Law Clerk

The Woodburn City Attorney’s Office is seeking a current first- or second-year (preferred) law student for a law clerk position beginning Summer 2026. This position is located in Woodburn, Oregon, about halfway between Portland and Salem.

The City’s hiring preference is for the clerkship to include a full-time summer appointment (40-hours/week; 10-12 weeks), with continued part-time employment through a student’s fall semester (<20 hours/week; 8-12 weeks), for a total seasonal appointment of around 6 months. Arrangements can be made to allow break(s) during the appointment for a student’s vacation and exam-study time. Some remote work may also be available in the fall while a student is attending law school classes. This position may also be managed partially as an externship (w/ the externship portion—Summer or Fall Semester—being unpaid).

The Woodburn City Attorney’s Office provides professional representation in all legal actions and proceedings in which the City is a party and advises City officials on legal matters. This includes providing legal assistance to the Woodburn City Council and City Administrator, as well as each of the City’s Departments (e.g. HR, Planning, Public Works, Police etc.) on all matters in the form of direct legal advice as well as representation at meetings, hearings, and in court. Please note that our office primarily handles transactional matters and litigation opportunities are minimal.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Law clerks are employed to provide support to the City Attorney and Assistant City Attorney. This could include a variety of assignments and projects that will be tailored to a student’s level of experience and interests. Assignments may also vary depending on business need and work available at the time.

While prior experience in municipal law is not necessary, interest in or knowledge of the following areas of law is preferred:

• Laws related to municipal governments, including administrative law, principles of real property, constitutional law, public contracting, and public records and meetings law;
• Oregon land use law and statewide land use planning goals and policies; and
• Oregon’s labor relations act and federal/state employment laws.

A clerk may be tasked with:

• Assisting in the development of legislative and administrative policies, including drafting City ordinances and resolutions;
• Reviewing City development and planning applications and providing legal opinions and advice on Oregon land use matters;
• Reviewing and analyzing recent case law and federal/state legislation that directly impacts local governments and municipalities;
• Drafting legal documents and related memoranda; review contracts, court papers and other documents for legal sufficiency;
• Prosecuting local ordinance violation and traffic violation cases in the Woodburn Municipal Court (for court certified law students); and
• Attending meetings with internal clients, the Woodburn City Council, Planning Commission, and other City committees.

Application Requirements:

Applicants must be current first- or second-year law students enrolled in an accredited law school.

To apply for this position, please provide the following:

• Resume (1-2 pages)
• Cover Letter
• Writing Sample (max 5 pages; please include a contextual summary if providing an excerpt from a longer piece of writing)
• Law School Transcript (transcript does not need to be an official copy)

Recruitment is open until filled. Application materials will be reviewed weekly, starting January 20, 2026. Hiring decision will be no earlier rthan February 7, 2026.

The City of Woodburn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and disabled individuals are encouraged to apply.

ADA accommodations will be provided upon request.

Per Oregon Revised Statutes 408.225 and 408.230, the City of Woodburn grants preference in hiring and promotion of veterans and disabled veterans as defined by state law. If you are eligible and wish to claim Veterans' preference points, please indicate so on your application. Please note that you need to submit documentation of your eligibility at the time of your application.

For AFSCME benefits:

https://www.intranet.woodburn-or.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/human_resources/page/12362/afscme_benefit_summary.pdf

For WPA benefits:

https://www.intranet.woodburn-or.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/human_resources/page/12363/wpa_benefit_summary.pdf

For Unrepresented benefits:

https://www.intranet.woodburn-or.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/human_resources/page/12363/non-rep_benefit_summary_.pdf