What's the most approximate translation for "law clerk"?

Question

Practicante is the closest I can think of, but I don't really know if this type of position would exist in any Spanish-speaking countries. If there is a spanglish version, that would also help.

Answer 1

In the United States, Canada and Brazil, a law clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Those unfamiliar with court operations often incorrectly assume that a law clerk is a court clerk or courtroom deputy, essentially a secretary for the court. To the contrary, a law clerkship is one of the most prestigious and coveted jobs in the legal profession.

I realize that legal systems vary broadly, especially when going from the US system to one of Latin America or Spain, but can anyone provide a convincing Spanish equivalent of this term?

Remember, not a clerk of the court or a secretary, but a "judge's assistant", usually a recent law school graduate who finished high in his or her class and has earned the position on academic merit.

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In this case, a "law clerk" is "letrado" or "secretario/a judicial"

Answer 2

In this case, I'm not barred yet to practice in a state. Letrado seems to be a synonym for attorney, which could be misleading especially since I'm still in law school.

Answer 3

In a book I am reading, La isla bajo el mar, we are introduced to "un notario y su joven escribiente". Aside from the fact that the story takes place in another century, I have a feeling that escribiente may simply be describing a normal "clerk" and that the notario's young companion might not have been a lawyer or even a student of law himself.

• Escribiente is the one who "writes", recording for the notario, who "dictates". - Agora Jun 22, 2011

Answer 4

Oh I see... so in that case, you are any of the following:

1. Pasante del Juez
2. Ayudante o auxiliar del Juez
3. Asistente del Juez