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Job Description

Attorney General's Office Clerkship/Externship

Summer Semester 2024

The Utah Attorney General's Office invites current law students to apply for clerkship and/or externship opportunities for Summer Semester 2024. Clerkships are paid positions and are not eligible for school credit. Externships are unpaid positions and may be eligible for school credit. To verify school credit eligibility, please speak with your college or university's internship coordinator.

Our law clerks perform a wide variety of tasks such as preparing legal documents, conducting legal analysis, and conducting research. Often, our law clerks will prepare draft opinions for cases that will act as the foundation for lawyers and judges. They will also help during the course of an action by preparing for a case and examining legal documents such as petitions, legal complaints, and affidavits.

The extent of each task will be determined by the division for which the student clerks. Please note that our Investigations Division does not have any attorneys and as such is not open for clerkships, but our Justice attorneys prosecute the cases that are investigated by our office.

Law clerks work part-time at a beginning rate of $26/hour for 1st year law students, $28 for 2nd year law students, and $30 for 3rd year law students or recent graduates.

Example of Duties

• Drafts litigation working documents; prepares documents consisting of concise decisions based upon facts of case interpretations of law and compliance with state and federal standards.
• Evaluates all the information to determine a case's status.
• Monitor, track and follow up on documentation, case files or other assignments to ensure appropriate timelines are met and action completed.
• Prepares cases by conducting legal research and gathering evidence.
• Reviews cases, applications, files, records, etc., to determine action to be taken.

Typical Qualifications

(includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry into position)

• The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.
• Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules.

Supplemental Information

• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.