Judicial Clerkship Information
Judicial clerkships are among the most prestigious and competitive employment opportunities available to recent graduates. Usually lasting one to two years, a judicial clerkship is an excellent way to bridge the gap between law school and the practice of law. Clerks at all court levels obtain unparalleled access to and knowledge about the judicial process. Additionally, a judicial clerk is exposed to a wide array of legal issues and is able to make a hands-on contribution to the judicial decision-making process. This experience and perspective is attractive to future legal employers who hire former judicial clerks for their significant legal knowledge, insider view of the court system, and ability to view cases from the court’s perspective.
There are a wide variety of courts -- state and federal, trial and appellate, specialty -- and the work can vary widely as well, but typically, clerks read briefs, attend court proceedings, write bench memoranda analyzing parties' arguments, advise the judge on the disposition of a case, and draft opinions.
We have compiled a list of resources to assist you in your search for a judicial clerkship. Additionally, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with a career advisor in the CSO to individually discuss your clerking options. Please call the CSO at (312) 906-5200, email kentcso@kentlaw.edu or stop by, the Career Services Office in Suite 360.
RESOURCES
Chicago-Kent Judicial Clerkship Handbook
Illinois Judicial Information Spreadsheet (2008)
Other State Judicial Contact Information Spreadsheet (2007)
(includes: AZ, CO, DE, MI, NV, NY, NC, OH, OR, UT, WA)
Vermont Guide: State court clerkship guide.
(Contact the Office of Career Services for login and password information.)
OSCAR:Online System for Clerkship Application and Review
Federal Magistrate Judges Association: Information on federal magistrate judges.
National Center for State Courts: Information on administrative aspects of courts.
www.judicialclerkships.com: Helps students navigate the myriad of courts and judicial clerkship opportunities.
Federal Judges Law Clerk Hiring Plan: Information about federal hiring guidelines.
U.S. Courts: Links to federal court websitesfor all circuits and districts.
Federal Judicial Center: Biographies for judges in federal courts.
NALP: Iinformation on federal hiring timeline.
Lexis: Information on available judicial clerkships.
Former Federal Law Clerks Society: Find former federal law clerks.
Federal Judicial Clerkship Database (on Symplicity)
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