Job Announcement - Term Law Clerk Tuesday, December 17, 2019

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NORTH DAKOTA
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: No. 19-12
Position: Term Law Clerk to Judge Nominee Daniel M. Traynor
Location: Bismarck, North Dakota
Starting Salary Range: $62,236 - $88,704 (JSP 11 - 13)
Closing Date: Until positions are filled - applications will be considered as
received.
Position Summary
The position of Term Law Clerk to Judge Nominee Daniel M. Traynor may be a one- to two-year
position. The position will begin upon the appointment of Judge Nominee Traynor, anticipated in
early 2020. The position is located in Bismarck, ND. Principal duties of the position include:
• Research substantive issues of federal and state law
• Draft legal memoranda, opinions and orders
• Prepare the Judge for hearings, trials or mediations
• Assist the Judge with case management
• Generally provide legal counsel and support to the Judge
• Exhibit the highest standards of excellence and integrity
Qualifications
To qualify for the position of term law clerk, an individual must be a law school graduate (or be
certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting
conferment of degree) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or the
Association of American Law Schools, and have demonstrated one of the following
accomplishments or proficiencies:
(a) A graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law;
(b) Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school of the
approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American
Law Schools;
(c) Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school;
(d) Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
(e) Proficiency in legal studies that, in the opinion of the appointing judge, is the
equivalency of one of the above. Some examples of criteria that are considered to be
acceptable as equivalent include:
1. Publication of a noteworthy article in a law school student publication or
other scholarly publication;
2. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as
election to The Order of the Coif or The Order of Barristers;
3. Winning of a moot court or trial advocacy competition or membership on a
moot court or trial advocacy team that represented the law school in
competition with other law schools.
This list is not all-inclusive; the determination of an acceptable equivalence rests with the appointing
judge. One to two years of practice experience as a litigation attorney is preferred. The number of
years of legal work experience possessed, as well as bar membership, impacts salary. 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.
Benefits
Benefits include federal employees' group health insurance, life insurance, flexible spending
accounts, dental and vision insurance. The position is subject to mandatory Electronic Funds
Transfer (direct deposit) of net pay.
Background Investigation Requirements
The selectee considered for this position is required to undergo an FBI Background Check and/or
Investigation and social media inquiry as a condition of employment. The selectee may be appointed
provisionally, and retention will depend upon favorable suitability determination of the background
investigation.
Application Procedure and Information
Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Appointment is
contingent upon providing proof of United States citizenship or proof of authorization to work in
the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Applicants
selected for interviews must travel at their own expense and relocation expenses will not be
reimbursed. Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointments (not civil service). Excepted
appointments are at will and can be terminated with or without cause.
Qualified persons are invited to submit:
• cover letter indicating availability for a one- or two-year term,
• current résumé,
• completed application for judicial branch employment, form AO-78 (available at
http://www.uscourts.gov/forms/AO078.pdf ),
• two samples of legal research and writing,
• undergraduate and law school academic transcripts,
• two professional or academic references,
• letters of recommendation may be submitted, but are not required
Submit application materials to NDD_Jobs@ndd.uscourts.gov. All documents should be in .pdf
format.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The Court reserves the right to modify
the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur
without prior written or other notice. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar
classification, within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Appointing Judge may
elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without
re-posting the position. Employees are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct, which
is available to applicants for review upon request.
Equal Opportunity Employer