Law Clerk I - Post-Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”) Unit

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Agency Description

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania is the Philadelphia County Court System composed of two courts: the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. Our mission is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia.   

About Department

The Criminal Section has jurisdiction over all felony cases and appeals from Municipal Court for a trial de novo (new trial) including a right to a trial by jury. Among the types of cases that fall within the assignments of the Trial Division Criminal Section are homicide cases, capital PCRA cases and felony cases. The Probation Department and Pretrial Services are included in the Criminal Section of the Division.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Position Summary

This is a full-time in-person position requiring work directly with court personnel, and judges in the Philadelphia Courts.

The PCRA Law Clerk I is a full-time, in person position for the Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Trial Division. An employee in this class is responsible for professional legal work as a law clerk reviewing and drafting dispositions on petitions for relief under the Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). The primary task of a law clerk in the PCRA Unit is to review motions and case history to draft 907 notices, orders, and opinions for review by the designated PCRA Judge. Work performed involves a greater degree of expertise due to the greater volume of cases for review and the need to function in a specialized area of law.  

By Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, effective September 1, 2005, all law clerks employed by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Courts are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the division/section of the court in which they work and are employed. Further, in courts with no formally established divisions or sections, the law clerks are prohibited from appearing as counsel in the court itself.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position. They are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be assigned and required.

• Review petitions and procedural history
• Research legal sources for briefs or opinions based on statutory law, decisions, and precedents of higher courts.
• Searches for and studies legal records and documents to obtain data applicable to cases under consideration.
• Prepares rough drafts of opinions.
• Prepares high-quality briefs, orders, and opinions by reviewing documents, files, and case correspondence and submit to assigned judicial authority for review and signature in a timely manner.
• Completes docketing and service of notices, orders, and opinions.
• Maintains files on case documents and all related correspondence.
• Completes administrative tasks associated with assigned caseload.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, members of the judiciary, court and departmental administrators, and diverse court clientele and members of the public.
• Performs related work as required.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide general information about the assigned functions.
• Performs related work as required.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Standard clerical office conditions.
• Direct contact with diverse clientele.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the components and functions of the justice system.
• Knowledge of legal research techniques and preparation of memoranda, petitions, and similar instruments.
• Ability to prepare for judicial approval, 907 notices, orders, and opinions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of the judiciary, court personnel, departmental administrators, attorneys, and associates.
• Ability to perform administrative tasks in an effective and organized fashion.
• Ability to use Westlaw and criminal court databases.
• Ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

1. Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. 

AND

1. Three years of experience as a law clerk or practicing attorney preferred.
2. Knowledge of the techniques and processes of legal research and preparation of memoranda, petitions, and similar instruments.
3. Ability to prepare for judicial approval, 907 notices, orders, and opinions.
4. Strong organizational, communication, and writing skills.
5. Superior writing and analytical skills.
6. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
7. Satisfactory clearance of a criminal background investigation.
8. Must work in person (not remote).

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Salary: $60,656   Annually

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Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

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