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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 Circuit

Law Clerk (Lautenberg), First Circuit Court, 18th Division (Civil), Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Exempt Appointment (Non-Civil Service), $5,918 per month ($71,016 per year)

Anticipated Start Date:  August 2025 for a one to two-year clerkship (some flexibility may be possible)

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: 18thDivision.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, Hawaiʻi

$5,713 per month ($5,918 per month effective July 1, 2024)

Click here to view job duties and requirements.

How to apply: Submit your resume and writing sample by email to: ExemptJobs.1C@courts.hawaii.gov.

Resumes are being accepted for possible referral to current and future exempt Law Clerk positions located in the First Circuit Court, Honolulu.

Third Circuit

Judicial Assistant I (Lautenberg), Third Circuit Court, 3rd Division, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi

Exempt Appointment (Non-Civil Service), $5,573 per month    

Click here to view job duties and requirements.

How to Apply:  Email a cover letter, resume and references to the attention of the Honorable Kimberly Tsuchiya at:  Recruitment.3JC@courts.hawaii.gov

Or by mail:

Third Circuit Court
Keahuolū Courthouse
74-5451 Kamakaʻeha Avenue
Kailua-Kona, HI  96740

Attn:  Honorable Kimberly Tsuchiya

Recruitment will be conducted until the position is filled.

Fifth Circuit

Law Clerk (Lautenberg), Fifth Circuit Court, 1st Division, Lihuʻe, Hawaiʻi

Exempt Appointment (Non-Civil Service), $5,918 per month (Starting salary effective July 1, 2024)

Anticipated Start Date: August 2024

Click here to 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
3970 Kaʻana Street, Suite 306
Lihuʻe, HI  96766
Attn:  Chief Judge of the 1st Division

Recruitment will be conducted until the position is filled.

Return to our Exempt Employment Opportunities page.