Sample Job Descriptions
Table of Contents
General Legal Experience
Did You.....
- Research and draft memoranda in numerous areas of the law including.....
- Prepare and update interrogatories, abstract depositions, draft settlement letters
- Communicate with opposing counsel, government agencies and clients
- Compose and edit documents, including complaints and motions
- Participate in multiple phases of litigation including........
- Research pertinent case information, prepare exhibits and schedule witnesses
- Draft pre-sentencing memoranda and habeas petitions
- Advise individual clients and the public on ( ) issues
- Represent indigent clients in family and domestic violence matters
- Lobby Congressional staff on pending legislation
- File documents in court and perform title searches
- Arrange and conduct meetings with clients and expert witnesses
- Draft corporate resolutions and partnership agreements
- Attend drafting sessions and management due diligence meetings
- Develop discovery plans and write interrogatories
- Attend federal pre-trial conferences and court proceedings
- Attend settlement conferences
- Attend trials, depositions, hearings, and legal seminars
- Summarize and index depositions and other trial materials
- Research and analyze decisions of Federal Courts and Commissions
- Maintain extensive client contact and assist in handling client inquiries
- Conduct fact investigation and verification of information
- Research legal issues and assist in writing appellate briefs
- Draft pretrial statements and motions for summary judgment
- Analyze the application of Federal statutes and regulations to various client problems
- Draft opinion letters to clients
- Assist with settlement negotiations
- Participate in negotiating sessions with opposing counsel
- Attend hearings before Administrative Law Judges
Law Firm Experience
MASTERS & SERVANTS, Newark, NJ
Summer Associate, Summer 2003
Completed merger of parent corporation with subsidiaries.
Drafted corporate resolutions and articles and plans of merger and filed documents with various states. Researched and drafted memoranda, discovery requests, and motions for civil and criminal litigation.
Lloyd & Bridges, San Francisco, CA
Summer Associate Summer 2003
Researched and drafted memoranda, motions, and letters to counsel. Topics included liability under the 1933 Securities Act, intellectual property litigation, strict products liability, construction litigation, employment contract disputes, and evaluating corporate governance. Prepared and argued motions, assisted in deposing witnesses, and conducted examinations in mock trial.
LORDS & LADIES, New York, NY
Summer Associate, Summer 2003
Worked with attorneys in the products liability group of a large litigation firm. Drafted motions to dismiss, drafted pleadings, wrote reports and maintained client communication. Worked extensively on an appellate litigation project involving research on several procedural and legal topics, and drafted memoranda and assisted in the preparation of appellate motions and briefs.
ABBOTT & COSTELLO, Arlington, VA
Law Clerk September 2000 to Present
Aided lead counsel in government contracts case with research and trial strategy. Interviewed clients and drafted employment contracts and a supplement to personnel codes. Accompanied attorneys to court and assisted them with motions hearings. Researched in areas of civil litigation, banking, bankruptcy, domestic relations, corporate law, and estates and wills.
Burns & Allen, WI
Summer Law Clerk - 2004
Worked on several civil cases covering numerous areas of law, including environmental, tax, probate, estate, and family law.
Attended depositions, collected facts, and interviewed clients.
Researched, wrote memorandum for, and drafted portions of appellate brief.
Prosecutor and Public Defender Experience
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Newark, NJ
Law Clerk, Appellate Division September 2000 to January 2003
Worked with senior Assistant US Attorneys on criminal appeals. Co-wrote appellate brief for attempted presidential assassination conviction. Personally wrote briefs for felony and misdemeanor cases ranging from assault to narcotics violations.
Successful record in eight cases.
United States Attorney's Office, Washington, DC
Legal Intern, Homicide Unit - June 1999 to Present
Wrote summary memos dealing with specific areas of the law including Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment issues; observed oral arguments; attended plea negotiations; participated in witness interviews; performed legal research; helped organize and prepare evidence for trials.
United States Attorney's Office, Los Angeles, CA
Law Clerk - June 1980 to June 1992
Worked directly with an Assistant United States Attorney on depositions and at trial. Original research and memo writing. Major projects included composing the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the judge in an employment discrimination case, researching the meaning of Ahandicapped@ under the Federal Rehabilitation Act, and drafting a motion for summary affirmance in a Federal Tort Claims Act case.
Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Hackensack, NJ
Summer Intern (Dates)
Aided in two felony prosecutions: drafted memoranda and motion letters to the court, organized and prepared documentary evidence, participated in questioning and preparation of witnesses. Participated in Mock Trial Program sponsored by the Office.
Office of the Public Defender, Essex County, Newark, NJ
Law Clerk - Summer 2003
Worked with felony attorney to research case law, provided case summaries and made recommendations; wrote motions for court, one of which was granted and led to a dismissal; interviewed clients; attended weekly court hearings.
Officer of the Public Defender, Dover, DE
Legal Intern May 2003 to December 2003
Researched and drafted appellate briefs. Assisted with arraignments in family court by conducting pre-arraignment interviews with juvenile and domestic violence defendants. Assisted defendants with all aspects of the plea negotiation process, including evaluating possible defenses and likelihood of prevailing at trial.
Government Agency Experience
United States Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation, Washington, DC
Legal Intern - May 2002 to June 2003
Investigated violations of Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
Interviewed potential witnesses and state officials
Prepared memoranda for potential litigation
Evaluated and consolidated trial documents
Developed office litigation files for complaints and consent decrees
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, Washington, DC
Legal Assistant, Office of General CounselSummer 2003
Researched legislative history and statutory interpretation of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Wrote legal memoranda and interrogatories on government contract and bid protest issues.
Assisted in a study of the impact of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994.
Internal Revenue Service, Newark, NJ
Law Clerk - June 2000 to May 2003
Processed and handled cases docketed in the United States Tax Court. Researched corporate, partnership, and individual tax issues involving investment tax credits, lien priorities, and innocent spouses. Drafted motions, memoranda, discovery documents, refund letters, and advisory opinions. Attended conferences with taxpayers and observed trials.
Public Interest Experience
LEGAL AID SOCIETY, New York, NY
Law Clerk, Juvenile Rights Division, September 2000 to Present
Researched and drafted motions on constitutional issues and questions of criminal law and procedure; digested case records for abused and neglected children; assisted in preparation of direct and cross examination of defendants and witnesses.
Emergency Domestic Relations Project, D. C. Superior Court, Washington, D.C.
Civil Intake Counselor, Domestic Violence Unit, (dates)
Drafted petitions and affidavits for Temporary and Civil Protection Orders
Assisted clients with filing of motions for modification and contempt.
Handled initial client interviews and persuaded local attorneys to accept client cases.
Lawyers Committee For Human Rights, Washington, D.C.
Legal Intern - May 2000 to Present
Lobbied Congress and Federal Agencies on human rights issues. Analyzed U.S. compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Assisted the Asylum Representation Project.
NATIONAL VICTIM CENTER, LEGAL SERVICES, Arlington, VA
Law Clerk February 2000 to May 2003
Researched issues and cases relating to civil litigation by victims of violent crime.
Briefed state and federal cases for the Civil Justice Database and Crime Liability Monthly.
Assisted with the compilation of an information bulletin for a Department of Justice grant.
Mental Health Advocacy Services, Los Angeles, CA
Legal Extern - Fall 2002
Advised and aided clients regarding civil and criminal law questions and government benefits. Researched and analyzed related statutes and case law. Facilitated agreement regarding employee policies between a client and his employer. (dates)
Judicial Intern Experience
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
The Honorable James Smith
Judicial Intern, May 2000 to September 2000
Gained insight into judicial procedure and decision-making and assisted judges in deciding procedural motions.
Reviewed trial records and pleadings and evaluated cases for disposition.
Analyzed legal issues, synthesized all information, and presented disposition recommendations in concise memoranda for final decision by the court.
The Honorable James Smith, Superior Court of New Jersey, Civil Division, Newark, NJ
Judicial Internship - Fall '02
Drafted memoranda and prepared oral presentations on issues before the court. Assisted in drafting opinions. Observed all stages of courtroom proceedings. Docket included felony, criminal and juvenile abuse and neglect cases.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, New York, NY
The Honorable James Smith
Intern - Summer 2003
Observed four month RICO drug conspiracy trial involving five defendants
Briefed judge on upcoming motions.
Managed an entire pro se FOIA case and drafted opinion that will be used as a model for future interns.
Researched and authored legal memoranda concerning wide range of issues including procedure, evidence, prisoners' rights, and exclusionary rule.
The Honorable James Smith, Trenton, NJ
Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division
Judicial Intern May 1999 to March 2000
Researched case law and statutes addressing issues of civil procedure, commercial law, and injunction proceedings. Drafted numerous court orders responding to motions for a new trial, motions to amend judgment, and motions for contempt sanctions.
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT, Newark, NJ
Judicial Extern to the Honorable James Smith - Summer 2002
Researched civil and criminal legal issues concerning evidence, procedure, and legislative history of federal statutes; participated in meetings in chambers; observed oral arguments. (Dates)
Seton Hall Research Assistant Experience
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
Paula Franzese, Professor of Law
Research Assistant - Spring 2003
Assisted in selection of course materials for elective entitled Economic Reasoning and the Law; edited articles to be incorporated into course; evaluated and commented on exercises and quizzes; assisted in the collection of materials for Advanced Antitrust Law Seminar.
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
Research Assistant to Professor Kip Cornwell Summer 2003
Researched and wrote appellate brief for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Involved in diverse, ongoing litigation which involved conducting research on various legal topics
including the 'Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act."
Assisted professor in preparation for client meetings and met with clients to discuss strategy.
RONALD J. RICCIO, Professor of Law, Newark, NJ
Seton Hall University School of Law
Research Assistant - May 1990 to June 1992
Assisted professor in researching issues related to the federal judiciary for forthcoming
publication. Conducted literature search for course materials on comparative constitutional law.
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Newark, NJ
Research Assistant to Professor Michael Ambrosio Fall Semester '02
Researched, analyzed, and summarized federal and state legislation concerning alternative health care practices in the U.S. Responsible for a computer-based search of regulations involving alternative health care methods for the purpose of aiding eventual publication of a definitive treatise on the law of complementary health care in the U.S.
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
Research Assistant - Professor Charles Sullivan March 2002 - May 2003
Helped develop class reading list for new seminar in advanced communication law. Topics included the V-Chip, indecency on the Internet, regulation of alcohol and tobacco advertising, and regulation of political advertising. (Dates)
PATRICK HOBBS, Dean and Professor of Law, Newark, NJ
Seton Hall University School of Law
Research Assistant - Summer 2000
Researched campaign finance reform and racial redistricting.
Proofread and created index for casebook on administrative law.
Presently assisting in editing casebook on racial redistricting and campaign finance reform.
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