Career Law Clerk for the Honorable Patricia Tolliver Giles

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia invites applications for the position of Career Law Clerk for United States District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles. This position is available September 15, 2025, and is a permanent law clerk position rather than a term or temporary law clerk position.

Qualifications:

At the time of appointment, the candidate must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A strong work ethic, collaborative spirit, and "can do" and resourceful attitude.
• The ability to thrive and lift up others in an environment that is mission-centered, deadline- driven, team-based, and highly dynamic.
• Demonstrated excellence in performing legal research, writing, and analysis.
• Extensive skills in computer assisted research, and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, Outlook, Zoom and Microsoft Teams is required.
• Strong attention to detail, including meticulous editing skills.
• Ability and desire to work as part of a team, including being a thought partner for others, and to take collective ownership of the work and well-being of chambers.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate well and respectfully with persons of diverse backgrounds, identities, and abilities; a talent for adapting quickly and effectively; and awareness of what helps others do their jobs well.
• Work habits that result in being consistently prepared, very organized, and able to anticipate challenges and propose solutions.
• The capability to receive feedback well and to provide feedback constructively.
• Respect for the role of the judiciary within our constitutional structure.
• At least five years of legal experience after law school (federal judicial law clerk experience is strongly preferred).
• Eligibility for a Top Secret/SCI level national security clearance.

To qualify for JSP-13, an applicant must have at least five years of legal work experience after obtaining a juris doctor degree. Must have bar admittance.

To qualify for JSP-14, an applicant must have at least five years of legal work experience after obtaining a juris doctor degree, and two of the five years must be law clerk experience in the federal judiciary. Must have bar admittance.

Responsibilities:

Law clerk duties will include, but are not limited to, reviewing briefs and other case filings; performing legal research; writing bench memoranda; and drafting orders and opinions in a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. Administrative duties will include serving as principal administrative manager of chambers; reviewing the active case docket daily and drafting standard scheduling orders as necessary; training and assisting the term law clerks; and managing the judge's schedule. Exceptional writing and editing skills are required, and candidates with prior federal judicial clerkship experience will be preferred. Respect for the role of the judiciary and the rule of law is required.

Law Clerk Duties

• Research and analyze novel and complex legal issues in diverse areas of federal criminal law and civil litigation.
• Draft orders and memorandum opinions in civil and criminal cases for the judge's review.
• Prepare bench memoranda and other written materials for motions hearings and trial proceedings, as directed.
• Provide information and guidance to the judge on individual cases, as directed.
• Perform extensive computer legal research via Westlaw and/or Lexis.
• Monitor significant changes in federal statutes, sentencing guidelines, and Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit precedent.
• Review and edit orders, opinions and memoranda drafted by term law clerks and staff attorneys.

Administrative Duties

• Closely monitor dockets of all pending cases and draft orders, as appropriate, for scheduling and discovery-related issues, default proceedings, service deficiencies, and other miscellaneous matters.
• Serve as chambers liaison for all outside personnel, including other District and Magistrate Judges, the Clerk of Court, the Clerk's Office staff, the Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
• Train, assist and supervise the two term law clerks extensively.
• Receive, screen, and refer telephone and in-person callers.
• Prepare in final form the judge's written correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, and other items. Assemble and attach supplemental material as required.
• Monitor all incoming mail and email communication.
• Maintain the judge's calendar; schedule, change, and cancel meetings, appointments, and hearings as directed; relieve the judge of routine details and oversee chambers supply stock and general chambers' management.
• Arrange all business travel itineraries for the judge, including plane tickets, hotel reservations, lodging plans, car rentals, and other arrangements.
• Perform other miscellaneous administrative duties as assigned by the judge and as necessary for the efficient operation of chambers.

Salary : $120,579