, 2026 or Until Filled

Position Details: 
The United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is seeking a temporary part-time pro se law clerk. This position is located in the Clerk’s Office of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky. Duty station may be Louisville, Owensboro, or Paducah. Teleworkers are acceptableand need not reside in the District. This position is currently funded through 09/30/2026 but may be extended beyond that dependent upon additional funding. 

Representative Duties:

• Perform substantive legal review after filing of all prisoner and inmate petitions and motions, including state habeas corpus petitions, motions to vacate sentence, and civil rights complaints. 
• Research case law and draft appropriate orders and opinions for judicial review.
• Provide information to all judges and court staff on legal issues unique to pro se cases.
• Evaluate present procedures to identify improvements in handling and processing pro se cases.
• Assist the clerk’s office in resolving procedural and case management issues related to pro se cases.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits: 

•  Paid federal holidays
• Paid sick leave accrued at a rate of four (4) hours per bi-weekly pay period
• Paid parking if physically stationed in Louisville
• Additional paid leave benefits may be available if term is extended beyond 90 days.
• Additional benefits may be available for federal government employees transferring without a break in service.

Information for Applicants:

• This position is temporary and full-time.
• Employees of the U.S. District Court are not covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s civil service classification system or regulations, and are considered “at will” employees.
• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or a person who owes allegiance to the United States or is in the U.S. under certain legal status and actively seeking  citizenship. Learn more about citizenship requirements here.
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit is required.
• As a condition of employment, an FBI Background Investigation is required.
• We will not pay relocation or interview travel expenses.
• Only the most qualified applicants will be interviewed.
• The Court reserves the right to withdraw or to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to fill the position earlier than the closing date, any of which may occur without written notice.

HOW TO APPLY:

Go to: https://opportunities.ilnb.uscourts.gov/Employment/appform.cfm?ref=pex2sd8r&pos=26-04

You will need to upload the following as four separate PDF documents:

1.  A cover letter describing relevant experience
2.  Your resume
3.  Three professional references
4.  A judiciary application (available for download here)

For additional information on the United States District Court, visit our website at: https://www.kywd.uscourts.gov

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Requirements

Applicant must be a graduate from an ABA accredited law school of recognized standing. Preferred qualifications include superior writing skills and experience in prisoner litigation. Bar membership is also strongly preferred.

Incumbent must have the ability to analyze complex legal issues and understand a wide range of legal concepts, principles, and practices as they relate to pro se litigation; write and perform legal research accurately and expeditiously; communicate complex issues in simple terms; set priorities; and manage work with limited supervision. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook required.

The table below shows the number of years of legal work experience required to qualify for appointment as a law clerk at the applicable JSP grade levels. Please note that appointment to JSP-12 or above requires that the candidate be a member of the bar of a state, territory, or federal court of general jurisdiction. For appointment at the JSP-14 level, at least two of the three required years of legal work experience must have been served in the federal judiciary as a chambers law clerk, staff attorney, pro se law clerk, bankruptcy appellate panel law clerk, or death penalty law clerk.

JSP Grade Level    Years of Legal Work Experience    Bar Membership Required
11                             0                                                              No                                             
12                             1                                                              Yes                                            
13                             2                                                              Yes                                            
14                             3                                                              Yes                                            

Legal work experience is progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities while on military duty may be credited on a month-for-month basis, whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation from law school.