Notice of Vacancy
Position Title: Pro Se Law Clerk – Term or Career
Employment: Full-time, Regular Excepted Service or Possible Term Position
Announcement No.: 2026-20
Duty Station: Roanoke, Virginia
Opening Date: September 7, 2026
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
Salary Range: $74,678–$163,514 (JS 11–JS 14)
Starting grade and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia seeks a full-time Pro Se Law Clerk to provide legal advice and assistance to the Court in connection with prisoner petitions and complaints.
The Western District currently consists of 10 judicial officers and staff located in five divisions throughout the district: Abingdon, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, and Roanoke.
This position may be filled as either a two-year term position or a regular career position and is located in Roanoke. Occasional travel, including overnight travel within and outside the district, is required.
Representative Duties
- Performs substantive screening of all prisoner and inmate petitions and motions, including state habeas corpus petitions, motions to vacate sentence, and civil rights complaints.
- Drafts appropriate recommendations and orders for the Court’s signature.
- Reviews complaints, petitions, and pleadings to determine the issues involved and the basis for relief.
- Performs legal research to assist the Court in preparing opinions.
- Maintains liaison between the Court and litigants and corresponds with other officials, including the U.S. Attorney, as required.
- Reviews the docket of pending prisoner and inmate litigation to ensure the proper progress of cases and advises the Court when action is appropriate.
- Compiles statistics and prepares periodic reports reflecting the status and flow of cases. Identifies problem areas, makes recommendations, and offers solutions.
- Keeps abreast of changes in the law to assist the Court in adjusting to new legislation affecting pro se litigation.
- Provides information, guidance, and advice to judges, magistrate judges, and other personnel working in the pro se area.
Qualifications
Applicants must be law school graduates, or certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements while awaiting conferment of the degree. Applicants must also have demonstrated at least one of the following:
- Standing within the upper third of the class at a law school approved by the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
- Experience on the editorial board of a law review at such a school;
- Graduation from such a school with an LL.M. degree; or
- Demonstrated proficiency in legal studies that, in the opinion of the appointing official, is equivalent to one of the qualifications above.
Salary is affected by the applicant’s number of years of legal work experience and bar membership. Legal work experience includes progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, legal research, legal administration, or equivalent work completed after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities performed during military service may be credited on a month-for-month basis, whether completed before or after graduation, but pre-graduation credit may not exceed one year.
Prior court experience and knowledge of civil rights law, habeas corpus law, and federal procedure are preferred. Candidates must be able to analyze complex legal issues, understand a wide range of legal concepts and practices relating to pro se litigation, and perform legal research and writing accurately and expeditiously.
The successful candidate will be detail-oriented and possess excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, a positive attitude, professional judgment, the ability to explain complex issues clearly, and the ability to manage priorities with limited supervision.
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or satisfy the Judiciary’s citizenship requirements. Additional information is available on the
U.S. Courts website.
The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation, including fingerprinting, and a probationary period. This position requires mandatory electronic funds transfer for salary payments.
Court employees must comply with the
Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates must submit the following:
- A letter of interest stating whether the applicant prefers a term or career position;
- A résumé;
- A completed Judicial Application for Employment, Form AO 78;
- A writing sample; and
- Contact information for three professional references.
Submit the complete application packet as one PDF by email to
careers@vawd.uscourts.gov.
Use Pro Se Law Clerk #2026-20 as the email subject line. Only complete application submissions will be considered.
Due to the anticipated volume of applications, the Court will communicate only with candidates selected for a personal interview. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive notice.
The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of or withdraw this announcement without prior written notice. Applicants are responsible for their own interview and relocation expenses.
The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.