Judicial clerkships are an invaluable way to learn the practice of law. Besides providing insight on how judges deliberate and providing an opportunity for mentorship, clerking is also an excellent resume builder. This guide will help you navigate the clerkship career path from application to interview and beyond.
Judicial clerkships offer law students and graduates the opportunity to gain insight into the judicial decision making process. This insight is highly valued by legal practitioners; in fact, it is often considered a "key credential for future law practice in any area." (From Judicial Clerkship.com; click on the link below for access ). But besides gaining legal experience, judicial clerkships often provide the opportunity to gain connections and the possibility of lifelong mentorship. For more information on why a judicial clerkship might be right for you, see "Rat Race: An Insider's Advice to Landing a Judicial Clerkship" by clicking on the link below.
There are several articles available that describe the duties of a judicial clerk. In The Function and Role of Law Clerks in the Law Clerk Handbook articulates the duties of a clerk as well as explains the differences between trial and appellate court clerkships:
"Law Clerks have no statutorily defined duties; they carry out their judges' instructions. Because each judge decides cases in an individual manner and has developed work habits over the course of a professional career, no two judges use their clerks in precisely the same manner. You must become familiar with your judge's style and work cooperatively with other members of the chambers staff so that, as a team, you effectively assist the judge in fulfilling his or her judicial responsibilities.
In most chambers, law clerks concentrate on legal research and writing. Typically, law clerks' broad range of duties including conducting legal research, preparing bench memos, drafting orders and opinions, editing and proofreading the judge's orders and opinions, and verifying citations. Many judges discuss pending cases with their law clerks and confer with them about decisions. District court law clerks often attend conferences in chambers with attorneys. Frequently, law clerks also maintain the library, assemble documents, serve as a courtroom crier, handle exhibits during trial, and perform other administrative tasks as required by the judge to ensure a smooth-running chambers.
Law clerks for district courts, bankruptcy courts, and magistrate judges have substantially more contact with attorneys and witnesses than do their appellate court counterparts. The principle function of an appellate court law clerk is to research and write about the issues presented by an appeal, while law clerks for district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges may be involved in many decisions made at every stage of the case."
From "Function and Role of Law Clerks," The Law Clerk Handbook, Second Ed., 2007; see also Boston College Law School Career Services, Judicial Clerkships 2011. Click the link below for access to the article.
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This guide was created by Adrienne DeWitt. It is maintained by the Reference Department.
