Candidate
Employer
University
Law Clerk – Criminal Defense
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Job Description
Law Clerk | Commonwealth of Kentucky
The Tone:
This is a full-time role for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, located in Stanton, KY. The Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) is a nationally recognized public defender system committed to ensuring fairness, justice, and the protection of individual liberties within the criminal justice process. This position directly supports the criminal defense team in the Stanton Trial Office, contributing to the defense of indigent clients. The role plays a vital part in upholding the rights of vulnerable members of the community and ensuring equitable legal representation.
The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time, eligible for overtime pay, 37.5 hr/wk
• Location: In-person, Stanton, KY
• Pay: $3,600.84–$5,401.34 Monthly
• Team: Works as part of a defense team including attorneys, investigators, alternative sentencing workers, and office administrative staff in the Stanton Trial Office.
• Mission: Provide essential legal support to the criminal defense team to protect the liberties of indigent defendants on behalf of the people of Kentucky.
What You’ll Actually Do
• Legal Support: Support attorneys representing indigent defendants through legal research and writing.
• Client Interaction: Conduct interviews with clients to gather necessary information for cases.
• Case Assistance: Perform various other duties as required to assist the criminal defense team.
• Work Environment: Fulfill responsibilities primarily in both office and courtroom settings.
• Travel: Travel as required to complete job duties and case responsibilities.
The Must-Haves
• Background: Completion of twenty-four semester hours at an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• Experience: No prior specific work experience is required; ideal candidates have recently completed all coursework for a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or recently received a license to practice law.
• Skills: Exhibit exceptional planning and organizational skills, demonstrate self-direction, and be comfortable collaborating effectively with a defense team.
• Bonus: Plans to take the next available bar exam or has recently received a license to practice law; demonstrates a desire to help the most vulnerable in their communities.
