Current law clerk application deadline: August 18, 2025
Law clerk applications must be submitted through Workday. The job announcement, which can be viewed only while the recruitment is open, provides information about the clerkship experience in each court and explains specific application requirements. To view the current law clerk recruitment posting click on the following button:
View Recruitment Postings
The following justices and judges anticipate hiring in fall 2025 with a start date in August 2026. The list is subject to change.
- For the Supreme Court: Justice Flynn, Justice Bushong, Justice James, and Justice Masih.
- For the Court of Appeals: Judge Ortega, Judge Egan, Judge Shorr, Judge Powers, Judge Pagán, Judge Hellman, Judge Jacquot, and Judge O’Connor.
Our Law Clerk Positions
Law clerk positions in both courts provide 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.
In general, all judges are looking for law clerks who are skilled writers, critical thinkers, and who excel at legal research. Because clerks are closely involved in the resolution of cases, judges must be able to trust their work and their judgment, and that clerks will effectively and respectfully communicate differing views on legal analysis or outcomes to ensure that the judge has all the necessary information to make the correct decision. It is also important for clerks to be able to respectfully engage with different viewpoints and positions, and to be open to changing their mind about an initial position. Law clerks are expected to handle and safeguard information that may be disturbing, controversial, or confidential, and the Court expects that clerks will uphold the highest standard of ethics.
Law clerks are permitted to work remotely, but in varying degrees, depending on the needs of each court and the supervising judge. Any remote work schedule must be approved by the administrative authority for each court.
Additional information about the clerkship experience in each court can be found in the job announcement.
Our Courts
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is our state's appellate court of last resort. The primary work of the court involves discretionary review of decisions of the Oregon Court of Appeals. It also has discretionary review in certain types of cases (such as mandamus, habeas corpus, and certified questions) and has mandatory review of other types of cases (such as death penalty appeals, tax appeals, certain criminal, agency, and elections matters, and lawyer discipline and judicial fitness matters). The court regularly hears arguments in its courthouse in Salem.
The court has seven justices and typically employs seven to nine law clerks at any given time. Because clerks may be hired for two-year terms, not all judges hire new clerks each year.
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is our state's intermediate appellate court. With the exception of a limited number of appeals that go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court--most notably death penalty cases, ballot title cases, lawyer discipline matters, and tax court cases--the Court of Appeals reviews appeals on every subject from Oregon's trial courts and administrative agencies, The Court routinely ranks as one of the busiest appellate courts in the country and for the vast majority of Oregon cases, it is the court of last resort. The Court of Appeals hears arguments both in person in Salem and remotely to accommodate parties across our state.
The court has 13 judges and typically employs 22 to 24 law clerks at any given time. Because of our two-year clerkship terms, not all judges hire new clerks each year.
Application and Hiring Process
The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals use a joint hiring process, in which an applicant submits only one application. The application process opens each spring and closes in August. Interviews occur in late September, with offers following thereafter.
The positions begin in August of the following year. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals welcome applications from second and third-year law students as well as law school graduates. A JD (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school is required before the clerkship begins. Although many clerks take a bar examination before their clerkship, bar membership is not required.
Part of the application includes a questionnaire which allows you to specify whether you would like to be considered by judges on both courts, or only one court, or if you would like to apply only to specific judges or justices. Below is a list of our justices and judges, with a link to information about that justice or judge that may be helpful to applicants as they go through the application process.
Chief Justice Meagan Flynn -
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Justice Rebecca Duncan -
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Justice Christopher Garrett -
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Justice Roger DeHoog -
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Justice Bronson James-
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Justice Stephen Bushong-
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Justice Aruna Masih-
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Chief Judge Erin Lagesen -
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Judge Darleen Ortega -
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Judge Ortega considers all applicants carefully and, while clear writing and thinking are essential to the work of a clerk, Judge Ortega recognizes that grades and academic success are quite imperfect indicators of those qualities. Her chambers functions from a conscious recognition that she and her staff must commit to an ongoing practice of working to understand systemic barriers to access to justice so that they can assume their responsibility for finding ways to eliminate or at least minimize those barriers.
Judge James Egan -
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Judge Douglas Tookey -
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Judge Scott Shorr -
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Judge Scott Shorr seeks clerks who are strong and clear writers, demonstrate consistent attention to detail, and are independent thinkers yet are still able to express their ideas following the form and precedent of our existing case law. Judge Shorr has no GPA requirement for hiring but does consider grades and academic success (particularly in writing courses), engagement with school activities and legal journals, and life experience. For other hiring information, please review the criteria listed on our court/Workday website.
Judge Robyn Aoyagi -
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Judge Steven Powers -
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Judge Jacqueline Kamins -
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Judge Kamins believes that the role of judge and law clerk on the Oregon Court of Appeals represent an extraordinary, shared opportunity for public service. That service including providing timely answers to the important questions litigants bring our court, and a written explanation of the decision as much as possible. To that end, clerks are actively involved in every aspect of the work of the chambers, including preparing for argument and writing dispositions. Accordingly, Judge Kamins seeks self-motivated clerks who can handle a high-volume workload and thrive in a collaborative environment. Successful clerks are proactive at assessing and timely meeting the needs of the chambers and are deeply invested in reaching the correct result and embracing our shared responsibility to serve Oregonians.
Judge Ramón Pagán -
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Judge Anna Joyce -
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Judge Joyce welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the hiring criteria on Workday and are interested in learning about appellate practice.
In chambers, Judge Joyce values a team-oriented, iterative approach to legal work. Clerks are encouraged to engage thoughtfully with complex legal questions, contribute to collaborative problem-solving, and approach legal writing as a craft to be refined. The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, passionate about legal writing, eager to deepen their understanding of appellate law, and open to constructive feedback. Judge Joyce's chambers operate in a collegial environment where clerks are supported in their development and entrusted with meaningful responsibility.
Judge Kristina Hellman -
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Judge Hellman considers service on the Court of Appeals an honor and a privilege, and hires law clerks who will share that same commitment to public service during their time at the Court. In particular, Judge Hellman seeks clerks who have strong interpersonal and communication skills and who demonstrate compassion and empathy for people in difficult circumstances. She highly values clerks with a diversity of life experiences. Judge Hellman’s chambers is vibrant and collegial and will be a good fit for candidates who are self-motivated, can work independently, and thrive in collaborative environments. Clerks are involved in all aspects of Judge Hellman's chambers and successful clerks are trustworthy, engaged, and proactive about chambers priorities and processes.
Judge Megan Jacquot -
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Judge Ryan O'Connor -
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Judge O’Connor welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the hiring criteria listed on Workday and who have an interest clerking at the Court of Appeals.