What is "law clerk"

n. (context legal English) a clerk who assists a judge with legal proceedings. Depending on the court, such positions may be professional careers or may be temporary positions for graduating law students.

A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Unlike the court clerk and the courtroom deputy, both of whom are administrative staff for the court, a law clerk assists the judge in making legal determinations. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who performed at or near the top of their class. Studies have shown clerks to be influential in the formation of case law, through their influence upon judges' decisions. Working as a law clerk is considered a prestigious position in legal communities, such that it generally opens up career opportunities.

In many nations, clerk duties are performed by permanent staff attorneys or junior apprentice-like judges, such as those that sit on France's Conseil d'État. In English courts, they are known as Judicial Assistants. The European Court of Justice uses permanent staff attorneys (Referendaires) and the Stagiaires (young law graduates). Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Brazil have notable clerk systems.

While there has been relatively little inquiry comparing law clerks across nations, some research has been done comparing clerkship practices in the U.S. with other nations' courts. In some countries the position of law clerk does not exist.

A law clerk, sometimes called parliamentary counsel, is an officer in some parliamentary systems. The law clerk is charged with providing advice on legal issues and parliamentary procedure to the Speaker and members of the chamber. The position is neutral and non-partisan.

In some systems, the law clerk is a separate officer responsible to the clerk of the chamber. In other systems, the duty to provide legal advice is part of the duties of the clerk of the chamber.