Law Clerk and Judicial Assistants – Job Opportunities
Law clerks work directly with a judge or justice and are exempt from civil service. Each judge or justice personally hires his or her law clerk(s). Generally, law clerk applicants should submit a cover letter along with a resume. However, the judge or justice may have additional application requirements, such as writing samples, law school transcripts or recommendation letters. Therefore, applicants should contact the respective judge or justice’s office directly.
Exempt (non-civil service) appointments are made outside the civil service process. Civil service recruitment procedures do not apply, however, public employment and Judiciary employment requirements must be met. All positions and persons in the exempt service are excluded from the requirements of selection by merit competition and from civil service status. Exempt (non-civil service) appointments are considered “at-will,” which means that the hiring authority may terminate the employment relationship at any time.
If you are currently a regular (permanent) civil service employee with the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary and accept a temporary exempt (non-civil service) appointment, you may be required to relinquish your civil service status and all employment rights and privileges of a regular civil service employee.
Return to our Exempt Employment Opportunities page.
FIRST CIRCUITLaw Clerk (Lautenberg) for the Honorable Steven R. Nichols, First Circuit Court, 18th Division, Civil Administration, Honolulu, HISalary: $6,535 per month ($78,420 per year) Term: End of December 2025 through July 2026 Click here to view job duties and requirements. How to Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript(s), and writing sample to the attention of the Honorable Steven R. Nichols by email to: 18th Division.1CC@courts.hawaii.gov. Should you have any questions, please call (808) 539-4084. Recruitment will be conducted until the position is filled. Law Clerk (Lautenberg), First Circuit Court, Honolulu, HawaiʻiLaw Clerk (Lautenberg), $6,535 per month ($78,420 per year), effective July 1, 2025, First Circuit Court, Honolulu Click here to view job duties and requirements. Resumes are being accepted for possible referral to current and future exempt Law Clerk position(s) located in the First Circuit Court, Honolulu. How to Apply: Submit your resume and writing sample by email to: ExemptJobs.1C@courts.hawaii.gov FIFTH CIRCUITLaw Clerk (Lautenberg), Fifth Circuit Court, 2nd Division, Lihuʻe, HawaiʻiSalary: $6,535 per month ($78,420 per year) Start Date:As soon as possible (6 month term) Click hereto view job duties and requirements. How to Apply: Please email a cover letter, resume, list of references, and writing samples to: recruitment.5jc@courts.hawaii.gov, or by mail to Fifth Circuit Court Recruitment will be conducted until the position is filled. INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALSJudicial Assistant II, SR-23E (for Associate Judge Keith K. Hiraoka), Intermediate Court of Appeals, State of Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, HawaiʻiSalary: $6,242 per month ($74,904 per year)
Anticipated Start Date: January 12, 2026 Click here to view job duties and requirements Or by mail: Applications will be considered as received. Recruitment will be conducted until the position is filled. Should you have any questions, please contact Kehaulani Otsuka at (808) 539-4752. |
Return to our Exempt Employment Opportunities page.