Career Law Clerk to Honorable Alfreda L. Sheppard

JobSummary

Law clerk duties will include, but are not limited to, reviewing briefs and other case filings; performing legal research; writing bench memoranda; and drafting orders and opinions in a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. Administrative duties will include serving as principal administrative manager of chambers; reviewing the active case docket daily and drafting standard scheduling orders as necessary; training and assisting the term law clerks; and managing the judge's schedule.

LowGrade

11

HighGrade

14

PromotionPotential

None

SubAgencyName

United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia

OrganizationCodes

JL/JL02

Relocation

False

HiringPath

• public

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

1

AgencyMarketingStatement

TravelCode

1

MajorDuties

• LAW CLERK DUTIES Research and analyze novel and complex legal issues in diverse areas of federal criminal law and civil litigation. Draft orders and memorandum opinions in civil and criminal cases for the judge's review. Prepare bench memoranda and other written materials for motions hearings and trial proceedings, as directed. Provide information and guidance to the judge on individual cases, as directed. Perform extensive computer legal research via Westlaw and/or Lexis. Monitor significant changes in federal statutes, sentencing guidelines, and Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit precedent. Review and edit orders, opinions and memoranda drafted by term law clerk. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES Closely monitor dockets of all pending cases and draft orders, as appropriate, for scheduling and discovery-related issues, default proceedings, service deficiencies, and other miscellaneous matters. Serve as chambers liaison for all outside personnel, including other District and Magistrate Judges, the Clerk of Court, Clerk's Office staff, U.S. Attorneys' Office, Federal Defenders Office, Probation and Pretrial Services Office and the Administrative Offices of the U.S. Courts. Train, assist and supervise a term law clerk. Receive, screen, and refer telephone and in-person callers. Monitor all incoming mail and email communication. Prepare in final form the judge's written correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, and other items. Assemble and attach supplemental material is required. Maintain the judge's calendar; schedule, change and cancel meetings, appointments, and hearings a directed; relieve the judge of routine details and oversee chambers supply stock and general chambers' management. Arrange all business travel itineraries for the judge, including plane tickets, hotel reservations, lodging plans, car rentals, and other arrangements. Perform other miscellaneous administrative duties as assigned by the judge and as necessary for the efficient operation of chambers.

Education

A graduate of an ABA accredited law school with an excellent law school record (top 25% ranking and law review editorial board experience is preferred). Possess a legal license, with Georgia Bar membership preferred but not required. Preference will be given to candidates with prior legal experience, experience as a judicial extern/intern or have worked as a paid law clerk.

Requirements

Candidates must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Employees will be hired provisionally pending the results of a background investigation.

Evaluations

We will review your resume and supporting documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant professional, educational, and work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified in the Qualifications section above, required for this position.

HowToApply

To apply for this position, qualified applicants should submit: A current resume, including a list of at least three professional references. A writing sample not heavily edited or rewritten by others, it should be primarily the work of the applicant. Copy of law school transcript. A cover letter describing the applicant's qualifications, skills and experience necessary to perform the job. The completed package should be submitted as a single pdf application package to jobs@gamd.uscourts.gov with the subject heading: Career Clerkship.

WhatToExpectNext

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

RequiredDocuments

A current resume, including a list of at least three professional references. A writing sample not heavily edited or rewritten by others, it should be primarily the work of the applicant. Copy of law school transcript. A cover letter describing the applicant's qualifications, skills and experience necessary to perform the job.

Benefits

Federal benefits include eleven paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System and matching and tax-deferred Thrift Savings Plan. Optional participation in Federal Health Insurance, Supplemental Dental/Vision Insurance, Federal Group Life Insurance Program, and Flexible Benefits Program. A comprehensive summary of benefit information is available for review via Benefits | United States Courts (uscourts.gov).

OtherInformation

Starting Date: June 8, 2026, or a date mutually agreed upon between judge and selected applicant. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees, which is available to applicants to review upon request. Employees of the United States District Court are Excepted Service Appointments. Excepted service appointments are "At-Will" and can be terminated with or without cause by the Court. Employees are required to use the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, or to fill the position sooner than the closing date, if a closing date is shown; any of these actions may occur without any prior written or other type of notice. Travel and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

0

ServiceType

02

AnnouncementClosingType

01

AgencyContactEmail

jobs@gamd.uscourts.gov

SecurityClearance

Not Required

DrugTestRequired

False

AdjudicationType