Clarification from the agency

All NRC Employees are encouraged to apply.

The successful NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP) Judicial Law Clerk candidate will perform the full range of duties. Such duties include but are not limited to:

• Drafting judicial decisions and orders, conducting legal research, preparing legal memoranda, and providing assistance to Licensing Boards during evidentiary hearings.
• Evaluating and developing cases from their earliest stages, including drafting rulings on standing and contention admissibility, discovery disputes and, ultimately, helping with the conduct of an evidentiary hearing and drafting merits decisions on those evidentiary presentations.

The two-year clerkship term generally runs from September to September. Selectees from this announcement will generally be expected to start employment in September of 2026.

Only United States citizens can be admitted to the Judicial Law Clerk Program, and each person selected for the program must undergo a complete security/background investigation and be granted a security clearance.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• This is a Drug Testing position.
• Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Selectees may be required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment. The trial period for new employees is two years. New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Qualifications

In order to be minimally qualified for the Judicial Law Clerk Program, you must meet the qualification criteria listed below. 

1. A third-year law student (3L) at an American Bar Association accredited law school who will earn a J.D. degree no later than June of the 2025-2026 academic year; OR

           - a graduate of American Bar Association-accredited law school who will earn an LL.M. degree no later than June of the 2025-2026 academic year; OR

           - a J.D degree and a current judicial law clerk whose clerkship ends no later than September 2026; OR

           - a J.D degree obtained during the 2024-2025 academic year. 

AND

2. Demonstrate a ranking in the top third (33%) of your law school class; OR

          -have an overall law school grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.25 based on a scale of 4.0; OR

          -currently serve as a judicial law clerk. 

NOTE: If your law school does not calculate class rank, and also does not provide traditional grades or a GPA, you should include a link to the school’s grading policy and should provide a narrative explanation of how your law school performance correlates with our requirements.

Graduate law students and judicial clerks should not have any significant post-J.D. legal employment. 

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications requirements described above, the IDEAL CANDIDATE will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge of the law as demonstrated by an exceptional record of law school academic achievement. (Provide copies of all your law school transcripts including documentation of your GPA and class ranking).
2. Demonstrated ability to research and analyze complex legal issues and to share the results both orally and in writing. (Provide a writing sample that demonstrates your abilities in this area. In your resume, describe your law review experience, comparable journal experience, or moot court experience).
3. Demonstrated interest in Administrative, Regulatory, or Environmental law. (In your resume, describe coursework, studies, law school clinical experience, internships/externships, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your interest in Administrative, Regulatory, or Environmental Law).

While a technical or scientific background may be useful, it is not required. 

A description of how you possess the minimum qualifications criteria as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume and may also be addressed in the vacancy question provided for your supplemental response.  Brief (e.g., one page resumes are discouraged as they may place you at a disadvantage during the hiring process due to insufficient information. 

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume to determine your level of knowledge, skill and ability related to the job requirements.  Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. You must respond to all required application questions.  

If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office.

The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information.
• Transcripts: You must submit an official or unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application, if the position has a positive education requirement. Failure to submit transcripts will result in loss of consideration. Diplomas do not provide the information needed for determining qualifications and will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts.
• The names and contact information for at least three (3) professional references.
• A legal writing sample, demonstrating analysis of legal issues or statutory and regulatory interpretation.

In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following eligibilities:

• NRC Employees: You must submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available.
• Current Federal Employees/Reinstatement Eligibles: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility. This SF-50 should not be an award SF-50.
• Veteran Preference Eligibles: You must submit DD-214 showing type of discharge/character of service (e.g. DD-214 Member 4 Copy); SF-15 Form; and related documentation such as a VA letter showing disability percentage. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment. You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
• Individuals with Disabilities: If you are applying under the Schedule A Hiring Authority, you must submit supporting documentation (i.e., Schedule A Letter). You may refer to the following link for additional information. USAJOBS Help Center - Individuals with disabilities

All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.

Additional Resume Information:

Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your résumé to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position:

1. Job title
2. Name of employer
3. Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
4. Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience.
5. Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
6. Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application may be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.

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