Employment Opportunities for Students
Most legal employers are reputable and reliable, but the Career Development Office is not in a position to guarantee the professional standing of individual law firms, attorneys, companies or other employers posting position notices. Applicants should research potential employers as part of the job search process.
Many local firms that hire clerks do not post openings and clerk positions locally are most often found by talking with your fellow students or by talking with attorneys in the area. Please come by and speak with Asst. Dean Tamra Wilson Setser or Andrea Mazza Follett regarding strategies for conducting your job search.
Paid Positions
NOTE: 3L Students seeking post-graduate employment opportunities should see the following sections:
Entry level career opportunities for alumni in Missouri
Entry level career opportunities for alumni outside Missouri
Employers who will consider new law graduates will be specifically noted
- 5/15/08: The Chicago office of the State Appellate Defender is accepting applications through May 31, 2008 for assistant appellate defender vacancies that may be filled in the coming year. Please send cover letter and resume to Patricia Unsinn, Deputy Director, Office of the State Appellate Defender, 203 North LaSalle Street, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601.
- 5/14/08: Gillis C. Leonard, a solo practitioner in Moberly, seeks a law clerk to assist him in the preparation of the Steven Rios murder case. The selected student will assist with office scheduling, typing motions, reviewing discovery, and other duties related to office administration and the preparation for trial. The trial is scheduled to begin in Boone County on August 18; the clerk would likely work through the end of August. The firm prefers to hire a current 2L, but current 1Ls may also apply for this position. If interested, send a resume and cover letter to Gillis C. Leonard, Attorney at Law, Attention: Marilyn Leonard, 218 North Clark Street, Moberly, MO 65270 or email to 1in12@sbcglobal.net.
- 5/13/08: Ford, Parshall & Baker LLC seeks a Missouri-licensed attorney with 0-2 years of experience to work in its commercial litigation department. Duties will include daily courtroom appearances, trials, and statewide travel. Strong organizational skills, a dedication to excellence, strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to travel are required. Lateral transfers with experience are desired; however, May 2008 law graduates sitting for the July Bar Exam will be considered. IT/computer experience is also desired. Salary is commensurate with experience. Please submit resume, law school transcript, and salary requirements to Ed Guinn, Ford, Parshall & Baker LLC, 3210 Bluff Creek Dr., Columbia, MO 65201.
- 5/12/08: Small KC bankruptcy firm seeks summer clerk. Current 1Ls and 2Ls may apply. If interested in this opportunity, send cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample of less than 10 pages to Rachel Foley at foley@kcbankruptcy.com. For more information about the firm, visit www.kcbankruptcy.com.
- 5/12/08: Small Columbia firm with a general civil practice and concentration in bankruptcy and consumer protection seeks a summer clerk. Current 1Ls and 2Ls may apply. The selected student may possibly continue as a clerk during the 2008-09 academic year. If interested in this position, send cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample of less than 10 pages to Michael McCrary, 1103 East Walnut Street, Suite 203, Columbia, MO 65201. Application deadline: May 27, 2008.
- 5/12/08: McAnany, Van Cleave, & Phillips, P.A. is looking to add an associate attorney in its workers compensation department in Kansas City, KS. The firm seeks a recent graduate who has taken the KS Bar, MO Bar, or both. The firm will consider a May 2008 law graduate. The firm prefers applicants from the top 33% of the law school class. If interested in this opportunity, please send resume, transcript, and writing sample to Elizabeth Reid Dotson, Chair-Recruiting Committee, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, P.A, edotson@mvplaw.com. The firm will hold interviews for those selected on May 23 in Kansas City, KS.
- 5/12/08: Judge Gordon J. Quist of the United States Court of Appeals for the Western District of Michigan seeks a Law Clerk. The position will begin on September 1, 2008 and last for one year. The position is in Grand Rapids. Applicants must be law school graduates at the time of appointment with class rank in the top 30% of the class. Applicants must also possess excellent research, writing, and communication skills; good character and maturity are also required. Experience on law review, moot court, and/or publication is preferred; non-legal experience will also be considered. To apply, send cover letter, detailed resume, 3 letters of recommendation, undergraduate and law school transcripts, and writing sample to The Honorable Gordon J. Quist, 110 Michigan, NW, Room 482, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
- 5/6/08: Judge C. Arlen Beam of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit seeks a clerk to begin in August 2009. Judge Beam will not be participating in the OSCAR system and is currently accepting written applications from interested students. The judge seeks applicants in the top 10% of the class with law review or other writing experience. Applications may be mailed to the judge’s office at 435 Federal Building, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. Questions may be directed to Judge Beam’s assistant, Gini Russell, at (402) 437-5420. The judge did not specify what documents the written application should include; however, most federal judges require a cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample, and 2 letters of recommendation. Dean Wilson Setser knows Judge Beam; if you plan on applying for this position, please see Lesley Nilges and schedule an appointment with Dean Wilson Setser before May 22.
- 5/1/08: Attorney sought to handle consumer law, bankruptcy, municipal law, and other general practice issues. The position features bonus plus base salary. The selected applicant would need to live in Ste. Genevieve, Perryville, or the vicinity. May 2008 law graduates sitting for the July 2008 Bar Exam may apply for this position. Send resume to Frank Elpers at elpers@ldd.net.
- 5/1/08: The Missouri Department of Social Services is searching for a legal counsel to work with the agency in area of employment law. This position is located in Jefferson City within the Human Resource Center. Responsibilities include representing DSS in hearings of employee appeals from disciplinary actions before the Personnel Advisory Board, Circuit Court, and Court of Appeals; providing legal opinions on employment-related topics; and acting as a liaison between the department and the Office of the Attorney General on employment/civil litigation cases. Applicants must be members of the Missouri Bar or sitting for the July 2008 Missouri Bar Exam. Litigation, employment law, or administrative law experience is preferred. The salary range is commensurate with experience. This position receives all state employee benefits. Please submit a resume and a cover letter including salary requirement to Anna Wainscott at Anna.Wainscott@dss.mo.gov. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2008.
- 4/30/08: Attorney seeks a new associate attorney to help with busy practice involving general civil and domestic litigation. Position would include immediate courtroom experience, with first-chair trial to be handled from start to finish by the associate. Associate would also practice in the areas of traffic, probate, estate planning, and business organizations. Candidate must be hard working, independent and capable of handling busy docket on his/her own. Position is in Warrensburg. May 2008 graduates sitting for the July 2008 Bar Exam will be considered for this position. If interested in this opportunity, send resume to Matthew Morgan at matt@midmolaw.com.
- 4/29/08: Stanford Law School's Codex Center for Computers and Law is accepting applications for a Resident Fellowship for the 2008-09 academic year. Codex is a cross-disciplinary research center jointly operated by Stanford Law School and the Stanford School of Engineering. The center's mission is to explore the application of technology toward improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of the legal system. Codex research fellows will have the opportunity to spend 1-2 years at Stanford Law School collaborating with scholars in computer science and other relevant disciplines. Fellows will work on the center's existing projects, and will have the opportunity to explore related research on their own and commence new projects. Fellows will work with cutting edge technologies emerging from Stanford's engineering departments, and will be expected to bring a legally oriented perspective toward integrating these technologies into the law. Sample projects include automating the process of intellectual property licensing and developing automated legal compliance systems. Fellows will also be involved in bringing in leading thinkers in the field to speak at the law school on these topic areas and will work with law and computer science students to engage them in the center's activities. Qualifications: Applicants should have a J.D. or equivalent law degree. Because the primary focus of the center is employing technology within the law, applicants should also have experience in computer science or engineering related fields. Applicants with practical/professional technical experience in these fields, as well as those with formal computer science or engineering undergraduate or graduate training, are welcome to apply. Applicants should be capable of learning and be comfortable with the technological aspects of the center's projects. Salary for the fellowship will be approximately $40,000 per year with benefits. All qualified and interested applicants must apply via the Stanford jobs website: http://jobs.stanford.edu. Search for this specific posting by entering job number: 30079 in the keyword search field. Applicants should submit 1) a resume; 2) a brief letter (no more than 2 pages) describing the applicant's interest in issues applying technology to the law, the applicant's background, and the research that they propose to conduct; 3) a list of references. Please note, if applications are selected to tier II of the hiring process, applicants will be requested to provide a copy of the law school transcript. Review of applications will begin immediately, and all applications must be received by June 2, 2008. Please note that the Codex Center has a has a technological emphasis and is not focused on technology policy or legal substantive areas such as intellectual property, cyberlaw, or privacy. For more information about the Stanford Codex Center and its projects please visit the website at http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/centers/codex/, or contact Harry Surden at hsurden@stanford.edu or Roland Vogl at rvogl@law.stanford.edu.
- 4/22/08: The Henry County Prosecuting Attorney has an opening for a full-time Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. The Assistant Prosecutor will be primarily responsible for all phases of the traffic and misdemeanor docket including making charging decisions, appearing at docket calls, and conducting trials and hearings. He/she will also be responsible for assisting the Prosecuting Attorney in felony and civil cases and other duties as assigned. The office is located in the Henry County Courthouse on the historic downtown Clinton square. Clinton is on the shores of Truman Reservoir and about an hour drive southeast of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The office will consider a graduating May 2008 student who qualifies for Rule 13 certification. The starting salary is $40,000 per year with cost of living and merit increases depending upon county budget allocations and performance. Health, dental and life insurance are available, as well as participation in a retirement plan. Please submit resume with references, cover letter and writing sample to: Prosecuting Attorney, 100 West Franklin, Clinton, MO 64735. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
- 4/22/08: A position is available in a small Blue Springs law firm specializing in Social Security and disability law. The selected candidate must have good writing and customer service skills, must be self-motivated, have the ability to multi-task, and be highly organized. The candidate must also be able to work independently as well as with a team. Moderate travel is required. The firm will consider May 2008 graduates sitting for the July 2008 Missouri Bar Exam. The firm offers competitive salary and benefits. Please email cover letter and resume with GPA, class rank and references to careers@midlandgroup.com
- 4/21/08: Spain, Miller, & Spain, LLC, a 5-attorney firm in Poplar Bluff, seeks to hire a 2008 graduate for an attorney position. The firm is engaged in the general practice of law with great emphasis on trial work. The firm represents a number of insurance companies throughout southeastern Missouri. The new attorney will be primarily involved in trial-related matters such as court appearances, depositions, and case preparation. Send resume to James E. Spain at Spain, Miller & Spain, LLC, 1912 Big Bend, P.O. Box 1248, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902.
- 4/21/08: Legal Momentum is seeking law students who will graduate or finish a clerkship in 2009 and other eligible recent law school graduates to sponsor for 2009-2011 fellowships for projects addressing the legal needs of women. Legal Momentum advances the rights of women and girls by using the power of the law and creating innovative public policy. Current program areas include Violence against Women, with emphases on the economic and housing rights of victims of domestic violence and the rights of immigrant victims of violence; Sexuality and Family Rights; Equality Works, promoting women’s success in fields traditionally closed to them, and eliminating gender bias in the courts. Interested students, clerks, and eligible recent graduates are asked to submit 1) a cover letter, 2) resume, 3) transcript, and 4) sample of legal writing. Only complete applications will be considered. Early applications are welcome, however, no application received after June 15, 2008 will be considered. Send applications to Fellowships - Legal Momentum, 395 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10014 or to fellowships@legalmomentum.org.
- 4/14/08: Finch Law Firm, L.L.C. of Cape Girardeau seeks applications from graduating law students for a full-time position in the general practice of law. Starting salary: $45,000. Please fax resume to Daniel P. Finch, Finch Law Firm, L.L.C., at (573) 339-1869.
- 4/14/08: The Autism Legislation Project (ALP) invites law students to participate in a pro bono opportunity to research state, national, and international legislation relating to autism, the fastest growing developmental disability in the nation. Working under the direction of an experienced Chicago attorney, students will collaboratively research and assist in other aspects of the group’s activities. Tele-conferences will be held on a regular basis to discuss ongoing research and new developments with the ALP. Additionally, interns will assist in developing and evaluating strategies for the advancement of project objectives. Participating students will be required to devote a minimum 20 hours/week during the summer conducting research and preparing written documentation. Interested students should submit a resume to larrylobb@sbcglobal.net for consideration. For more information on ALP, please visit http://www.autismlegislation.org/about.html.
- 4/2/08: The Juvenile Division of the Jefferson County Circuit Court has an opening for full-time staff attorney. Experience with juvenile, family, or criminal law trials is helpful. The position involves heavy courtroom work, including trials of abuse/neglect, termination of parental rights, and delinquency cases. May 2008 law graduates sitting for the July 2008 Missouri Bar Exam will be considered for this position. Salary range: $40,000 - 43,000; health, dental, and retirement benefits provided. Send resume to Gilbert L. Alderson, Juvenile Officer, P.O. Box 100, Hillsboro, MO 63050.
- 3/25/08: A leading Kansas City plaintiffs firm has a great opportunity to work as part of a team with two partners on high quality docket of personal injury cases. This is an entry-level position requiring between 0-2 years of experience. May 2008 graduates sitting for the July 2008 Bar Exam may apply for this position. Applicants must have an outstanding academic record. Please send cover letter, resume with class rank, and references, to M.H. Hoffman, Director of Administration, Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, 2600 Grand Boulevard, Suite 550 , Kansas City , Missouri 64108-4627 or email to mhoffman@sjblaw.com
- 3/20/08: The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit seeks a Staff Attorney (Reference# FY08-17). This position is located in the Office of Legal Affairs, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY. Salary Range: from $60,840, depending on experience, current salary and qualifications. The selected applicant will begin in August 2008. The Staff Attorneys’ Office serves the Court at large. Principal tasks include analyzing and researching legal issues and drafting bench memoranda for all pro se and counseled substantive motions heard by panels of three judges, as well as for all appeals in which at least one party is proceeding pro se. In their memoranda, Staff Attorney’s discuss the facts and procedural history of the case, analyze the legal issues, and recommend the disposition of the appeal. The appeals raise issues in such areas as habeas corpus, civil procedure, constitutional law, employment discrimination, social security, criminal law, sentencing guidelines (especially prisoners’ rights), immigration and commercial law. Staff Attorney’s also perform other legal and administrative functions. This position is for a 2-year term, with the possibility of yearly renewal up to a maximum 5-year term. Requirements: JD is required. Applicants must have excellent academic credentials and possess superior analytical, research and writing skills. Prior federal and appellate experience is preferred, including externships. To be considered for the position, law students must submit 3 copies of each: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, 3) law school transcript, and4) 3 references to: Mayda Echevarria, Human Resources Assistant, mayda_echevarria@ca2.uscourts.gov. This position is open until filled.
- 3/19/08: Van Matre & Krueger, a Mexico, MO law firm, seeks to hire a 1L or 2L as a part-time independent law clerk to perform legal research from the MU law school library. The selected student will work approximately 20 hours/ month performing legal research from the law library. The firm will compensate the student at $12/hour, plus pay expenses involved in the research process. Van Matre & Krueger is a central Missouri general practice firm that also practices in federal court. In addition to general practice state law matters, the firm’s clerks have previously researched issues involving state tort law and evidentiary matters, federal constitutional and civil rights, employment law, and discrimination law issues. The selected applicant would be expected to have the intention of continuing this independent part-time research position until graduation, including availability during summers and break periods. Any interested law student should first contact Amanda Wolf, the firm’s current clerk who is assisting in this selection process. Please contact her at (573) 473-9297 or e-mail AmandaWolf@mizzou.edu.
- 3/19/08: The Minnesota Supreme Court seeks applications from current 2L students interested in clerkships for the 2009-10 term. Approximately 10-11 clerkships will be offered for the term August 1, 2009-July 31, 2010. Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited law school is required to begin employment. Professional skills and scholastic proficiency are both considered. Strong writing and research skills are essential; writing for law review, a law journal, or for moot court is very helpful. Selection of law clerks is made after applications have been reviewed and personal interviews have been conducted. The anticipated salary for the 2009-10 term is $52,931. Visit www.doer.state.mn.us for other benefits information. To apply, submit completed application (available at www.mncourts.gov) resume, legal writing sample, and official transcript with class rank (must be mailed directly from the Registrar’s Office) to Minnesota Judicial Center, Human Resources Department, Room G27, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155. Application deadline: July 18, 2008.
- 3/18/08: The Minnesota Court of Appeals seeks applications from current 2L students interested in clerkships for the 2009-10 term. Approximately 16 clerkships will be offered in October 2008 for the term August 2009-August 2010. Some judges may use the candidate pool for hiring clerks later in the year. Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited law school is required to begin employment. Professional skills and scholastic proficiency are both considered. Strong writing and research skills are essential; writing for law review, a law journal, or for moot court is very helpful. Selection of law clerks is made after applications have been reviewed and personal interviews have been conducted. The anticipated salary for the 2009-10 term is $50,467. Visit www.doer.state.mn.us for other benefits information. To apply, submit completed application (available at www.mncourts.gov) resume, legal writing sample, and official transcript with class rank (must be mailed directly from the Registrar’s Office) to Minnesota Judicial Center, Human Resources Department, Room G27, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155. Application deadline: August 20, 2008.
- 3/13/08: Judge Thomas M. Welch of the State of Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth Circuit, seeks a Law Clerk/Office Manager. Judge Welch’s chambers are located in Collinsville, IL. The ad for this position states that duties will include clerking assignments, secretarial work, and administrative duties. A law degree is required. Annual salary: $56,000+. Please send cover letter and resume only to The Honorable Thomas M. Welch, Attention: Joanne Olson, #2 Crestmont, Collinsville, IL 62234. No telephone calls or writing samples, please.
- 2/28/08: Beverly Riordan, a Columbia solo practitioner who focuses on commercial law and bankruptcy, seeks 2L to clerk this semester (maximum of 20 hours/week) and on a part-time basis this summer. The selected applicant will gain practical experience. If interested in this opportunity, send a cover letter and resume to Kirstyn@riordanlaw.com
- 2/26/08: The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is accepting applications for Staff Attorney positions to begin throughout 2008. These are 2-year appointments in the Atlanta, Georgia office. The Staff Attorneys' Office is a central legal staff, serving the Court at large rather than individual judges. The principal task of the office is to assist in the disposition of appeals through the preparation of legal memoranda. Types of cases the office presently handles include (1) direct criminal appeals involving sentencing guidelines and guilt/innocence issues, (2) social security and black lung appeals, (3) all pro se appeals, including collateral attacks on criminal convictions by state and federal prisoners, and civil rights suits under 42 U.S.C.1983, (4) employment discrimination cases, and (5) immigration cases. There are also three specialized units within the office. The Jurisdiction Unit assists the Court in the initial review of all appeals filed for the purpose of determining appellate jurisdiction. The Issue Tracking Unit serves to track and catalog relevant legal issues. The Motions Unit processes certain substantive motions, including those for in forma pauperis status, certificates of appealability for 28 U.S.C. 2254 and 2255 appeals, transcripts at government expense, and motions to appoint, withdraw, and/or substitute counsel. Staff attorneys work in a highly collegial environment with other recent law school graduates and lawyers coming from judicial clerkships or private practice, as well as with more experienced supervisory staff attorneys and senior management. Employment with the office offers a generous benefits package, civil and criminal law experience at the federal court level, and an environment providing significant responsibility and challenge. Starting salary is $56,478. Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and have excellent academic credentials. They must also have superior analytical, research, and writing skills and be proficient in computer-assisted research and WordPerfect. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States; selected candidates will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment. Send a resume (including law school class rank and/or percentile if available), cover letter, official law school transcript, self-edited writing sample, and a list of at least three professional references to Sara Gilibert, Manager for Recruiting, Training, and Professional Development, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Staff Attorneys' Office, 56 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2289.
- 2/26/08: The Columbia firm Van Matre, Harrison, Volkert, and Hollis is looking for student clerks to begin work this summer and possibly continue working throughout the 2008-09 academic year. The firm prefers 1Ls or 2Ls in the top 50% of the class. The firm also prefers journal experience for 2L applicants. If interested in this opportunity, please send a cover letter, resume, and transcript to Garrett Taylor at Van Matre, Harrison, Volkert, and Hollis P.C., 1103 East Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201. For more information about the firm, please visit www.vanmatre.com.
- 2/19/08: Jenkins & Kling, P.C., a St. Louis (Clayton) law firm of 14 attorneys, is accepting applications for a summer associate position. The firm specifies that only students who plan to practice in the St. Louis area after law school should apply for the position. The firm requires 2L applicants to be in the top 20% of their class; the firm will also consider 1L applicants in the top 10% of their class. Applicants must have excellent communication, research and writing skills. References are required. Interested candidates should send their resume to Jennifer Fourcault at jfourcault@jenkinskling.com, or mail to 10 S. Brentwood, Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63105. Information regarding the firm is available at www.jenkinskling.com.
- 2/19/08: Harper, Evans, Wade, & Netemeyer seeks a 2L law clerk to work 20 hours/week this semester and as much time as possible this summer. The firm seeks someone who can research accurately and quickly in anticipation of several jury trials this spring. Email or mail resume to Karen Young at 401 Locust Street, Suite 401, Columbia MO 65201 or kyoung@hewnlaw.com. The selected applicant will be asked to begin immediately.
- 12/20/07: The New Jersey Judiciary is recruiting to fill approximately 480 judicial clerkships for the 2008-09 Court Year (September 1, 2008-August 31, 2009). Judicial clerkships are 1-year appointments and are located throughout New Jersey at the following court levels: Supreme Court; Appellate Division; Assignment Judges; Superior Court (trial court); Tax Court. Excellent writing and analytical skills are essential; membership in the New Jersey Bar is not a requirement. Visit www.judiciary.state.nj.us/lawclerks/index.htm for the most up-to-date information to assist in preparing direct application materials. Send a cover letter and resume (do not send writing sample, transcript, or references) for inclusion in the centralized resume distribution to Justices and Judges to the following: Sindy Odas, Judiciary Human Resources Division, Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex,. P.O. Box 989, Trenton, NJ 08625-0989 or email to lawclerkresumes.mailbox@judiciary.state.nj.us. For inclusion in the June 2007 resume booklet, documents should reach the court by May 18, 2007. In the cover letter, applicants may specify their preference of court, division, and county in which they would like to serve. Questions may be directed to Kimberly Brown Douglas, Esq., as (609) 984-9361 or kimberly.douglas@judiciary.state.nj.us.
Volunteer Positions
There are no volunteer position listings at this time.
Job Fairs
A note to students: missing a job fair for which you are registered is a breach of your commitment to the job fair host and participating employers. If you are unable to attend a job fair for which you have registered, you must 1) notify the Office for Career and Professional Development and the job fair host before the date of the fair, and 2) send the job fair host a written apology (with a copy to Office for Career and Professional Development ) before registering for a subsequent job fair. Missing a job fair a second time will jeopardize your participation in other job fairs for the rest of your law school career. Due to the fact that students are responsible for providing their own transportation to job fairs, please consider whether you will be able to afford the necessary travel expenses before you register for a job fair.
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