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, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability.
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” that occurs each Fall. Candidates may submit application packets to one or more participating Judge.
The Tax Court will be accepting Law Clerk applications from August 25-September 12, 2025 via the Law Clerk Interview Days application portal.
Law Clerk Interview Days will be September 13-30, 2025
Law clerk vacancies also may occur throughout the year. Outside of Law Clerk Interview Days, the Court posts a list of Judges and Special Trial Judges recruiting for law clerks on this page. More information and specific application requirements are provided in the Application Procedure section below.
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.
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.
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.
During the Law Clerk Interview days period, applications can be made by going to the Law Clerk Interview Days portal.
To apply, send a cover letter, a complete resume, and a copy of your law school transcript. A legal writing sample, preferably in the tax field, should also accompany the application materials. Please note any other Judge-specific requirements provided in the portal or in the Judge’s profile on the Court’s website. 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.
