Salary : $82,968.00 Annually
Location : Bismarck, ND
Job Type: Full-Time/Regular
Job Number: 2026-U3-BIS-58-LC
Department: Unit 3 - District Court Judge Chambers - SCJD
Opening Date: 09/09/2026

General Summary or Purpose
The current Bismarck postings for a Staff Attorney-District Court and Law Clerk are to broaden the applicant pool for one successful candidate to be hired to work within the South Central Judicial District Court Judge Chambers in Bismarck.

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and a copy of law school transcript.

The current Bismarck postings for a Staff Attorney-District Court and Law Clerk are to broaden the applicant pool for one successful candidate to be hired to work within the South Central Judicial District Court Judge Chambers located in Bismarck.

If you are drawn to and want to play an integral role in supporting a judge by providing extensive legal research and analysis of legal issues and cases to make recommendations on the proposed disposition of cases, this opportunity may be right for you. This position provides the successful candidate the opportunity to become a Staff Attorney-District Court which requires two years of experience and a license to practice law in the State of ND. The Ideal Candidate:

• Easily engages and communicates with others orally and in writing.
• Enjoys researching, analyzing, and writing.
• Obsesses with detail ensuring accuracy of work.
• Deliberately and thoroughly organizes and analyzes information.
• Demonstrates an ability to provide sound judgment including the ability to think critically, identify, break down, evaluate and write information in a concise and logical manner.
• Thrives on having a constant workload and organizing, planning and prioritizing work priorities.
• Finds it rewarding to be highly dependable.
• Seamlessly works as part of the courtroom team in providing necessary trial preparations including court recording.

The Ideal Candidate Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris doctor degree from an accredited law school;
• Some related experience conducting legal research and legal writing; and
• Requires DAR (Digital Audio Recording) certification or the AAERT (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) CER (Certified Electronic Court Reporter) certification or the ability to obtain within six months of job entry. A comparable certification by another state court or federal court may be substituted for the DAR or AAERT certification.

Major Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Title of Immediate Supervisor: Supreme Court Justice/District Court Judge
Accountable for (Job Titles): None
FLSA Status: Exempt

The Law Clerk is responsible for providing assistance to judges or justices by providing legal research, preparing draft opinions, preparing case summaries, and preparing legal memoranda. Works closely under the direction of the judge or justice. If assigned, makes a verbatim record of district and juvenile court proceedings using audio recording equipment, writing court logs, and noting appearances and essential events during the proceedings. Performs courtroom duties.

Positions assigned to this classification follow routines and processes established by others.

• Conducts legal research, analyzes legal issues, and examines applicable laws prior to court decisions.
  • Reads briefs, prior opinions, transcripts, court records, and documents.
  • Analyzes legal issues and arguments.
  • Performs legal research for statutes, legal precedents, regulations, or legislative history on relevant issues pertaining to the cases(s).
  • Provides interpretations applicable to the case(s) under the jurisdiction of the court.
• Writes legal memoranda and statement of issues involved, including suggestions and recommendations to the justice or judge. Drafts proposed opinions as directed.
• Complies references on law and decisions necessary for legal determinations.
• Reads briefs, petitions, motions, opinions, and extracts pertinent points of fact and law.
• Reviews, edits, refines, and proofs opinions.
• Attends hearings and/or trials where research may be required to assist the court.
• Performs research and/or assists in the compilation of information and data needed for special projects that may be requested by judge(s).
• A district court law clerk accurately records proceedings and logs appearances and notes of significant events of court and jury trial proceedings as required statute, court rule, or court policy. Requires travel within and outside of the district for court proceedings assigned to the district judge or referee.
• Performs clerking duties in courtroom, administers oath, marks documents, maintains logs, drafts orders, and completes forms, and transfers physical storage devices, files, and records to the clerk of district court for storage or filing.
• Performs other duties of a comparable level or type or as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Certification or Licensing Requirements
Requires a juris doctor degree from an accredited law school and some related experience in conducting legal research and legal writing.

Valid driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Requires DAR (Digital Audio Recording) certification or the AAERT (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) CER (certified electronic court reporter) certification or ability to obtain within six months of job entry. A comparable certification by another state court or federal court may be substituted for the DAR or AAERT certification.
Knowledge, Skill, & Physical Requirements
Knowledge Requirements:

• Knowledge of general law, statutory law, and court case precedent.
• General knowledge of court administration and office management policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of court system operations, court procedures, and rules including legal rules of evidence, civil procedures, criminal procedures, and appellate procedures.
• Knowledge of logical legal theorems, their application to legal precedent, rules of legal interpretation, and statutory interpretation.

Skill Requirements:

• Skilled in conducting legal research and the application and interpretation of legal concepts, principles, and legal theorems to the specifics of the individual cases.
• Skilled in the use of legal research resources and software (i.e. Westlaw, LawDesk, Miche, Premise, etc.) and general office support applications (i.e. word processing and other desktop software/applications).
• Skilled in formulating, writing, and drafting legal opinions in a clear, concise, and coherent manner in accordance with the requirements of the court.
• Skilled in applying fundamental legal principles, rules, concepts, precedents, and cases in addressing individual cases and legal problems/issues.

Physical Requirements:

• The essential functions of the job typically require: grasping, sitting, standing, walking, talking, hearing, feeling, seeing, reaching, and fingering requirements or other reasonable methods that accommodate an individual in completing the essential functions of the job.
• Employee is subject to some limited travel in the performance of the job. Employee has control over travel schedule and can adjust schedules due to adverse weather or travel conditions.
• Physical requirements can typically be characterized as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

The North Dakota Court System offers an excellent benefits package including employer paid family health insurance premiums, retirement contributions and generous vacation and sick leave accruals, visit:
01

I understand that the starting salary is $6,914 and that my application will not be considered if the starting salary is not acceptable.

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a valid driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a juris doctor degree from an accredited law school?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have experience conducting legal research and legal writing?

• Yes
• No

05

If this question does not apply, state N/A. Please describe in detail your experience conducting legal research and legal writing.
06

Have you ever worked as a law clerk for a justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court?

• Yes
• No

07

Have you ever worked as a law clerk for a North Dakota District Court?

• Yes
• No

08

Describe your level of familiarity with Microsoft Word, Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Odyssey.
Required Question