cover letter for a judicial clerkship

Written Samples

15 sample cover letters for judicial clerkship.

Securing a judicial clerkship is a dream come true for many aspiring lawyers.

It is an opportunity to work closely with a judge, gain invaluable experience, and set yourself apart from the competition.

Sample Cover Letters for Judicial Clerkship

However, crafting the perfect cover letter can be a challenging task.

To help you stand out from the crowd, we have compiled 15 sample cover letters that showcase the best practices and strategies for landing your dream clerkship.

1. The Passionate Advocate

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Jane Doe

Dear Judge Smith,

As a passionate advocate for justice, I am thrilled to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. Throughout my legal education at XYZ Law School, I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to excellence and my ability to thrive in a fast-paced, intellectually challenging environment.

During my internship at the ABC Public Defender’s Office, I honed my legal research and writing skills while working on complex criminal cases. I also had the opportunity to observe court proceedings and witness firsthand the impact that dedicated legal professionals can have on the lives of others.

I am confident that my strong academic background, coupled with my practical experience, makes me an ideal candidate for a clerkship in your chambers. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications and learn more about how I can contribute to your team.

Thank you for considering my application.

2. The Research Enthusiast

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – John Smith

Dear Judge Johnson,

I am writing to express my strong interest in a judicial clerkship position in your chambers. As a research enthusiast with a passion for legal analysis, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of the law and contribute to the administration of justice.

During my time at ABC Law School, I excelled in my legal research and writing courses, earning the highest grades in my class. I also served as a research assistant for Professor Jane Doe, working on a project that explored the intersection of constitutional law and emerging technologies.

I am excited about the prospect of bringing my research skills and intellectual curiosity to your chambers. I would be honored to have the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the court.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

3. The Problem Solver

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Sarah Johnson

Dear Judge Brown,

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As a problem solver with a keen eye for detail, I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team.

During my internship at the XYZ Law Firm, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of complex legal issues, ranging from contract disputes to intellectual property matters. I quickly earned a reputation as a go-to person for tackling challenging problems and finding creative solutions.

I believe that my ability to think critically and analytically, combined with my strong work ethic and attention to detail, would make me an excellent fit for a clerkship in your chambers. I would welcome the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the court.

Sarah Johnson

4. The Public Service Advocate

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – Michael Lee

Dear Judge Davis,

I am writing to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As someone who is deeply committed to public service, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Throughout my time at XYZ Law School, I have been actively involved in various public service initiatives. I volunteered at a local legal aid clinic, providing free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. I also participated in a moot court competition, where I argued a case involving a constitutional challenge to a state law.

I am passionate about using my legal skills to serve the public interest and would be honored to have the opportunity to do so as a clerk in your chambers. I am confident that my commitment to public service, coupled with my strong academic background and practical experience, makes me an ideal candidate for this position.

Michael Lee

5. The Detail-Oriented Researcher

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Emily Chen

Dear Judge Wilson,

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As a detail-oriented researcher with a passion for legal analysis, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to hone my skills and contribute to the administration of justice.

During my time at ABC Law School, I consistently demonstrated my ability to conduct thorough and accurate legal research. I served as a research assistant for Professor John Smith, working on a project that explored the evolution of copyright law in the digital age. I also excelled in my legal writing courses, earning praise from my professors for my clear and concise writing style.

I am confident that my research skills, attention to detail, and strong work ethic would make me a valuable asset to your chambers. I would welcome the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the court.

6. The Collaborative Team Player

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – David Kim

Dear Judge Taylor,

I am writing to express my strong interest in a clerkship position in your chambers. As a collaborative team player with a passion for legal analysis, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to work alongside talented legal professionals and contribute to the administration of justice.

During my time at XYZ Law School, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to work effectively in a team environment. As a member of the law review, I collaborated with my fellow editors to produce high-quality legal scholarship. I also participated in a moot court competition, where I worked closely with my teammates to develop a compelling legal argument.

I am excited about the prospect of bringing my teamwork skills and legal knowledge to your chambers. I would be honored to have the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the court.

7. The Legal Writing Specialist

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Samantha Lee

Dear Judge Anderson,

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As a legal writing specialist with a passion for clear and concise communication, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to hone my skills and contribute to the administration of justice.

Throughout my time at ABC Law School, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to produce high-quality legal writing. I served as a teaching assistant for a legal writing course, where I provided feedback and guidance to first-year law students. I also worked as a summer associate at the XYZ Law Firm, where I drafted memoranda and briefs on a variety of legal issues.

I am confident that my strong writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely would make me a valuable asset to your chambers. I would welcome the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the court.

Samantha Lee

8. The Intellectual Property Enthusiast

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – Andrew Nguyen

Dear Judge Harris,

I am writing to express my strong interest in a clerkship position in your chambers. As an intellectual property enthusiast with a passion for innovation and creativity, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of this fascinating area of law.

During my time at XYZ Law School, I have focused my studies on intellectual property law, taking courses in patent law, trademark law, and copyright law. I also served as the president of the Intellectual Property Law Society, where I organized events and workshops to help my fellow students learn more about this exciting field.

I am excited about the prospect of bringing my knowledge and enthusiasm for intellectual property law to your chambers. I would be honored to have the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the court.

Andrew Nguyen

9. The Criminal Law Advocate

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Jessica Park

Dear Judge Roberts,

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As a criminal law advocate with a passion for justice and fairness, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Throughout my time at ABC Law School, I have focused my studies on criminal law and procedure, taking courses in constitutional criminal procedure, evidence, and trial advocacy. I also interned at the XYZ Public Defender’s Office, where I worked on a variety of criminal cases and gained valuable courtroom experience.

I am passionate about ensuring that every defendant receives a fair trial and that the criminal justice system operates in a just and equitable manner. I am confident that my knowledge of criminal law, coupled with my strong research and writing skills, would make me a valuable asset to your chambers.

Jessica Park

10. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Advocate

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – Daniel Patel

Dear Judge Singh,

I am writing to express my strong interest in a clerkship position in your chambers. As an alternative dispute resolution advocate with a passion for finding creative solutions to complex legal problems, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of this important area of law.

During my time at XYZ Law School, I have focused my studies on alternative dispute resolution, taking courses in mediation, negotiation, and arbitration. I also served as a volunteer mediator at a local community mediation center, where I helped parties resolve conflicts ranging from landlord-tenant disputes to family law matters.

I am excited about the prospect of bringing my knowledge and skills in alternative dispute resolution to your chambers. I believe that my ability to think creatively and find mutually beneficial solutions to complex legal problems would be a valuable asset to your team.

Daniel Patel

11. The Environmental Law Advocate

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Olivia Nguyen

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As an environmental law advocate with a passion for protecting our planet and its resources, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Throughout my time at ABC Law School, I have focused my studies on environmental law, taking courses in natural resources law, environmental policy, and climate change law. I also served as the president of the Environmental Law Society, where I organized events and workshops to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues.

I am passionate about using the law as a tool for environmental protection and would be honored to have the opportunity to do so as a clerk in your chambers. I am confident that my knowledge of environmental law, coupled with my strong research and writing skills, would make me a valuable asset to your team.

Olivia Nguyen

12. The Constitutional Law Scholar

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – William Lee

I am writing to express my strong interest in a clerkship position in your chambers. As a constitutional law scholar with a passion for exploring the foundations of our legal system, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of this critical area of law.

During my time at XYZ Law School, I have focused my studies on constitutional law, taking courses in the First Amendment, equal protection, and separation of powers. I also served as a research assistant for Professor Jane Smith, working on a project that explored the historical origins of the Bill of Rights.

I am excited about the prospect of bringing my knowledge and passion for constitutional law to your chambers. I would be honored to have the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of interpreting and applying our nation’s founding document.

William Lee

13. The International Law Enthusiast

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Sophia Kim

Dear Judge Patel,

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As an international law enthusiast with a passion for exploring legal issues that transcend borders, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of this dynamic area of law.

Throughout my time at ABC Law School, I have focused my studies on international law, taking courses in human rights law, international trade law, and international environmental law. I also participated in a summer study abroad program in Geneva, Switzerland, where I had the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field.

I am passionate about using the law as a tool for promoting peace, justice, and cooperation among nations. I am confident that my knowledge of international law, coupled with my strong research and writing skills, would make me a valuable asset to your chambers.

14. The Civil Rights Advocate

Subject: Application for Judicial Clerkship – Ethan Nguyen

I am writing to express my strong interest in a clerkship position in your chambers. As a civil rights advocate with a passion for fighting against discrimination and promoting equality, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

During my time at XYZ Law School, I have focused my studies on civil rights law, taking courses in employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and voting rights. I also interned at the ABC Civil Rights Organization, where I worked on a variety of cases involving racial profiling, police misconduct, and other civil rights violations.

I am passionate about using the law as a tool for social justice and would be honored to have the opportunity to do so as a clerk in your chambers. I am confident that my knowledge of civil rights law, coupled with my strong advocacy skills, would make me a valuable asset to your team.

Ethan Nguyen

15. The Appellate Advocate

Subject: Judicial Clerkship Application – Avery Chen

I am excited to apply for a clerkship position in your chambers. As an appellate advocate with a passion for crafting persuasive legal arguments, I believe that clerking for you would be an incredible opportunity to hone my skills and contribute to the administration of justice at the appellate level.

Throughout my time at ABC Law School, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to write clear and compelling legal briefs. I served as a member of the moot court team, where I argued complex legal issues before panels of judges. I also worked as a summer associate at the XYZ Law Firm, where I drafted appellate briefs on a variety of topics.

I am confident that my strong writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to think critically about legal issues would make me a valuable asset to your chambers. I would welcome the opportunity to learn from your expertise and contribute to the important work of the appellate court.

Crafting the perfect cover letter for a judicial clerkship requires a combination of strong writing skills, attention to detail, and a passion for the law.

By highlighting your unique strengths and experiences, you can set yourself apart from the competition and increase your chances of landing your dream clerkship.

Use these sample cover letters as inspiration as you craft your compelling application, and remember to tailor each letter to the specific judge and court to which you are applying.

With hard work and dedication, you can take the first step towards a rewarding career in the legal profession.

Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter Example

The Judicial Clerkship is a pivotal role that supports judges by conducting legal research, drafting opinions, and ensuring the smooth management of cases in court. Strong legal research, and writing skills, an in-depth understanding of legal procedures, and terminologies, and time management skills are essential to handle the work.

An attractive Judicial Clerkship cover letter allows you to direct the reader’s attention to aspects of your resume that are most relevant, demonstrate your knowledge of the company you’re writing to, and express your interest and enthusiasm for the position. Want one super quick? Have a look at our Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter Sample and download it easily!

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A Judicial Clerkship is responsible for assisting judges in researching legal issues, preparing legal documents, and managing case files. The position involves reviewing case files, preparing draft opinions, and legal memoranda, reviewing case files, and summarizing key points, and assisting with case management and scheduling. The judicial clerk serves as a liaison between the judge and attorneys and ensures effective communication and coordination. In brief, the Judicial Clerk plays a critical role in the judicial process, providing essential support to judges through meticulous research, and efficient case management.

What to Include in a Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter?

Roles and responsibilities.

• Conducting thorough legal research on relevant case law and statutes.
• Drafting opinions, orders, and legal memoranda for the judge’s review.
• Reviewing and summarizing case files and briefs.
• Managing and organizing court documents and records.
• Assisting in case management, including scheduling and coordinating hearings.
• Communicating effectively with attorneys, court staff, and other stakeholders.
• Preparing bench memoranda and case summaries.
• Attending court sessions and taking notes.
• Performing clerical duties such as filing and record-keeping.
• Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive legal information.

Education & Skills

Judicial clerkship skills:.

• Strong academic record, particularly in legal studies.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proficient in legal terminology and procedures.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Continuous professional development in legal practice and procedures.
• Proficiency in using legal research databases and software.

Judicial Clerkship Education Requirements:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the state bar – depending on jurisdiction.
• Prior experience in legal research or a clerkship is advantageous.

Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Dear Mr./ Ms.,

This letter will briefly describe my human-legal, academic, and professional skills and my interest in the advertised judicial clerkship with [Court Name]. I am a law-educated individual with research experience and a strong interest in judicial procedures, and your prestigious court can surely benefit from my contributions.

I am a final-year law student at [XYZ Law School], and I pride myself on employing great performance internships and research assistantships. My formal and practical education has provided me with solid and in-depth academic and practical.

My major accomplishments-

• Engaged in extensive legal study and created research briefs outlining relevant and feasible legislation for case resolution.
• Aided in the drafting of judicial opinions and orders, resulting in clear and complete written instruments that affected the outcome of particular instances.
• Maintaining the case files and papers ensured that all relevant documents were appropriately organized for assessment by the court or magistrate.
• Revised draft court opinions and legal papers to ensure correctness, consistency, and respect for legal norms, thus increasing the quality of final decisions.
• Assist in procedural and administrative aspects of the court processes and maintaining legal compliance.

I am more inclined towards [Court’s Name] because of its contemporary management styles, prominent decisions, and commitment to fairness. I wish to serve the court and obtain a comprehensive understanding of the court process of the clerkship.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I am eager to describe how the listed experience, interests, and knowledge will help in aiding the objectives of [Court’s Name]. Here is my resume and the writing sample I promised for your perusal.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

As Special as you are as a Judicial Clerkship, so should your cover letter be. The above cover letter sample is a great starting point that will help you get your desired job. The below tips and tricks will give you more detail on what to do to make your job application a success –

• Even though your qualification counts, employers want to see your passion and dedication for the working area, so mention this sense of personality of yours in your cover letter.
• Explain your experience and skills relevant to the field, and how you are willing to work full-time in this career
• Write anything/something that displays the kind of person you are, as this will make your application powerful
• The employer wants to know why you chose them to apply to – explain the research you made and what attracted you to them.

Need some tips for writing your resume, refer to our Judicial Clerkship Resume Samples !

Customize Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter

Get hired faster with our free cover letter template designed to land you the perfect position.

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Why Consider a Judicial Clerkship?

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. A judicial clerkship can provide a significant edge in the legal job market not only because of increased knowledge of the law and court system, but because of the valuable contacts and personal relationships developed during the clerkship experience.

What Does a Judicial Clerk Do?

There is, of course, no concise job description for a judicial clerk, and the specific responsibilities of a clerk depend on the type of court at which the clerk serves and on the specific preferences of the judge.

The judicial clerk is a full-time assistant to the judge and usually performs a wide range of tasks, including legal research, drafting of memoranda and court opinions, proofreading, and cite checking. A judicial clerk is often responsible for various administrative tasks such as maintenance of the docket and library, assembling documents, or other administrative tasks necessary to meet the many obligations of the judge.

Trial court clerks  generally are responsible for a wider range of functions than appellate court clerks. This is primarily because a trial court is a fact-finding court, which deals directly with litigants and with the everyday details of the litigation process. As such, the trial court clerk is often responsible for assisting with discovery disputes, settlement conferences, and trials. Trial court clerks draft trial briefs and opinions both short and long, and maintain correspondence and contact with attorneys and witnesses. Students interested in litigation find a clerkship in a trial court particularly helpful in their understanding of the litigation process.

Appellate court clerks  are more likely to spend most of their time researching and writing. An appellate court reviews cases for error from the trial court and does not have contact with the litigants apart from the oral argument. The primary tasks of an appellate judicial clerk are to review the record from the trial court, review the parties’ briefs to the court, research the applicable law, and draft either a memorandum of law or a draft opinion for the judge.

Some courts serve only specialized areas of the law such as the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. Judicial clerks serving these courts generally perform duties similar to judicial clerks at the trial level.

What Basic Qualifications Do Judicial Clerks Need?

In order to become a federal judicial clerk, an applicant must have completed his or her J.D. degree and be a U.S. citizen.

A non-citizen of the United States may be employed by the federal judiciary to work for courts located in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii. For additional information regarding the employment of non-United States citizens, consult the United States Office of Personnel Management  or call the Office of General Counsel at the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts at (202) 502-1100. Not all state courts require U.S. citizenship. Check with each specific court.

There are no specific academic guidelines regarding the qualifications necessary to becoming a judicial clerk. Clerkship positions are, however, incredibly competitive and generally are awarded to students who have had significant success in law school, college, and in the professional world. In general, federal clerkships are more competitive than state court clerkships and generally require a class rank in at least the top 25 percent.

Each applicant is considered on his or her individual merit, and judges set their own hiring criteria, so it is impossible to give a definitive grade or experience cutoff. Some information on hiring criteria is available in the NALP State Judicial Clerkship Directory (available as a non-circulating resource in the Office of Professional Development). The OSCAR database has more information about the hiring criteria for certain federal judges. Please schedule an appointment with the Office of Professional Development to discuss specific questions about qualifications.

What is the Income Potential for Judicial Clerks?

The salary available to a judicial clerk depends upon the court, legal work experience subsequent to graduation from law school, and bar membership. Yearly salaries usually fall somewhere in the low-$30,000 to mid-$50,000 range. The median salary for judicial clerks is around $54, 000. Many law firms will give credit toward partnership for time as a clerk, considering former judicial clerks as second- or third-year associates and adjusting their salaries to reflect that seniority.

How Do Applicants Choose a Court?

When choosing a court, applicants should consider two main factors: the type of court and the location of the court. It’s important to carefully research courts before applying. Applicants should not waste time applying to courts that they would not truly want to serve. This reflects poorly on the applicant (and judges do talk), and it reflects poorly on the applicant’s law school. Since judicial clerks are not generally required to be members of the bar of the state where the court is located, applicants should consider serving in a geographic location for a year or two even if they would not want to settle there permanently. However, judicial clerkship applicants should not apply to geographic locations that are not feasible even in the short term.

Federal Courts

There are several different options when applying to a federal court. While there are differing levels of competitiveness, it is a generally accepted fact that all federal clerkships are incredibly competitive. Applicants seeking a clerkship should apply in early September and not before in accordance with the Federal Hiring Plan. Ask an OPD staff member for more information.  Federal judges will then observe a reading period in mid-September. Then judges can begin interviewing candidates and making offers. It is critical that applicants assemble application packets over the summer before third year and have them ready to mail for the early September due date. That means that applicants should start the research and application preparation process in late June or early July. Applicants who begin the process late and are not ready to send applications pursuant to the Hiring Plan will risk losing out on the opportunity. With just 14 days between the opening of the application period and the date that judges can make offers, the process will move quickly. The following is a breakdown of the courts at the federal level:

United States Supreme Court 

These clerkship positions are obviously the most competitive. In fact, U.S. Supreme Court clerks are not hired while the clerk is in law school. In order to be considered for a clerkship with the U.S. Supreme Court, applicants must almost always have completed a clerkship at the federal Court of Appeals level. Certain courts, such as the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit are considered most likely to lead to a U.S. Supreme Court clerkship. The credentials of individuals selected for such positions are almost always extraordinary. Find more information on the U.S. Supreme Court .

United States Court of Appeals

There are 12 regional circuit courts of appeal. Each judge at the Court of Appeals level has two or three clerks. With a limited number of positions available and with the complexity of legal issues presented, these clerkships are incredibly competitive, although certain circuits are more competitive than others. The D.C. Circuit, the Second Circuit, and the Ninth Circuit are generally considered the most competitive. See a map of circuits and links to circuit court websites .

United States District Court

There are 94 judicial districts in the United States. There are two different clerkship options at the federal trial court level. First, there are several hundred active U.S. District judges across the country, most of whom have two law clerks. Second, U.S. District magistrate judges frequently hire judicial clerks. Magistrates handle pre-trial matters for trials before the District Court and handle trials for petty offenders.

United States Bankruptcy Court

Judicial clerks at the Bankruptcy Court are responsible for reviewing cases, writing memoranda of law, and answering attorney questions regarding court procedures and policies. 

United States Tax Court

There are 19 judges appointed to the Tax Court each with approximately three judicial clerks. Clerks receive the experience of a trial court within the specialized field of tax. The court's trials involve controversies regarding deficiencies in income, estate, and gift taxes, among other things. Students interested in positions should be sure to take and excel in tax courses and be ranked in the upper third of their class. Find more information on the U.S. Tax Court .

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

This specialized court sits in Washington, D.C., and handles primarily intellectual property matters. Find more information on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit .

United States Court of Federal Claims

This court has 18 judges and approximately 19 law clerks. The judges hear cases dealing with suits against the United States. 

United States Court of International Trade

This court has nine judges, most of whom have two law clerks. The jurisdiction of this court is over civil actions against the United States arising from federal laws governing import transactions. Find more information about the court .

State Courts

Indiana supreme court.

Many students from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law have served as judicial clerks for one of the five justices of the Indiana Supreme Court. Each justice has two clerks with the exception of the chief justice who has three. Clerks are primarily responsible for reviewing the trial record, researching the applicable law, and drafting legal memoranda and court opinions. Clerks also attend oral arguments before the court. Students interested in a clerkship opportunity should apply during the fall semester of their second year. Find more information on the Indiana Supreme Court and on the justices .

Indiana Court of Appeals

There are 15 judges on the Indiana Court of Appeals. The courtroom and all judges' offices are located in Indianapolis. The courtroom and nine offices occupy a portion of the fourth floor of the State House. Six offices and the administrative offices are housed on the twelfth floor of the National City Center in downtown Indianapolis. Clerks are primarily responsible for reviewing the trial record, researching the applicable law, and drafting legal memoranda and court opinions. Some judges select their clerks during the fall and some wait until the spring semester. Students should apply during the second year of law school. Find more information on the Indiana Court of Appeals and on the judges .

Courts of Other States

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law students can clerk at any state court in the country and are not limited to the Indiana state court system. The deadlines and procedures for individual state courts vary widely. The National Center for State Courts  has more information about state courts across the country.

How Do I Apply for a Judicial Clerkship?

A judicial clerkship application generally includes a cover letter, resume, writing sample, law school transcript, and three to four letters of recommendation. Application materials should not be sent piecemeal, but should be included in one packet addressed to the judge and marked “Judicial Clerkship Application.” Professional Development will cover the cost of postage for up to 50 clerkship applications. Bring completed clerkship application packets to the Office of Professional Development in addressed, but unsealed envelopes. Please see the section below regarding letters of recommendation for instructions on including letters in application packets.

Cover letter

An applicant's cover letter is extremely important because this is the first opportunity the judge has to evaluate writing ability. A poorly written cover letter or a cover letter with errors will result in the applicant not receiving an interview. Cover letters should be no more than one page. It is important that a member of the Professional Development staff review judicial clerkship cover letters before they are sent.

A cover letter should indicate the applicant's interest in a judicial clerkship during a specific hiring cycle (including the month and year the applicant is available to begin work) and should include information that the judge will need to evaluate such as academic success (including the ability to research and write), interest in or connection to a particular geographic area, and availability for interviews, including any trips planned to the area.

Many applicants are tempted to explain why they want a judicial clerkship and how the clerkship experience could benefit them. Instead, the cover letter should focus on why the candidate is interested in the specific court, specific judge, specific geographic area or specific area of law (if the court has limited jurisdiction), and the attributes that the candidate possesses that would make him or her a successful judicial clerk. If it is possible to simply change the name of the judge and send a cover letter to multiple judges, the letter is not specific enough and should be rewritten to specifically express interest in the particular clerkship opportunity. Remember, the judge will receive many applications and can only choose a small number of clerks. An applicant's cover letter should stand out as expressing genuine interest.

Applicants are also tempted to describe themselves as possessing "excellent research and writing skills." Statements such as these are conclusory and do not set an application apart from others. Instead of simply stating ability, demonstrate it through examples of experiences that have developed those skills. Describe achievements instead of just stating attributes.

Letter #1: I am uniquely qualified for the position of judicial clerk. I have excellent writing and research skills and hope to further develop them through the clerkship experience. (This letter would not stand out from other letters and does not give the judge any useful information with which to evaluate this candidate.)

Letter #2: My experience as a research assistant to Professor Smith helped me to hone my research skills. I reviewed the recent changes to Title VII and the impact those changes had on the ability of employees to sue their employers for hostile environment sexual harassment. My research revealed that the changes in the law significantly affect the time that employees have to file claims, and I expressed this result in a written memorandum of law. My writing ability has been further developed through my participation on the Indiana Law Review where my note entitled "Hard Cases Make Bad Law: An Analysis of the Judicial Role" has been selected for publication. (This letter is much more specific and uses examples to illustrate the point. This type of letter is much more effective.)

Take special care in addressing cover letters. Use the form of address appropriate for the particular judge. Letters of application are formal and should show proper deference to the judge by stating the judge's title correctly. The following are guidelines for correctly addressing cover letters:

• Use "The Honorable" before the judge's name on the inside address and on the envelope.
• The title for judges who sit on courts that have the name "Supreme" is "Justice." All other judges are called "Judge." The salutation of the cover letter should use the appropriate title. Examples: Dear Justice Smith; Dear Judge Jones, etc.
• The correct title for a magistrate is United States Magistrate Judge. The salutation of the cover letter should read "Dear Magistrate Judge Johnson."
• If the judge is the chief judge, chief justice, or senior judge, address him or her as such in the letter. Example: Dear Chief Justice Shepard.
• When addressing a letter to a judicial clerk, include the title "Law Clerk" after the name.
• The appropriate closing for a cover letter to a judge is "Respectfully" instead of "Sincerely."

Resumes should be conservative in style and should list education and experience in reverse chronological order. They should not be longer than two pages and should be error free. A resume should include experiences that illustrate research and writing skills such as a law review note being selected for publication; any other publications; and jobs, pro bono experience, and internships at which the applicant conducted research, wrote legal memoranda, or prepared legal documents.

Resumes should include community service or interests and activities that would help the judge get a sense of the applicant as a person. Remember, the judge is not just hiring an employee. Judicial clerks work closely with the judge and personality fit is as important as credentials. A resume should give a sense of who the applicant is and what interests him or her.

Applicants should have their resumes reviewed by Professional Development before sending them. It's important to have a fresh pair of eyes check errors and to make sure that educational and professional experience is described in a way that best illustrates its value.

Writing Sample

While the cover letter is really the first writing sample, judges also want to see an official writing sample, which illustrates legal analysis ability. When choosing a writing sample, keep in mind the functions of a judicial clerk. Clerks are called upon to evaluate a factual and legal situation, research applicable law, analyze the factual and legal situation in light of the law, and reach a conclusion. A writing sample should reflect these abilities. Appropriate writing samples include a law review article, a moot court brief, a paper written for a law school course, or a memorandum from a summer clerkship. Applicants who submit material created for an employer must get the employer's permission first.

A writing sample should be 5-10 pages long. The judge's time is valuable, and it is not appropriate to ask him or her to read a lengthy writing sample. An excerpt of a longer work is fine, but be sure to identify it as such. It's also a good idea to attach a cover page to an excerpt listing a few key facts and giving some context to the piece.

All writing samples should include a cover page with the applicant's name, address, and the purpose for which the writing sample was created. When submitting a paper from a class, always send a clean copy, removing the professor's name, the date of the assignment, and any other such information from the top of the paper, and when submitting an assignment from work, remove the name of the assigning attorney, etc. Be sure to read it carefully for grammatical and spelling mistakes and for citation errors. It is a good idea to have a friend read over it to be sure to catch all mistakes.

Law School Transcript

Most judges will accept an unofficial transcript, but some may request an official transcript. Unofficial transcripts include photocopies of official transcripts and printouts from Insite. When using an Insite printout, be sure to type contact information at the top because no name appears on Insite transcripts. Students can obtain an official transcript from the registrar for $10.00 per copy.

Letters of Recommendation

Judges generally require three to four letters of recommendation. Letters should be from law school faculty and legal employers who can thoughtfully comment on the applicant's research and writing ability, intellectual abilities, and potential as a lawyer. Applicants should select individuals who can speak specifically to their abilities. A letter from a well-known figure may carry a great deal of weight, but not if that person does not know the applicant and cannot truly comment on his or her ability. Avoid letters of recommendation written "To Whom it May Concern." When sending out a number of applications, consider preparing a mail merge document with names, addresses, and salutations to provide to references.

When requesting letters of recommendation, be sure to allow sufficient time for references to prepare a letter. It's a good idea to provide each reference with a current resume and a brief note explaining clerkship preferences and plans. Be clear about expectations of when the letter should be ready. It is the applicant's responsibility to pay for postage and to ensure that letters are sent. There are two ways to handle this. Either provide addressed, stamped envelopes to references and simply check back to be sure the letters were mailed, or include all letters of recommendation in the application packet. If including all letters in the application packet, provide an envelope to each reference and ask that he or she seal the letter of recommendation inside the envelope and sign the seal.

What's the Interview Process for Judicial Clerkships?

Once an applicant has made the resume cut and is selected for an interview, the focus shifts from the applicant's credentials to issues of "fit." All candidates selected for interviews have the credentials and experience necessary to be a successful judicial clerk, but the judge is interested in hiring someone with whom he or she can work effectively. Interviews are typically conducted in the judge's chambers, allowing the judge and all support staff to form impressions about the candidate. It is critical that candidates treat all members of the judge's staff with respect. Clerks come and go, but permanent staff members that have a long-standing relationship with the judge are often viewed as indispensable and can have a great deal of influence on the judge's decision.

Interviews will last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer. Most judges do not simply quiz candidates on substantive law, but candidates should be prepared to answer questions about the legal issues raised in their law review note, writing sample, or favorite class/area of the law. Some judges will ask candidates to speak about two or three legal issues about which they feel strongly. Become familiar with recent or noteworthy cases that have either gained national attention or have come from the judge's court. Get familiar with the judge's opinions, dissents, and personal history to try to anticipate areas that the judge may be interested in discussing. If possible, talk to people who have interviewed with the judge before to get a sense of what the judge might ask.

Candidates should expect questions on how a clerkship fits into their long-range career goals. Before interviewing, candidates should give some thought to why they are interested in a clerkship, why they are interested in the particular court, and why they are interested in the particular judge, and be prepared to answer questions about these choices. Answers should express a genuine interest in the specific clerkship for which the candidate is interviewing and should show that the candidate has done some research on the court and on the judge.

Approach the judicial clerkship interview with a game plan. Prepare ahead of time and identify the key personal characteristics to highlight in the interview. Focus on things such as writing ability, ability to meet deadlines, research ability, time management skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team, judgment, and ability to take constructive criticism.

Candidates should be prepared to ask questions of the judge. Remember that this, like all interviews, is a conversation. Candidates might ask questions about the scope of a judicial clerk's responsibilities, working conditions, the nature of the docket, and how responsibilities are delegated. Questions should be thoughtful and should illustrate a genuine interest in the position.

Travel and lodging expenses incurred during the interview process are the candidate's responsibility. Carefully select courts to apply to and be sure not to take on too much in terms of travel time and expense. Once a candidate has scheduled an interview, if he or she has multiple applications in the same geographic area, it is appropriate to contact several judges to let them know that he or she will be in the area. This might help to reduce expense and time spent on the road.

How Quickly Must a Candidate Accept an Offer?

Offers for judicial clerkships are not like other job offers. Many judges expect an answer on the spot. At most, expect to have twenty-four hours in which to accept. Be aware that requests for an extension might not be looked upon favorably by the judge. Applicants should only apply to and interview with a judge if they are willing to immediately accept an offer from that judge. If a candidate interviews with a judge and does not think that he or she would accept an offer from that judge, the candidate should call or write to have his or her name removed from consideration as opposed to waiting until an offer is accepted and then declining that offer.

Once a candidate has accepted an offer, he or she has made a commitment that must be honored. It is personally unprofessional and bad for the reputation of the candidate's law school to back out of an accepted offer to pursue another opportunity. Once a candidate has accepted an offer with one judge, that candidate should contact the other judges to whom he or she has submitted applications to have his or her name removed from consideration.

What Resources Are Available in the Office of Professional Development?

• Almanac of the Federal Judiciary Volumes I & II (non-circulating reference)
• American Bench, The Judges of the Nation 2003–2004 (non-circulating reference)
• Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships
• Chambers Handbook for Judges' Law Clerks and Secretaries
• Courting the Clerkship: Perspectives on the Opportunities and Obstacles for Judicial Clerkships
• Federal Judicial Center Law Clerk Handbook
• Federal-State Court Directory 2004 (non-circulating reference)
• Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures 2003 (non-circulating reference)
• Judicial Yellow Book: Who’s Who in Federal and State Courts
• McKinney Clerkship Hiring Data (xlsx file - login required)
• "America's Greatest Places to Work With a Law Degree" by Kimm Walton (contains information on clerkships)
• "What Law School Doesn't Teach You, But You Really Need to Know" by Kimm Walton (contains chapter on judicial clerkships)

What Resources are Available on the Internet?

• OSCAR  (information about federal hiring guidelines)
• Judicial Clerkships.com (general judicial clerkship information)
• U.S. Courts Locator (links to federal court websites for all circuits and districts)
• Greedy Clerks Board (message board)
• NALP  (information on federal hiring timeline)
• Federal Law Clerks (find former federal law clerks)

IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law resources and social media channels

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Judicial Clerkships

Have any questions regarding Judicial Clerkships that cannot be answered below? See Elizabeth Ireland in OCPD or contact her at [email protected] .

Deciding Whether You Should Clerk

What is a judicial clerkship.

A judicial clerkship is a post-graduate position for 1-2 years where a lawyer essentially functions as an attorney for a judge or justice. A clerkship will vary depending on the court and the judge, but with few exceptions the clerkship will entail a substantial amount of research and writing. This will include researching motions pending before the court, and depending on the court level, assisting judges to prepare for oral arguments or trials. Judicial clerkships are among the best post-graduate employment opportunities for law students. Regardless of the area of law you’d like to practice in, a judicial clerkship is an excellent one to two-year bridge between law school and practice.

What do judges look for in a clerkship applicant?

Judges are looking for strong academics, strong writing skills, and individuals with sharp critical thinking ability. To make a stronger case for yourself, consider the following:

• Get to know faculty well so they will be positioned to write you a strong recommendation letter.
• Get journal experience, if possible, and/or other substantial writing experience.
• If you have a connection to an area, mention that connection in your cover letter.

What about my class rank?

Although your class rank should never prevent you from applying to a judicial clerkship, the table below illustrates general rank guidelines:

• Top 10% -- Federal Appellate or State Supreme Courts
• Top 15% -- Federal District Courts
• Top 30% -- Federal Magistrate and Intermediate State Appellate courts
• Top 40% -- Federal Specialty
• All – State Trial Courts.

How do I select the courts and judges to which to apply?

You should consider applying to as many judges as possible, but do understand that you should never apply to a judge if you would not accept an invitation to interview or an offer. Some factors to consider:

• Geography: Generally, clerkships in larger cities tend to be more competitive than clerkships in less urban areas. If you are limited to a clerkship in a competitive area, consider applying to many different types of judges, including bankruptcy and magistrate judges.
• Ideology: Some students consider ideology when selecting judges to apply to. You are encouraged to look beyond ideology, except in extreme or rare cases. Ideology is irrelevant to a vast majority of the matters you’d work on. Furthermore, some judges select clerks who appear to have different ideologies than their own.
• Background: If a judge has a career path or worked in an area of the law you’d like to pursue, this is a good starting point as you may be able to write a more memorable cover letter. A good starting point for learning more about a judge’s biography is the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary.

Types of Clerkships

Nearly all courts have some type of judicial clerk or staff attorney. Wisconsin Law School graduates have clerked at every level of the federal judiciary, and many of our students regularly clerk with Article I judges such as bankruptcy judges and federal magistrate judges. Specialty courts, such as the United States Courts of International Trade, Federal Claims, and Tax Court, all hire law clerks.

Federal Courts

United states supreme court.

The Associate Justices, Chief Justices, and retired Justices hire clerks from candidates who have usually completed a clerkship at the federal appellate level.

United States Courts of Appeals

There are twelve regional circuit courts of appeal and a Federal Circuit. Additionally, many courts of appeal hire staff attorneys, and these positions provide great experience at the appellate level, but are generally less competitive than clerking for a federal circuit judge.

While there are certainly similarities among the circuits in the types of cases heard, different circuits also often hear different kinds of cases. For example:

• The D.C. Circuit hears a great deal of administrative law cases, but not many criminal law cases.
• The Second Circuit tends to hear numerous financial and corporate law cases.
• The Sixth Circuit tends to preside over numerous labor law cases.
• The Federal Circuit, unlike the other circuits, is a court of limited jurisdiction; it predominantly hears patent and trademark cases and civil cases brought against the federal government.

Active circuit judges generally hire three clerks for a one-year term. Chief judges may hire four clerks, and senior judges may hire one or two, depending on the size of the caseload they maintain. Some federal judges (at both the circuit and district level), however, have begun hiring career, or permanent, clerks to fill one slot in their chambers, which reduces their need for limited-term clerks.

Appellate clerks generally have no contact with attorneys or parties in cases before the court. Typical duties include reading the briefs and selected portions of the record; independently researching the legal issues raised on appeal; preparing bench memoranda summarizing and framing the case, explaining the facts and legal issues, and recommending a disposition or conclusion; suggesting questions to be asked at oral argument; discussing the case with the judge and/or co-clerks; and attending and evaluating oral arguments.

After oral arguments, if the judge is assigned to write the opinion, the clerk will usually be asked to write a first draft, which the judge will revise and edit. In some chambers, however, the judge writes the first draft, and the clerk is asked to comment, edit, and provide additional research. If the judge is not writing the opinion, the clerk may be expected to read and analyze the circulating draft opinion, offer advice on whether the judge should join the opinion, offer suggestions for change, or write a draft of a concurring or dissenting opinion. The amount of advice a clerk is asked to render on these opinions varies with the judge.

Federal Circuits for the U.S. Court of Appeals

First circuit.

• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island

Second Circuit

• Connecticut

Third Circuit

• Pennsylvania
• Virgin Islands

Fourth Circuit

• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• West Virginia

Fifth Circuit

• Mississippi

Sixth Circuit

Seventh circuit, eighth circuit.

• South Dakota

Ninth Circuit

Tenth circuit, eleventh circuit, d.c. circuit.

• Washington, DC

Federal Circuit

• Washington, DC (nation-wide jurisdiction)

United States District Courts

There are 94 judicial districts in the United States: 89 in the 50 states and 5 more in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

There are two different clerkship options at the federal trial court level:

• First, there are several hundred active U.S. District judges across the country, most of whom have two law clerks.
• Second, U.S. District magistrate judges frequently hire judicial clerks. Magistrates handle pre-trial matters for trials before the District Court and handle trials for petty offenders.

Federal district judges generally hire two clerks. Chief judges may hire three clerks, and senior judges may hire one or two clerks depending on their caseload. While many district judges hire clerks for a one-year term, they increasingly are requiring a two-year commitment from their clerks.

The hallmark of the district court clerkship is variety. District court clerks are in daily contact with attorneys and parties proceeding without counsel. They do many of the things appellate court clerks do (i.e., many trial level cases are decided by dispositive motions that are briefed and argued in much the same manner as are appellate cases).

In addition, district court clerks are heavily involved in the discovery process. They often play the leading role in resolving discovery-related motions, and in recommend­ing (and sometimes participating in) pretrial and settlement conferences. In those cases that do reach trial, the clerk will generally attend the trial and all related hearings. If there is a jury, the clerk may be involved in the preparation of jury voir dire and jury instructions.

In civil bench trials, the clerk will often draft findings of fact and conclusions of law. The clerk also may be asked to participate in sidebar conferences on disputed evidentiary issues. In criminal cases, clerks are likely to be involved in the evaluation of sentencing recommendations under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

State Courts

State supreme courts.

The highest state court is the court of last resort for disputes concerning the interpretation of state statutes, state constitutional law and state common law. Every year, Wisconsin Law grads enter clerkships with the Wisconsin Supreme Court (and other state courts), and report back that these are wonderful experiences.

Intermediate Appellate Courts

Not all state appellate courts hire law clerks, but the Wisconsin Court of Appeals generally hire a few law clerks each year. For Wisconsin, these positions are generally posted on the Wisconsin Courts website.

Trial Courts

State trial courts try a wide array of cases. These positions tend to hire much later than other courts, but they are great opportunities to observe and work on a broad range of trial matters, and network with the local bar.

Specialty Courts

United states bankruptcy court.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court has exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. Bankruptcy Court Clerks review cases, draft memoranda of law and answer attorney questions regarding court procedures and policies. For more information, visit www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy.aspx.

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

The Armed Forces Court of Appeals has worldwide jurisdiction over active-duty members of the armed forces, and anyone else subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. There are five civilian judges, who are appointed to 15-year terms by the President. The Court sits in Washington, D.C.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over international trade, government contracts, and patents. It also hears appeals from the Federal Claims, International Trade, Veterans’ Claims Appellate Courts. The majority of its cases involve administrative law, intellectual property, and monetary damages against the United States Government. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals sits in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/.

United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

The Veterans Claims Court of Appeals reviews decisions by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. This court seats seven permanent judges, and two temporary expansion judges. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., but is authorized to sit anywhere in the United States.

United States Court of Federal Claims

The Court of Federal Claims hears primarily money claims founded upon the Constitution, federal statutes, executive regulations or contracts with the United States. There are currently 17 judges on the Federal Claims bench, which sits in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.uscfc.uscourts.gov.

United States Court of International Trade

The Court of International Trade hears civil actions arising out of United States customs and international trade laws. There are currently 14 judges on the International Trade bench, which is located in downtown Manhattan, New York City. For more information, visit www.cit.uscourts.gov .

United States Tax Court

The Tax Court addresses suits regarding disputes in tax deficiency, as well as estate and gift taxes, and other tax-related issues. There are 19 judges appointed to the tax court, and each judge usually employs three clerks. These clerks receive the experience of a trial court within the specialized field of tax. The Tax Court usually seeks applicants that are within the top third of their class, and who have taken and excelled in tax-related courses. Many clerks are hired while enrolled in an LL.M. Tax Program. For more information, visit www.ustaxcourt.gov.

Administrative Law Judges

The federal government employs over 1,000 judges in various administrative agencies who hear cases pertaining to their particular agency. Some of these judges employ law clerks.

Staff Attorney Positions

Law clerks who serve many judges, or an entire court, are commonly referred to as "staff attorneys," "staff counsel," or "pro se law clerks." These positions can be found both in federal and state appellate and trial courts. The duties and responsibilities of a staff attorney vary by court, but may include reviewing motions, appeals and correspondence (particularly where at least one party is appearing without counsel), preparing memoranda, and assisting in case management and settlement. The length of service for these positions varies by court.

Tribal Courts

Tribal Courts Some states have tribal courts that hire law clerks, although funding for such positions tends to be quite limited. Postings can often be found in the newspaper Indian Country Today. In addition, the National American Indian Court Judges Association may list postings on its website.

Application Information

When do i send my applications.

The application and hiring process will not begin until after a law student’s second year.

Students will gain access to OSCAR early in 2024 to register for an account, upload documents, search for clerkship positions, and build online applications.

For 3Ls and Alumni

Not all clerkships are filled through the regular hiring cycle. Some judges prefer to hire later in the process so that applicants have a more developed record. Others develop openings unexpectedly when, for example, a person previously hired becomes ill or otherwise unable to assume his/her duties as a clerk.  Additionally, new judges are appointed to the bench periodically and need clerks without much lead time for hiring. At least at the federal level, many potential judges start to consider applicants for clerkships, at least informally, in the period between when they are nominated by the President and when they are confirmed by the Senate (particularly in the more narrow period between their committee hearing and their full vote by the Senate).  During this period, they obviously have no official authority to hire clerks, so be aware that they have to be very careful and hypothetical about considering potential clerks.  Indeed, some nominees never are confirmed, so any clerkship plans they make may become moot.

Many judges are also quite interested in hiring clerks with a few years' work experience after they graduate. Therefore, if you decide that you want to clerk at a later date, be sure to check all the resources mentioned in these clerkship materials, along with the other Career Services Job Search tools. A clerkship may be a wonderful way for you to transition from one job to another. In addition, for bar-member graduates with a few years' experience, salaries at the federal level can be $20,000 or more higher than for new graduates!

Tracking Recently Filled Vacancies

You can track federal judicial vacancies, nominations, and confirmations through the following websites:

• U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary : This site is best for watching the progression of nominees through the various steps. Note that pending nominations are listed after confirmed nominations.
• U.S. Department of Justice : The main page is good for an overview of judicial action nationally. Follow the link for "nominations" to find bios of nominees.
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts : This site is good for an overview of vacancies, categorized by circuit. Note that district court vacancies are listed under each circuit.

For state court vacancies, you may want to try each court's web site.

Application Process

Federal clerkships.

Unless otherwise noted, the majority of Federal Clerkship postings and application requirements are found on OSCAR. OSCAR serves as the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review. To register, go to https://oscar.uscourts.gov/ . Also on this site, you will find helpful tips and tricks for utilizing OSCAR. Should you have any issues OCPD is happy to assist. Find additional information on OSCAR here .

Some judges will still accept paper applications, however, this practice varies. Some students have found that if a judge is willing to accept paper applications, they are most successful when both a paper and an OSCAR application is submitted.

State Supreme Court/State Court of Appeals Clerkships

The State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals generally post their openings on Symplicty. In addition, information on the Courts can be found at wicourts.gov/courts/employment/lawclerk.htm

State Trial Court Clerkships

State Trial Clerkships are also posted on Symplicity. Spring OCI dates are available to 3Ls for Milwaukee and Dane County State Trial Court Clerkships. Watch Symplicity for dates.

Application Materials

Cover letters.

Your cover letter should be individually addressed to each of the judges to whom you are applying. Sample address formats can be found here . It should be brief and to the point, stating that you are a student at the University of Wisconsin Law School and that you wish to apply for a clerkship for a specified term. (Note: judges tend to categorize their clerkship opportunities by terms corresponding to academic years. Thus, a one-year clerkship starting in September of 2016 and ending in August of 2017 would be considered as being for the "2016-2017 term." If you are interested in only a one-year clerkship, be sure to state that you are applying for the one-year defined term ["the 2016-2017 term," for example]. However, if you are interested in both one- and two-year clerkships, make sure you do not state that you are applying for the 2016-2017 term because judges with two-year clerkships may eliminate you from consideration. Instead, state that you are applying for a clerkship "beginning in 2016.")

In a transmittal cover letter, particularly those where you are not applying via OSCAR, you should state in your cover letter what you are including as enclosures (e.g., résumé, transcript(s), writing sample and letter(s) of recommendation). If you are enclosing a writing sample without an explanatory cover sheet, you should briefly state the context of the writing sample (e.g., a brief written as part of a moot court competition, a memo written for a partner at ABC firm, a seminar paper written in partial fulfillment of the requirements of XYZ course).

Generally, judges are turned off by overly persuasive/"hard sell" cover letters. However, certain information about your qualifications and experiences is helpful. You may want to briefly explain the following in cover letters:

• you are applying only to courts in a specific geographic area because you have a strong commitment to practicing in that area
• there is something specific about a judge's background that makes you particularly (and genuinely) interested in clerking for that judge (without appearing to be too obsequious!)
• you want to clerk at a particular court/court level due to your long-term career plans (e.g., you want to clerk in border states because of your interest in immigration or at a state court because you subsequently want to practice family law or criminal defense)
• you have post-graduate legal experience (for graduate applicants)

See sample cover letters here (PDF) .

Résumé Tips

The résumé, which should be one page in length, should focus on your work and experiences in research, analysis, and writing.

How to obtain your transcript

Nearly all judges will want to see your most current law school transcripts, and many will want to see your undergraduate transcript, too. Unless specifically stated, assume that unofficial transcripts are sufficient. If you’re using OSCAR to apply for clerkships, understand that you’ll need to complete the OSCAR grade sheet for both your undergraduate and law school grades before you submit your applications. You will also need to manually update this with new grades as you receive them.

Choosing the appropriate writing sample

Your writing sample should be the best legal writing you have done. Unless a judge specifically asks otherwise, a sample 8-15 pages long is generally sufficient. A writing sample should showcase your ability to evaluate complex facts and law and reach a conclusion. Appropriate writings samples can include memorandum or briefs from legal research and writing courses, a moot court brief, memorandum or briefs from a summer position (provided it was your work alone, and with the permission of your client and supervisor!), a paper from a law school course, or a law review article.

All writing samples should include a cover page with the applicant's name, address, and the purpose for which the writing sample was created. When submitting a paper from a class, always send a clean copy, removing the professor's name, the date of the assignment, and any other such information from the top of the paper, and when submitting an assignment from work, remove the name of the assigning attorney, etc. Be sure to read it carefully for grammatical and spelling mistakes and for citation errors.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation should come from law school faculty or legal employers who can thoughtfully attest to your research, writing, and analytical skills. They are a critical component of your application. Please meet with OCPD to talk about your application materials, and discuss who (and how) to ask to write your letters of recommendation.

To secure a letter, you must ask whether the professor or attorney is willing to write a ter of recommendation on your behalf. Even if you expect that the person will agree to do so, the professionalism you display in requesting a letter of recommendation will itself communicate your ability to exercise professional judgment. You should never denote on OSCAR or elsewhere that someone is writing on your behalf unless they have agreed to write a letter for you. Current students should provide each faculty recommender with the following information:

• Current résumé (including class rank)
• Copy of current transcript
• Writing sample (not necessarily the one you will use for your applications)
• Complete list of judges to whom applications will be sent (in Excel), with judges ranked in order of preference

In addition, some professors also find it useful if you supply them with a brief written explanation of why you want to clerk and at what type of court, a summary of your qualifications, and your future plans. If you fear the professor does not know you well enough, offer to provide him/her with additional information about your background and any special circumstances that could be referenced in the letter. If a professor appears willing to write a letter of recommendation, but is less than enthusiastic, you may wish to reconsider. Strong letters of recommendation emphasize qualities relevant to clerking, such as your ability to:

• Think, analyze, and reason
• Deal well with complex facts and legal doctrines
• Express yourself well, both orally and in writing
• Articulate and defend your positions
• Take both initiative and direction, asking questions when appropriate
• Work well under pressure and complete assignments on time
• Juggle a variety of projects simultaneously
• Be a team player and get along well with others
• Keep confidences

If possible, the recommender should try to give specific examples of these qualities.

Interviews and Offers

How do i handle an offer from my summer employer if i also want to apply for clerkships.

It is important to be transparent with your employer about your interest in applying for clerkships. Please visit OCPD for additional information.

How does the clerkship interview process work?

The interview is of the utmost importance in the clerkship selection process. It is your opportunity to convey to the judge that you have the intelligence, competence, and maturity a clerkship demands. In addition, the interview gives the judge the opportunity to gauge your personality - to see if you "fit" within the atmosphere of chambers - and your commitment to clerking. Keep in mind that the position for which you are interviewing requires strong analytical, research, writing, and communication skills. Other qualities under consideration are your personality, sense of humor, interests, ability to work independently and as part of a team, time management and organizational skills, and ability to make well-reasoned decisions.

A clerkship interview generally takes place in the judge's chambers, for twenty minutes to an hour or more. You will speak with the judge and, usually separately, with the judge's current clerks. The discussions with the clerks and other office staff may appear to be informal, but they are often a critical component of the evaluation process.

See sample interview questions here.

Scheduling Your Clerkship Interview

Interviewing for a clerkship requires you to be as flexible and accommodating as possible. First, if you are not at home when a judge calls you to schedule an interview, call the judge back that day or, at the very latest, the next day. The time you take to return the call indicates your interest (or lack thereof) in the clerkship and could seriously affect your candidacy.

If you are asked when you can come in for an interview, the wise response would be, "Tomorrow morning, unless the judge would be free this afternoon!" (From: Trenton H. Norris, "The Judicial Clerkship Selection Process: An Applicant's Perspective on Bad Apples, Sour Grapes, and Fruitful Reform," 81 Cal. L. Rev. 765, 779 (1993).) Seriously, you should be ready to interview at the convenience of the judge, with potentially as little as 24 hours' notice. If a suggested date is not possible for you, you should inform the judge of your conflict and request the earliest possible alternative date. If the judge gives you a range of dates, try to schedule your interview on the earliest of those dates. Many judges hire clerks on a rolling basis. Therefore, you may be at a competitive disadvantage if you interview later in the judge's schedule. Believe it or not, each year several students report that after they have scheduled an interview with a judge, but before they have had the interview, the judge has called to say that clerkship slots have been filled by candidates who interviewed earlier.

Because in many circumstances applicants are expected to accept a clerkship offer as soon as one is made, some applicants try to arrange interviews - to the extent possible - so that they interview first with those judges for whom they think they would most prefer to clerk. This strategy is becoming more and more risky and difficult to manage, however, given that there are no uniform guidelines governing the timing of interviews and offers and interviews may be compacted into a very short timeframe.

Travel to Clerkship Interviews

If you travel for a clerkship interview, it is at own expense. Therefore, consider geographic distance before applying, not after you are called for an interview. It is not acceptable to turn down an interview because you cannot afford to travel to the judge's chambers.

If you are invited for an interview in a distant location, call the other judges to whom you have applied in the same area and try to arrange an interview while you are there. Many judges are quite amenable to accommodating your travel schedule. Taking this leveraging step not only will save you time and money, but also might create interview opportunities that you would not get otherwise.

Finally, OCPD offers modest travel stipends to help alleviate financial burdens to students traveling outside of Wisconsin for interviews. Please apply for these stipends before you travel.

Preparing for Your Clerkship Interview

Judges vary widely in how they approach interviews. Some conduct simple, lightweight "getting-to-know-you" sessions. At the other extreme, some reportedly ask applicants pointed, substantive questions such as "What did you learn in your Torts class?" or "What do you think of this Court's opinion in Doe v. Smith ?" Before going to an interview, find out as much as you can about the particular judge's approach so you can prepare accordingly. If possible, speak with one of the judge's former clerks or with students who interviewed with the judge (whether or not they received an offer). Ask them what they think the judge is looking for in a clerk and what types of questions to expect. Also consider speaking with a professor, graduate, or employer who may know the judge personally or professionally.

Review any biographical information you can find about the judge. Good sources are the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary, the news databases in Lexis and Westlaw, and an Internet search engine such as "Google." In addition, read a few of the judge's opinions, including dissents and concurrences. Opinions reveal a great deal about the judge's philosophy and writing style. A good place to start is the "Noteworthy Rulings" section of the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary or a caselaw search on Lexis or Westlaw. Do not get carried away in reading a judge's opinions, however, to the detriment of other methods of preparation, class work, and/or sleep!

Review your résumé and be prepared to talk about anything on it and to highlight your qualifications – particularly research, writing, and analytical experience. Also review your writing sample in detail and be prepared to discuss it in depth.

Finally, you should review the sample interview questions and think about your responses. While these questions do not represent the universe of potential questions, they are some of those most commonly asked. In addition, judges undoubtedly will give you an opportunity to ask questions yourself, so you must have some prepared in advance.

Schedule a mock interview with the clerkship committee!

The Conduct of the Interview

In the interview itself, the judge is primarily interested in determining whether you are the sort of person with whom he/she could work. Because chambers can be a close-knit place, the judge often is choosing a companion, not simply an employee. You should assume that anyone you meet in the judge's chambers -- not just the law clerks (who often have considerable influence over the selection), but also the judge's secretary -- will form an impression of you, and those impressions often are an important part of the interview. Do not treat secretaries and other support personnel as subordinates; give them the respect they deserve as the structural backbone of the chamber

Some judges may test your substantive knowledge of the law; some may ask their law clerks to do so. But even if the interview is not centered on testing your legal knowledge, the judge (and clerks) will almost always seek to engage you on some legal or other intellectual topic of mutual interest. Do not present yourself passively. Be prepared to talk intelligently and enthusiastically about your courses and why you selected them, about the topics of your seminar papers or journal note, about the substance of your past work or academic experience, about legal topics "in the news," and about your plans for the future.

Ultimately, the overall impression you should seek to convey is that you are grateful to have the opportunity to interview, that you are enthusiastic about the possibility of clerking for the judge and that you would work hard.

What do I do if, after my interview, I decide I could not work for the judge?

Contact OCPD immediately to determine the appropriate course for withdrawing your application. This should be done immediately. Do not wait until you receive an offer.

What should I do if I get an offer?

You should accept immediately. Judges are looking for an individual who is committed to working for them. You taking the time to consider the offer is an inconvenience to the Judge and is seen as a lack of interest.

What should I do if I accept a clerkship?

Please let OCPD know as soon as you obtain a clerkship. Prompt reporting of clerkship results is very beneficial to us, for general information-gathering, and is also very beneficial to your classmates, who may be wondering whether a particular judge has made his/her selections yet.

You should write a letter to your judge to accept a clerkship formally – even after accepting orally – and thank him/her for the offer. The letter can be short and to the point, telling the judge how much you look forward to working with him/her in the upcoming year. You should send thanks also to the judge's clerks (if you met with them), either separately or within your note to the judge.

Once you accept an offer from a judge, make sure to write to all the judges with whom you have an application outstanding and immediately withdraw yourself from consideration. If you have interviewed with a judge, but have not heard the judge's decision before you accept another offer, call that judge immediately to let him/her know you have accepted another clerkship.

Clerkship Connections

Uw law school faculty.

Many Wisconsin Law School faculty members are former judicial clerks, and they can be an invaluable resource for helping you decide whether to apply for clerkships and to advise you through the application process.

BJ Ard ,  Hon. R. Lanier Anderson III, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Allison Boldt , Hon. Thomas Hayes, Sherburne County, Minnesota

Cary Bloodworth ,  Hon. Lynn Adelman , U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Tonya L. Brito , Hon. John Garrett Penn (deceased), U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

• Dustin Brown , Hon John M. Walker, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (NY); Hon. Thelton E. Henderson, U.S. District Court, N.D. CA (San Fransisco)

Anuj Desai , Hon. Louis F. Oberdorfer, U.S. District Court for District of Columbia and Hon. David S. Tatel, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Nyamagaga Gondwe , Hon. Jeffery A. Meyer, U.S. District Court, Connecticut

Bree Grossi Wilde , Hon. Richard Cudahy, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Cecelia Klingele , Hon. Barbara Crabb, U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin; Hon. Susan Black, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; Justice John Paul Stevens, U.S. Supreme Court  

• Megan McDermott , Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson (deceased), Wisconsin Supreme Court

Ion Meyn , Hon. Bernice Donald, U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee (Memphis, TN)

John Ohnesorge , Hon. Rya W. Zobel, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

Asifa Quraishi-Landes , Hon. Edward Dean Price (deceased), U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; Death Penalty Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 

Margaret Raymond ,  Hon. James L. Oakes (deceased), U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; Justice Thurgood Marshall (deceased), U.S. Supreme Court

David S. Schwartz , Hon. Betty B. Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Miriam Seifter ,  Hon. Merrick Garland, D.C. Circuit; Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court

Adam Sopko , Chief Justice Stuart J. Rabner, Supreme Court of New Jersey

Carrie Sperling ,    Hon. Jerry Buchmeyer (deceased), U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Texas; Hon. Paul D. Stickney, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Texas

Steph Tai , Hon. Ronald Gilman, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit 

Dean Daniel Tokaji , Hon. Stephen Reinhardt, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Nina Varsava , Supreme Court of Colorado

Gregory Wiercioch ,  Hon. Jerry Buchmeyer (deceased), U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Texas

Steven Wright ,  Hon. Lavenski Smith, U.S Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Robert Yablon ,  Hon. William A. Fletcher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; U.S. Supreme Court

Jason Yackee , Hon. James Loken, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

Ann Althouse , Hon. Leonard B. Sand, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Kenneth B. Davis ,  Hon. Richard H. Chambers, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Martha (Meg) E. Gaines , Hon. Thomas Tang (deceased), U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Elizabeth Mertz , Hon. Richard D. Cudahy, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

David Trubeck , Hon. Charles E. Clark (deceased), U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

Frank Tuerkeimer , Hon. Edward Weinfeld (deceased), U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Alan J. Weisbard , Hon. Irving L. Goldberg, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

UW Law School Alumni

Many Wisconsin Law School alumni are former judicial clerks, and they can be an invaluable resource for helping you decide whether to apply for clerkships and to advise you through the application process.

If you're interested in a particular clerkship, contact Elizabeth Ireland at [email protected] for a list of alumni contacts.

Elizabeth Ireland , Office of Career and Professional Development, at [email protected]

Written resources

• BNA's Directory of State and Federal Courts, Judges, and Clerks
• Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships by Debra M. Strauss, Esq. (in the Office of Career and Professional Development)
• Judicial Yellow Book (in the Office of Career and Professional Development)

Online resources

• OSCAR (Online system for federal judges to post clerkship positions and for candidates to research judges)
• Vermont Law Guide (Guide for State-Level Clerkships) Username: Eastern  Password: Hemlock
• Federal Judicial Center (has lots of advanced search functions for researcing federal-level judges)
• Clerkship Salary Information
• National Center for State Courts  
• JudicialClerkships.com (created by author of "Behind the Bench")
• Individual Court Websites
• Law school websites in the area you are applying, i.e. Georgia

Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter Sample

In order to be successful in a judicial clerkship job hunt, it is imperative to furnish your job application and resume with a cover letter.

As a clerk position requires a lot of writing, a cover letter serves as a sample of your written communication skills. Therefore, it must be written very thoughtfully and needs to be checked and rechecked for errors thoroughly before being dispatched.

How to Write a Professional Cover Letter for a Judicial Clerkship Position?

Typically, a winning cover letter for a judicial clerk position must begin with an impressive opening paragraph.

The main body should highlight the employer specified core competencies needed for the job objectively, and the last section must form a closing that calls for action.

The following is a judicial clerkship cover letter sample for your guidance, to serve a sample.

Richard Fischer 909 Hirsch Square Hillsboro, OR 67223 (007) 222-8888 richard @ email . com

February 17, 2021

Honorable Joseph Michael Judicial Department State Courts Hillsboro, OR 67223

Dear Judge Michael:

As a seasoned and energetic judicial clerk who is skilled in proofreading, memorandum preparing case documenting, I am applying for a Judicial Clerkship. If yes, then you might be interested in my attached resume.

There is a remarkable match between my skills and your job description as described below:

• 5+ years of hands hands-on experience in creating flawlessly formatted case briefs and legal memoranda. 
• Well practiced in filing and documenting cases and furnishing with details for court hearings.
• Exceptional legal research and report writing skills for appeal cases.
• Proficient in drafting opinions and proofreading all drafts issued by the judge.

In addition to the competencies mentioned above, I possess particular skills in record file keeping, calendar management, and judicial chamber coordination. I am the kind of person who performs best when I understand my employer’s specific demands and expectations.

After reviewing my attached resume, you will find my profile an exact fit for the opening. Please contact me at (000) 555-2510 today to schedule an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Richard Fischer

• Judicial Clerkship Resume Sample
• Judicial Clerkship Interview
• Judicial Clerkship Interview Questions and Answers
• 6 Judicial Clerk Interview Questions and Answers
• Judicial Clerk Cover Letter Sample

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Judicial Clerkships

Office of Career Services 4020 Wasserstein Hall (WCC) 1585 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA02138

Phone: 617-495-3119 Email: [email protected]

Timeline for Clerkship Applications

Most clerkships have terms of one or two years, corresponding roughly to academic years (i.e., starting in August or September).

For Applicants

The Judicial Clerkship Roadmap will walk you through the application process.

Clerkship Statistics

In recent years, HLS have had approximately 250+ judicial clerks each year.

Clerkship Program Library

For hls faculty and assistants.

This page is provided for the reference of HLS faculty and assistants.

OCS Clerkship Information For HLS Faculty and Assistants

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What Documents Should My Clerkship Application Packet Contain?

You need to be prepared to supply judges with a resume, cover letter, list of recommenders, law school transcript, law school grading policy, writing sample, and three recommendation letters from members of the law school faculty.

As always, your resume should be carefully reviewed and updated before you send it. Appearance and content are both important. It MUST be free of spelling mistakes and typographical errors. Some judges are comfortable reading longer resumes, so you needn’t worry about keeping your resume to one page, and you should consult with Director Stern about whether a two-page resume is right for you. Judges interview relatively few candidates for each available position. Therefore, your paper application has to make you stand out among hundreds of applicants. Review a sample resume here . Keep in mind these general guidelines:

• Emphasize your intellectual ability and engagement. Judges want clerks who are bright people with active and inquiring minds, qualities they do not necessarily measure by law school grades alone. Include all academic honors and awards, merit scholarships, etc., on the undergraduate as well as graduate level; participation in programs or activities that provided broad or intense learning experiences, or that represented academic achievement; extracurricular activities that are creative (e.g., drama) or intellectually demanding (e.g., debating).
• If you are ranked: “GPA = x.xx – ranked number x in my class.”
• If you are in the top 5%: “GPA = x.xx – ranked number x”
• If you are in the top 10%: “GPA = x.xx – top 10%”
• If you are near the top 10%: “GPA = x.xx (top 10% = x.xx)”
• Otherwise 2 , indicate “GPA = x.xx”
• Emphasize writing experience. If you are on a journal and have a note sufficiently underway, include the title. It may pique a judge’s interest. Do not limit yourself to legal writing. Did you do an undergraduate thesis or honors paper? List it, with title. Other possibilities include journalistic experience and non-legal jobs that involved substantial writing.
• Give a sense of who you are and what’s important to you. Judges receive hundreds of applications from smart people at good law schools. Distinguish yourself by listing volunteer, community service, or extracurricular activities before and during law school, your interests, skills such as foreign languages, experiences such as travel, or unusual jobs. This is not the occasion for a safely neutral, “plain vanilla” resume.
• If it is not a household word, explain it. For example, Boardman, Kerr and Fraser prize winners should state and define the honor. Awards, activities, programs and achievements that are not reasonably self-evident should have a clear, but succinct, explanation. Do not belabor the explanation of “typical” legal internships or jobs. Do include any unusual or significant projects.
• Always include in your resume prospective positions that you have accepted, like a summer associate position or a prior clerkship, that would occur before the clerkship for which you are applying. You should include the anticipated dates, and you do not need to expressly state that it is “anticipated” or “upcoming.”
• Important: You should redraft your resume, adding all items that might fit these guidelines, and then make an appointment with Rafi Stern to review and refine it.

Cover Letter

The same concerns about both appearance and content, which apply to resumes, also apply to cover letters. Your cover letter should be considered a writing sample. Even a strong resume and references may not be enough to overcome poor grammar, bad sentence structure, typographical errors, or misspellings in your cover letter. Edit and proofread carefully. It is difficult to give generic advice about the style of this letter. Some people write a short transmittal letter that simply describes the materials enclosed. Others use the cover letter as another opportunity to emphasize what sets them apart. It is probably not worth discoursing generally on “why I want to clerk.” On the other hand, there are several situations in which a substantive cover letter clearly makes sense. If you had an extended “life before law school” – another career, substantial academic training in another discipline, etc. – you may want to briefly discuss why you came to law school and what your prior life adds to your professional legal skills. Similarly, if you are applying to a specialized court, like the bankruptcy court, you should mention any relevant experience (e.g., accounting) as well as any directly relevant courses you are taking. If you plan to practice in the geographic area, say so. Finally, if you have special interest in or connections to a geographical area, highlight them. Many judges, especially in state courts and federal district courts outside major metropolitan areas, look for people who have lived, or plan to practice, in the area. Again, we urge you to try your hand at a draft and bring it to your meeting with Director Stern. Review our sample cover letters for ideas here .

Whether simple or substantive, all cover letters should convey the following basic information:

• year of graduation and year of clerkship applied for;
• a list of what’s in your application packet;
• names of people serving as your references with a description of who they are if there is anything useful to be added on this subject (e.g., “Professor X, for whom I am working as a research assistant”);
• if the area is geographically distant, a reference to any travel plans you may have, in order to facilitate scheduling an interview. This is likely to be more effective with state court judges or geographically-isolated federal district court judges than with the bulk of federal judges, who have no trouble getting applicants to come to them.

In addition, if any of the following apply to you, include in the cover letter:

• if you have a high class rank and/or journal experience, mention this in your first paragraph;
• your journal note was selected for publication;
• you are applying only to courts in a specific geographic area because you have a strong commitment to practicing in that area;
• there is something specific about a judge’s background that makes you particularly interested in clerking for that judge (but don’t be overly obsequious).

Important: Stating in your cover letter that you are applying for “your next available term” or “the 20XX-XX term or any subsequent term”—instead of listing only a specific term—may somewhat increase your odds of obtaining a clerkship with that judge by signaling flexibility. However, if you use such phrases or otherwise suggest you are flexible as to the starting year, and if the judge offers you a different start date than was advertised or for which you were hoping, then it would be poor form to decline the offer on that basis, absent a compelling change in circumstances, which you should discuss with Director Stern .

List of References

While judges will ultimately receive letters from each of your recommenders, it will be helpful for the judges to have on hand your recommenders’ names and contact information, in the event they want to make affirmative outreach concerning your application. This list should be included as the last page of your resume. See a sample list of references here .

Transcript/Grade Report

Unless otherwise indicated, use your UNOFFICIAL Grade Report (Law), available from the law school Registrar’s office . Most judges prefer this version, as it contains your professors’ names and is more likely to display correctly in OSCAR. You should not send an official university transcript unless the judge requires it. If you have applications pending and you have received new grade information, send a copy of your most up-to-date grade report, along with a brief cover letter, to the judges to whom you have applied.

Grading Policy

Students should send a copy of the most current Cornell Law School Grading Policy for JD Students (the grading policy), and alumni applicants should include the grading policy published right after they graduated. Both current and historic grading policies are available on the Registrar’s website .

Writing Sample

Your writing sample should be the best legal writing you have done. Typically judges prefer no more than 10-15 pages, so if your preferred writing sample is longer, send a discrete section. It can be a memo from a summer job, a portion of a moot court brief, or a part of a journal note. Attach a cover page with your name and contact information. Also indicate on the cover page the extent to which the sample has been edited by someone else, the context in which you wrote it, and that you have permission to use it as a writing sample if you wrote it for an employer. You cannot use a document which you wrote for an employer without permission ( Click here to view a sample cover sheet .) Be very aware of confidentiality issues with memos and redact client-identifying information. Additionally, you should proofread the document and check your Bluebook cites.

Again, if you are sending a sample that has been edited by someone else, indicate the circumstances. Be aware that some judges request a sample that has not been substantially edited by another person. You should also be sure to make clear why and when you wrote the sample, e.g., for a seminar in a particular course, as part of a memorandum for an employer, for a particular journal. If your writing sample has been accepted for publication, be sure to indicate that and send the judge the published version if it becomes available at a later time. If you are using an opinion that you worked on for a judge (e.g., in a summer intern position), do not use the phrase “opinion that I drafted” or “opinion that I wrote.” Instead, indicate that you “worked on” the opinion or “wrote a draft opinion.” This is an important distinction to some judges. When sending a draft opinion, send the unedited version you submitted to the judge, not the published opinion.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are a much more significant part of the application process for judicial clerkships than they are for many other legal jobs. During your initial counseling session with Director Rizzi at the beginning of your clerkship search, review your options for possible recommenders.

Plan to arrange for three recommendation letters. The recommendations most judges will find most useful will be from permanent members of the Cornell Law faculty, although you will have to consider how well they can speak to your skills and personal qualities. It is acceptable to ask for a recommendation from a visiting professor who is a permanent faculty member at another law school. Finally, a reference from an employer can be helpful, particularly if it happens to be an employer who knows something about the judicial clerkship process or knows the particular judge. However, unless the judge specifically asks for it, an employer’s reference should not substitute for one of the required two or three recommendations for student applicants. Alumni candidates may be best served by a combination of professor and supervisor recommendation letters. Consult with the Office of Judicial Engagement and Professional Development about letter-production logistics if any of your recommenders do not work at Cornell Law School.

If you plan to apply for clerkships at any point, you should make outreach to potential faculty recommenders ASAP. It takes time for a faculty member to write a good letter of recommendation for you. We believe a reasonable amount of lead time for faculty is three weeks. Note that lead time varies with season. During very busy times for faculty, including August, December, and May, professors may need more than three weeks lead time. Speak with your recommenders about their preferences. Your letter is likely to be only one of six (or more) the faculty member will have to write on a very tight time schedule. Some members of the faculty will not write letters to more than a limited number of judges, and/or will only recommend one applicant to a particular judge. Ask each of your recommenders whether he or she sets any limits.

After your recommenders have agreed to write for you, next you need to provide them with as much information as you can so that they can write an in-depth letter that provides judges with a rich portrait of you. Send your recommenders a copy of your clerkship resume and unofficial transcript. Also, complete a Recommender Form, located here , for each recommender. Take your time completing this form and feel free to consult with Director Stern if you have questions. If you can, plan to meet with each recommender in person to discuss your application strategy and how their letter fits into that plan.

Keep your recommenders apprised of your progress. Periodically let them know of the judges to whom you are applying so that they will know who is receiving their letters. Do not forget to ask your recommenders to update their letters every few months if you are applying over the course of the year. Letters can become stale if the writer uses language that refers to you at a particular time in your legal career. E.g. “Hannah is a current student in my class” or “Ben is a rising 2L.” A stale letter can hurt your application. Report back to your recommenders any success you have had! Faculty really enjoy hearing about your clerkship success.

1 Top 5%, and top 10% information is available from the law school Registrar’s office for each semester except the fall 1L semester. 2 Rankings beyond the top 10% are not released by the Registrar’s office. You MAY NOT estimate your rank.

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Judicial Clerkship

Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter

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• Anna Hmara - Career Expert

How to create a good cover letter for a judicial clerkship: free tips and tricks

You can study plenty of judicial clerkship cover letter examples, but still not understand which parts make them effective or fail. To equip you with knowledge, we have collected strong points and common mistakes for your profession. Compare two columns and adopt only the best practices in your copy.

Tell about your document management skills as working with briefs, memoranda, and judicial precedents will take central place in your day-to-day responsibilities.

Do not neglect to check the grammar, style, and format of your paper before sending it, as even minor errors can catch the eye of the recruiter and discredit you as a responsible applicant.

Even if you are an entry-level specialist, make it clear that you are fluent in legal terminology and know the basics of legal procedures. A strong theoretical base can be your ticket to your desired position.

Do not use phrases such as “I guess” and “I hope” when describing your professional and personal characteristics. Remember that your self-presentation should consist only of skills that you can prove in practice. If you doubt something, exclude this paragraph from the letter.

Establish yourself as a hardworking and multi-tasking employee, as judges and lawyers will rely on you for a wide range of tasks, including legal research, finding changes in legislation, and recording critical aspects of the court session.

Do not discuss what career advancements and financial benefits you expect in the future. Before demonstrating your ambitions, you should prove your professional suitability and build an impeccable reputation among your colleagues.

Sample cover letter for a judicial clerkship position

The most effective way to digest the tips is to see their practical application. We have used all the important tips of the above units into a single a judicial clerkship cover letter sample to demonstrate a winning document that can be created in GetCoverLetter editor.

Collin Barrel Judicial Clerkship 13 Park Avenue (555) 987-7657 / [email protected] Garold Walder Human Resources Manager, United States District Court

Dear Garold, I have always sought to become a worthy justice representative. And now I am sure that my knowledge and skills will be enough to become useful to colleagues and citizens from the first days of work in your institution.

I have advanced knowledge of the current legislative framework and carefully monitor any amendments and changes to provide relevant information to interested parties. Besides, I have experience in legal research and analysis, which makes me a useful assistant in the investigation and preparation for court hearings.

Despite the limited range of cases in which I participated, I developed my critical thinking skills and the ability to learn on my feet. This foundation will help me delve into each new task in the shortest possible terms. My central advantage is my readiness for administrative, research, and assistant assignments, as I appreciate every chance to adopt the best practices of your legal experts. I am sure that such hard work will compensate for the lack of experience and help meet your expectations.

Hope to hear any feedback.

Sincerely, Ellen.

This example is not commercial and has a demonstrative function only. If you need unique Cover Letter please proceed to our editor.

Your qualifications and skills, well-presented by our online editor, will prove you as a perfect specialist for the legal industry.

How to save time on creating your cover letter for a judicial clerkship

Our Get Cover Letter editor will help you make the process easy and fast. How it works:

Fill in a simple questionnaire to provide the needed information about yourself.

Choose the design of your cover letter.

Print, email, or download your cover letter in PDF format.

Why the Get Cover Letter is the best solution

The GetCoverLetter editor is open to any goals of applicants. Whether it be a presentation of a craft professional with a great list of achievements or even a judicial clerkship without experience. Rest assured, the opportunities are equal for all the candidates.

If you do not know what characteristics are the most demanded among employers in your industry, you can count on us as we know all the expert tips from the labor market.

You will be a contender for your desired position no matter if you are an intern, entry-level specialist or an experienced law representative.

It makes no sense to dwell on a successful format of your letter, since we offer a wide choice of proven layouts.

Create a document for resume where any chosen skills and qualities can prove you as the right person for the desired role. Just click to see how it works!

Templates of the best a judicial clerkship cover letter designs

Any example of the document for a judicial clerkship has a precise design per the requirements of the company or the general rules of business correspondence. In any case, the selection of templates in our editor will meet any expectations.

Or choose any other template from our template gallery

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Get Cover Letter customer’s reviews

“Despite the simple questionnaire inside the editor, I received a letter without generic phrases. It directly related to my position and described me as a promising specialist, which aroused interest in my candidacy.”

“I know that the cover letter is carefully evaluated when applying to the court, so I had no room for mistakes. This builder did half of my work and I just had to add a few words about my achievements and motivation.”

“I did not know which text would appeal to the recruiter in the best way, so I resorted to this platform for tips. In addition to them, I created a good document in the editor with a winning description of my professional skills.”

Frequently Asked Questions

The more unique the knowledge you get, the more space for new questions. Do not be affraid to miss some aspects of creating your excellent cover letter. Here we took into account the most popular doubts to save your time and arm you with basic information.

• What should my a judicial clerkship cover letter contain? The main purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself, mention the job you’re applying for, show that your skills and experience match the needed skills and experience for the job.
• How to properly introduce yourself in a cover letter? Greet the correct person to which your cover is intended for. Introduce yourself with enthusiasm.
• How many pages should my cover letter be? Your cover letter should only be a half a page to one full page. Your cover letter should be divided into three or four short paragraphs.
• Don't focus on yourself too much
• Don't share all the details of every job you've had
• Don't write a novel

In the fight for the interview and judicial clerk post, this short paper is your important weapon and we know how to make it sharp in a few simple steps.

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