Judge Laura Taylor Swain currently has an opening for a two-year New York-based clerkship commencing in late June/early July 2025 to assist Judge Swain in overseeing the PROMESA debt restructuring proceedings for Puerto Rico. Detailed job description and application procedures for this position are posted on: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/pdf/HR/25-02%20Court%20Attorney%20(%20Elbow%20Law%20Clerk%20for%20PROMESA%20Cases).pdf.
Judge Laura Taylor Swain currently has an opening for a two-year New York-based clerkship commencing in late June/early July 2025 to assist Judge Swain in overseeing the PROMESA debt restructuring proceedings for Puerto Rico. Detailed job description and application procedures for this position are posted on: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/pdf/HR/25-02%20Court%20Attorney%20(%20Elbow%20Law%20Clerk%20for%20PROMESA%20Cases).pdf.
*Starting salary for non-Federal employees: $99,325 - $172,621, depending on work experience.
Open until filled, preference given to applications submitted by 03/03/2025.
The appointee to the position will come to the position with prior experience in complex commercial litigation; prior trial or bankruptcy law experience is helpful but not necessary. The appointee will perform duties in the chambers of the judge overseeing the ongoing PROMESA debt restructuring proceedings for Puerto Rico. Although adjustment plans have been confirmed for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities, significant additional litigation work continues. The appointee will independently conduct legal research on complex matters, including issues of first impression, as well as on a wide range of issues coming before the Court, review and monitor case records/filings, draft proposed opinions, memorandum decisions, and orders, provide objective analytical and procedural advice to the judge, chambers staff, and court staff, provide information to attorneys and parties in interest, and have significant case management, and some staff management, responsibilities. Representative duties include:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. In order to be compensated with appropriated funds for a position within the continental United States, applicants must be: (1) U.S. citizen, (2) Lawful permanent resident (i.e., green card holder) who is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. ยง1324b(a)(3)(B). Note: Some noncitizen applicants who are permanent residents may not yet be eligible to apply for citizenship at the time they begin. Such individuals may still lawfully be employed if they provide an affidavit indicating that they intend to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so. Employees of the United States District Court are not included in the government's Civil Service classification and are at-will employees. All employees, interns and volunteers are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees available for public review on the USCourts.gov website.
MINIMAL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must have graduated with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school that has been accredited by a recognized accrediting authority or be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or federal court of general jurisdiction of the United States. In addition, applicants must also have specialized experience as shown in the table below.
Level Minimum Experience Requirement
CL-29
Two years of specialized experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at CL-28; and Admission to practice before the highest court of a state, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States.
CL-30
Three years of specialized experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at CL-29; and Admission to practice before the highest court of a state, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States.
CL-31
Four years of specialized experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at CL-30; and Admission to practice before the highest court of a state, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States.
Applicants must have graduated with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school that has been accredited by a recognized accrediting authority or be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or federal court of general jurisdiction of the United States.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will also be evaluated based on their application and interview.
Resume, legal analytical writing sample, cover letter, law school transcript, and three written professional and/or academic references.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To be considered for this position, please submit a resume detailing your education and work experience, along with a legal analytical writing sample, a cover letter, law school transcript, and three written professional and/or academic references, which must include contact information for the references. The cover letter must indicate the position for which you are applying, including the vacancy number, and explain how your education and/or experience relate to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Resumes without the cover letter addressing qualifications will not be considered.
It is preferred for the applications to be submitted in a single PDF document, and for candidates to include the vacancy number and position title in the subject field of the e-mail containing the application. Applications submitted as zip files, cloud files and/or links will not be accepted. Applications that do not conform to the above procedures will not be considered. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
Please submit your resume, writing sample, references, and cover letter to: Personnel@nysd.uscourts.gov
Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
