Pro Se Law Clerk - Part-Time

Court Name/Organization Alabama Middle District Court

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is accepting applications for the position of a part-time (20 hours per week) pro se law clerk. This position involves working directly with judges drafting orders. Funding for the position is from year to year, reviewed annually, and based on the number of case filings. The Pro Se Law Clerk provides legal advice and assistance to the court in connection with prisoner and pro se cases.

Location Montgomery, AL

Opening and Closing Dates 01/28/2026 - Open Until Filled

Appointment Type Internship/Externship

Classification Level/Grade JSP 11/1 - JSP 14/1

Salary $74,678 - $163,514

Announcement Number 26-01

The pro se law clerk will work independently, drafting all required daily and dispositive orders for assigned cases, including cases filed by pro se prisoners. Orders are expected to be ready for judicial review and signature with minimal editing. Areas of responsibility include 28 U.S.C. § 2254, 28 U.S.C. § 2255, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens. The clerk is responsible for managing the assigned prisoner caseload daily.

The clerk must be a subject matter expert on the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), the Eighth Amendment, and Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit precedent governing habeas corpus, conditions of confinement, and other areas of prisoner litigation. The clerk may combine this position with another part-time clerk position in another federal court but is otherwise prohibited from practicing law in any other capacity.

Remote work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an exemplary academic record and excellent research and writing skills. Candidates who possess prior prisoner litigation experience or federal clerkship experience are preferred. Computer assisted legal research and word processing ability are essential. Light lifting may be required. Some travel may be required.

Legal research and writing; conducting computer legal research; drafting orders and opinions for judicial review; providing information, guidance, and advice to judges on legal issues relating to each case; and making recommendations to judges on individual cases.

Communicating with other courts, state and federal agencies, counsel, litigants and court staff regarding court rules and procedural issues, calendaring, and other litigation matters. Keeping abreast of changes in the law from the Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit.

Employees of the U.S. District Court have access to an excellent benefits package which includes the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Thrift Savings Plan, health, life, dental & vision insurance, long-term care insurance, flexible spending program, paid federal holidays, and a leave accrual program. For FERS retirement, employees contribute to the Basic Benefit Plan through payroll deductions and receive a benefit, which is calculated at retirement.

Additional information about federal judiciary employee benefits and compensation can be found on the Judiciary's website.

• A resume, including a list of professional references
• A writing sample of no more than ten pages

Incomplete submissions and submissions not received in a single PDF file may not be considered.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, or to fill the position earlier than the closing date, any of which may occur without prior written notice.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.