3Ls: Postgrad Bankruptcy Clerkship in Memphis
United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Tennessee
Vacancy Announcement #25-03
Position Title: Term Judicial Law Clerk
Position Type: Full-time; One-year, subject to renewal.
Start Date: September 10, 2026
Location: Memphis, TN
Salary Range: JSP 11/1 – JSP 13/10, $73,939 – $137,000*
*Depending upon qualifications and experience
Closing Date: January 2, 2026
Position Overview
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee is accepting applications for a full-time Term Judicial Law Clerk for its Memphis office. The position is an excepted appointment to serve as a one-year Term Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Denise E. Barnett.
Duties include:
(1) performing legal research on various issues arising in bankruptcy cases and proceedings; (2) drafting bench memos on a variety of bankruptcy related issues; (3) drafting proposed opinions, memorandum decisions, and orders; (4) reviewing applications, complaints, motions, objections, and other documents filed with the Court to determine the issues involved and the legal basis for relief; (5) preparing the calendar for upcoming hearings and trials and attending the same; (6) reviewing proposed orders; (8) performing administrative office functions such as drafting correspondences, editing, proofreading, telephone communication, and scheduling; (9) keeping abreast of changes in the law and briefing the judge; (10) acting as a liaison with the Bar, Clerk’s Office, and the Court; (11) assisting the Judge in CLE presentations, drafting and editing written materials, and performing other bankruptcy non-court functions; and (12) performing other day-to-day law clerk duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
To qualify for the position of law clerk, an applicant must be a law school graduate (or be certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) from a law school of recognized standing and have one or more of the following attributes:
• Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review or law journal;
• Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
• Demonstration of proficiency in legal studies, which in the opinion of the judge, is equivalent to one of the above (examples include: publication of a noteworthy article in a law school student publication or other scholarly publication; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, winning of a moot court competition or membership on a moot court team that represents the law school in competition).
To qualify for grade 12 in the Judicial Salary Plan (JSP), one year of legal work experience following law school graduation is required. To qualify for JSP grade 13, two years of legal work experience following law school graduation is required. Except for grade 11, the applicant must be a member of the bar of a state, territory, or federal court of general jurisdiction.
Legal work experience is defined as progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities while in military service may be credited on a month-for-month basis, whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation from law school.
Preferred Qualifications
It is preferred that applicants took a bankruptcy course in law school or have experience in the bankruptcy field or comparable practice areas. Applicants must be highly skilled in legal research and writing, and must be able to use Westlaw, Lexis and Microsoft Office. Must possess an interest in learning new applications such as OneNote and Teams. Familiarity with electronic case filing and management systems is preferred. Applicants must be able to quickly process and resolve complex issues. Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal skills, maturity, judgment, and discretion are required.
Information for Applicants
• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States.
• The Federal Financial Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages for court employees.
• All court employees are “at will” employees; therefore, can be removed from this position at anytime.
• Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.
• Only the best qualified candidates will be considered/contacted for this position.
• Participation in the interview process will be at the applicant’s own expense and relocation expenses will not be provided.
• The applicant selected for the position is required to reside in the Memphis, TN area. Relocation reimbursement is not provided.
• As a condition of employment, the selectee will undergo an FBI fingerprint and criminal records check.
• The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions within or to withdraw the job announcement.
Benefits
Term Judicial Law Clerks are “at-will” employees and are not covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s civil service classifications or regulations. They are, however, entitled to some of the same benefits as other federal government employees. Law Clerks appointed to term appointments for at least one year and one day are eligible for the following benefits: an on-site fitness center, health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, flexible spending plan, long-term care insurance and 10 paid Federal holidays. Term law clerks are subject to Social Security and Medicare deductions but are not eligible to participate in the retirement system or the Thrift Savings Plan. This position will be subject to the provisions of 5 U.S. Code Chapter 63, Subchapter 1 (Annual & Sick Leave).
Procedures for Applying (Incomplete application packets will not be considered)
Applicants must apply through Oscar https://oscar.uscourts.gov/ and submit all required documents:
• Completed Application for Judicial Employment (required). Link: AO78 Application for Employment: https://www.tnwb.uscourts.gov/PDFs/CourtInfo/Jobs/AO_078-08-2024_1.pdf
Add the application as part of your Oscar upload under any category.
• Cover letter and resumé with detailed work history (include vacancy number 25-03).
• Law transcript, one writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), three letters of recommendation and the applicant consents to references being contacted by the Judge. Attachments must be submitted as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) documents. Other formats are not acceptable. The AO78 listed above is required.
