What are the responsibilities and job description for the Law Clerk for the Oregon Tax Court position at Judicial Department?
Initial Posting Date:
03/18/2025
Application Deadline:
04/21/2025
Agency:
Judicial Department
Salary Range:
$6,870 - $7,953
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Law Clerk for the Oregon Tax Court
Job Description:
Law Clerk
The Oregon Tax Court is hiring for a post-graduate law clerk position that begins in August 2025.
The position is full-time and limited duration, typically for a period of two years. In this position you will have the same options for benefits as a permanent employee.
Our Law Clerk Position
Our law clerk position provides a unique opportunity for law school graduates to both employ and improve their analytical, research, and writing skills, while working closely with judges, staff attorneys, and other staff to resolve all manner of cases that come before the courts. Our work is complex, interesting, and ever-changing, and it is a critical component of our state's judicial branch operations. Law clerks participate in many different and important steps in the case-resolution process.
Tax Court
The Oregon Tax Court is part of the Oregon Judicial Department. It is a statewide court and has exclusive jurisdiction to hear tax appeals under state laws, including personal income tax, property tax, corporation excise tax, timber tax, local budget law, and property tax limitations. The Tax Court has two divisions: the Magistrate Division and the Regular Division.
Most case appeals are first filed and heard by the Magistrate Division. The Magistrate division decisions can be appealed to the Regular Division. The Regular Division decisions may be appealed directly to the Oregon Supreme Court. The Tax Court is independent from the executive and legislative branches of state government. The court is not a part of the Oregon Department of Revenue, which is often a statutory defendant in Tax Court cases.
Tax Court Law Clerk Position
This position will be assigned to the Magistrate Division. The Magistrate Division staff counsel will coordinate assignments. The law clerk will work with all three of the court’s magistrates and potentially with the judge and/or the Regular Division staff counsel. The position also involves some projects for the benefit of the court as a whole, such as updates to the court’s rules of procedure and assistance with the court’s externship program.
The Experience You Gain as Law Clerk
- Legal research and writing. The magistrates and the judge publish reasoned decisions on complex legal issues that directly affect people's lives. You will spend significant time helping them with this, by researching and writing memos and decision drafts. You will discuss legal issues with and receive feedback from the court’s staff counsel and judicial officers.
- Editing. You will spend significant time assisting the court to publish high-quality, reasoned decisions. You will edit draft decisions to ensure that facts are accurate and legal analysis is clear, concise, and supported. You will use court style guides and Bluebook to ensure proper citation format.
- Exposure to litigation. Because we are a trial court, you will have exposure to all stages of litigation. You will serve as bailiff and observe arguments and trials first-hand. You will see how highly experienced lawyers represent their clients and you also will learn how unrepresented taxpayers, taxing agencies, and the court strive to communicate with each other about complex issues.
- Court administration. We are a small court, and we function as a team. You will be asked to assist with projects such as rulemaking or research on court procedures. You will likely assist with the court’s law student externship program, which the court maintains for the benefit of the Oregon tax bar. You will gain insight into the administrative processes of a trial court and see how staff and judicial officers work together to do ensure everyone has access to justice.
Most importantly, you will be furthering our mission of providing justice in a fair, thorough, and timely manner.
Who We Want and Need
We are looking for a law clerk who loves to learn and apply the law, has critical thinking skills, writes well, and is excited about developing strong legal research skills. Law clerks are expected to safeguard information that may be controversial or confidential, and to uphold the highest standard of ethics. We are looking for candidates who have the ability to collaborate and work well on a team. We value diversity in all forms, to help us reflect the public we serve.
Our Mission
The mission of the Oregon Tax Court is to impartially resolves disputes between taxpayers and tax administrators; to accurately apply Oregon law in written decisions for the guidance of the public; and to make its services accessible to all.
We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.
Benefits and Working Conditions
- The annual salary ranges from $82,440 – 95,436.
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The position includes paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave, as well as a benefits packagewith health insurance and participation, after six months' employment, in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.
- Law clerks who are members of the bar may also be eligible for bar dues payments up to the cost of bar dues for the Oregon State Bar.
- This is a full-time position, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is not eligible for overtime compensation for hours worked more than 40 per work week.
- Occasional after-hours work may be required.
- Be prepared to be onsite as a law clerk for the Oregon Tax Court; remote work may be available after training is complete and at the discretion of the supervisor.
- Law clerks are expected to use standard office equipment, including an employer-provided computer.
- Long periods of sitting at a computer or desk while reading and researching both hard copy and electronic materials is required.
- This is a conventional office environment with the necessary equipment and technology tools available. You must be familiar, experienced, and comfortable using a full array of current technology tools and office software programs for accessing and performing work and research and for communications at and away from the assigned work location.
Minimum Qualifications, Application Information, and Instructions
Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school by the start of the clerkship.
Membership with the Oregon State Bar is not required. Specific tax training is also not required.
To apply, you must submit a completed online Workday application, cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample, and contact information for your three references.
- All submitted documents must be in an unprotected Adobe PDF format (no password if possible).
- Because you must submit a resume, you do not need to complete the work history section of the online Workday application.
- In your cover letter, please describe why you are interested in clerking for the Oregon Tax Court and how your experience has prepared you for the position. Your cover letter should not exceed two-pages.
- In your resume, please include your law school GPA and class rank. Also include academic highlights, honors, and any extracurricular activities in college and law school. If applicable, please provide relevant accomplishments in a business or professional setting.
- Attach a password-free PDF of your Law School transcript. An authentic unofficial version is acceptable.
- Your writing sample must be 10 pages or less (5-7 pages is preferred). Please choose a sample that contains legal analysis and, on a cover page, describe how, if at all, the sample was edited by others.
- List three (3) individuals as references and their direct contact information. These references must be of a professional or academic origin – wherein the reference assigned and reviewed your work, tracked your attendance, and can speak to your work product.
Interview Information
Interviews will be held in early May and will be virtual, using either Microsoft Teams or Cisco WebEx.
Additional Information
Communication
We communicate with applicants via email, and your Workday account is tied to your email. We recommend that you use a permanent, personal email address, rather than a school or work address, on your Workday account.
Workday Timeout
Please be aware that Workday times out after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity, which results in progress to that point being lost, if not saved. We recommend that you review the online application and gather all your required documents before starting the application and that you save your work frequently.
Veterans' Preference
Eligible veterans who meet the law clerk qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process unless they opt out of being given preference. This process is handled in Workday when you select apply. After you submit the application, you will receive an email requesting documents to verify your eligibility, and you must submit those documents to receive the preference. Visit the Oregon job opportunities
Eligible veterans who meet the law clerk qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process unless they opt out of being given preference. This process is handled in Workday when you select apply. After you submit the application, you will receive an email requesting documents to verify your eligibility, and you must submit those documents to receive the preference. Visit the Oregon job opportunities
Veterans web page
for additional details, information, and resources.Reference Checks
By submitting your application to the Oregon Judicial Department, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
United States Employment Eligibility
The Oregon Judicial Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.
Pay Equity
The Oregon Judicial Department complies with Oregon’s
The Oregon Judicial Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
I-9 form
confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.
Pay Equity
The Oregon Judicial Department complies with Oregon’s
pay equity
laws. Salary offers are made with consideration of the applicant's education and post-law-graduation experience.Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The Oregon Judicial Department is an eligible employer for the
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
.
Future Vacancies
This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.
This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.
Questions and Support
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Workday related information and resources are available here.
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If you have questions about this posting, call 503-986-5930 or ojd.hrsd@ojd.state.or.us
- If you require an alternative format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.
The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Salary : $82,440 - $95,436
