United States Tax Court
Law Clerk Program Information
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Law Clerk Program
It is the policy of U.S. Tax Court, as an equal opportunity employer, to attract and retain the best-qualified people available, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, or handicapping condition.
Law clerk positions are filled as vacancies occur, and many are filled by applicants who participate in the Court’s annual “Law Clerk Interview Days” program that occurs each Fall. Candidates may submit application packets to one or more participating Judges.
2026 Law Clerk Interview Days Program Information
During the Law Clerk Interview days period, applications can be made by going to the Law Clerk Interview Days portal.
The 2026 Law Clerk Interview Days Portal is expected to open late August 2026. Judges will be making selections for Law Clerks generally to start in Fall 2027.
Individual Vacancies
Individual Law clerk vacancies also may occur throughout the year and details are posted on the Judges Currently Recruiting page of the website.
Application Procedure
Please review the list of Judges and Special Trial Judges currently recruiting for Law Clerks prior to submitting your application.
The Court accepts Law Clerk applications from:
- U.S. Citizens
- U.S. Nationals
- Lawful Permanent Residents seeking citizenship or intending to seek citizenship when eligible
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Send a cover letter, a complete resume, and a copy of your law school transcript along with a legal writing sample, preferably in the tax field. Please note any other Judge-specific requirements and include them with your application. All documents should be submitted in PDF format.
Questions concerning the application process may be directed to the Court's Office of Human Resources at (202) 521-4700.
Qualifications And Compensation
Law clerks must be a law school graduate. While bar admission is not required at the time of appointment, law clerks must have passed the bar within 14 months of their appointment. In addition, not later than 24 months after their initial appointment, and thereafter during their service at the Tax Court, law clerks must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a state or the District of Columbia and in good standing.
The Judges of the United States Tax Court are primarily interested in the superior law school graduate who has completed Federal tax law courses and plans to practice in this specialized field. There is particular interest in a graduate who has worked on a law review and graduated in the upper one-third of his/her law school class. Some Judges, but not all, prefer candidates with an LL.M. degree in taxation or who have completed one year of professional experience in the Federal tax field.
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Appointments typically begin at the Grade GS-11 level on the Government pay scale, but may be higher depending on the education level and professional experience of a candidate. Utilize the "General Schedule Salary Calculator" to determine the compensation for GS-11 in your locality.
The decision to make an offer, and the terms of the offer, are left to the discretion of each Judge. The Office of Human Resources facilitates the offer process after the Judge makes a selection and the candidate agrees.
Security and Character Investigations
All appointments are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background, credit, and tax check.
Insurance and Retirement Plans
Benefits available to employees include health insurance and life insurance. Employees also participate in the benefits of the Government's Federal Employee's Retirement System, which includes the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
Leave
Law clerks without prior Government service are entitled to 13 days of Annual leave and 13 days of Sick leave for each year. Any leave balances remaining at the conclusion of the law clerk appointment are forfeited.
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