Judicial ClerkshipsA judicial clerkship is a prestigious opportunity to work with judges at the federal, state, or local level. In considering whether to apply for a clerkship, you should think about whether you prefer to clerk for a trial judge or an appellate judge, and whether you prefer to clerk in a state or a federal court. Most federal clerkship opportunities exist in the US District Courts or the US Courts of Appeals for each circuit. Federal clerkships may also exist in specialized courts such as tax and bankruptcy courts to name a couple. Clerkships in state courts are found in various courts including state supreme courts, intermediate appellate courts, trial courts and courts of limited jurisdiction. Application MaterialsBecause each judge does his or her own hiring, you will need to submit a separate application to each judge. Most judges expect a clerkship application to include a cover letter, a resume, and a current law school transcript. Some judges will also want a writing sample, an undergraduate transcript, or other materials with your application. We suggest that you call the chambers of judges you are applying to, in order to be sure that you submit the necessary materials with your application and to avoid any confusion. In addition to the application itself, you typically will need to supply each judge with letters of reference. Many judges expect to receive three letters of reference directly from people familiar with your abilities in the law (usually professors). Again, you should check on the requirements of individual judges by calling chambers and talking to either a secretary or one of the judge's clerks.
Applying for a Federal Judicial ClerkshipFederal clerkships tend to be more prestigious and more competitive. In order to maximize your chances of getting a clerkship, it might be wise to apply to a variety of judges, on a variety of courts. Be sure to factor in your class standing. For example, federal appellate clerkships are fewer in number and therefore extremely competitive - your class standing and credentials must rival those from other law schools. The application process for federal judicial clerkships varies from judge to judge. Although some constants run through the application, you should familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of each judge to whom you wish to apply. Most federal judges will begin accepting applications in the fall semester of your final year in law school. However, to be sure that your applications will be timely, we suggest that you check with the chambers of each of the judges to whom you are applying. To learn more about available federal judicial clerkships, see OSCAR (Online System for Clerkship Application and Review. Applying for a State Judicial ClerkshipThe application process for a state judicial clerkship is very different from the federal application process. If you are interested in a specific state, you may wish to consult the Vermont Law School Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures (please contact the Career Services Office for the username and password - career-services@law.capital.edu). You can also contact various judges directly by calling chambers. For a quick link to state judges around the country, try using the National Center for State Courts Web site. In Ohio, clerkships or staff attorney positions may be posted at law schools, on the Supreme Court of Ohio webpage, or in Bar Association publications. For a listing of Ohio courts, see the Supreme Court of Ohio. Resources
Online Resources
You may also wish to consult with the following members of Capital's faculty and staff who were judicial law clerks or fellows.
|
Alumni Career Services |
