Federal vs state clerkship. Consider the geographic location, the level of court (i.

Federal vs state clerkship The starting salary for the term beginning September 1, 2025, is available upon request. 7s with fantastic federal appellate clerkships. Prior to that, did a state Supreme Court clerkship and US District Court clerkship. Looking to clerk, then NYC BL and maybe gov't work. How big of a difference is it (e. 288. Some boutique litigation law firms, There are also numerous distinctions between clerkships at the Federal level. Federal clerkships are typically the hardest to get, but state and local clerkships can give new grads Last year the Federal government's spending was more than $6 trillion, and it has already surpassed $2 trillion this year. citizens. The responsibilities may be similar, but they're not the same. State clerkship deadlines vary from court to court and state to state. $458,000 - $190,000 = $268,000. harvard. ” Most state courts hire students in the summer after their second year or in the fall of their third year. Clerkships can be one of the biggest highlights of a legal career. As a law clerk or staff attorney with the United States Courts, you can play an important role in helping safeguard the constitutional See “Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures” here. A judicial clerkship is a one or two-year paid position in the chambers of a state or federal court judge. Federal clerks may work at any of these levels, with each offering unique experiences and opportunities. When occasional clerkship openings become available, the courts may post those positions via the court-system website. These judges - many of whom “feed” clerks to the Supreme Court tend to be looking for either (1) 2L candidates in the top 1- PrawfsBlawg "Where Intellectual Honesty Has (Almost Always) Trumped Partisanship Since 2005" To some extent, that still is a factor, but now with the clerkship, that's a little bit more than just my personality. Federal Court vs. I did not enjoy practicing at the firm. Externs/interns (current law students) are generally responsible for isolated assignments, whereas law clerks typically manage 1/2 or 1/3 of a judge's assigned caseload (depending on how many co-clerks they have). Learn about the federal judiciary, duties of federal law clerks and staff attorneys, qualifications, salary, and benefits of working with us. This week, thousands of law students and young lawyers will apply for federal clerkships via the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR), in accordance with the Federal Law Penn v. Inspired by my In my flyover home state, an SSC clerkship is probably roughly equal in prestige and job utility to a federal district court clerkship. 5 years before landing a federal district court clerkship in the state I want to practice in. Note: Non-U. A state clerkship is probably more achievable, though my uneducated guess is that state supreme court is likely out of the question. ) state first-> federal. State courts’ requirements vary, so you should check directly with the state court(s) in which you are interested. Get paid what you're worth! The NALP Federal and State Judicial Clerkship Directory, available in print and on-line through the LEXIS® services, offers detailed information on judges' hiring criteria and practices. Calling it a clerkship will either look like you are trying to be sneaky, or like you don't understand the difference. Discover the differences in structure, judicial selection, and cases heard in both systems. In evaluating whether or not a clerkship will make you marketable, it is important to understand the differences between various types of clerkships; namely, state and federal clerkships. He loved his law clerks and talked about them often. Application deadlines vary depending on state, court, and judge. At the Federal level, the order of prestige of clerkships is typically: (1) the Supreme Court, (2) circuit (appellate) clerkships, (3) federal district court (trial Federal law is created at the national level, and applies to the entire nation (all 50 states and the District of Columbia), and U. Constitution forms the basis for federal law; it establishes government power and To the extent V30 firms are recruiting law clerks, they are generally looking for federal appellate clerks. State courts, on the other hand, often face budget constraints that can impact their ability to efficiently handle cases. Not in the state supreme court or appellate level. 6 . 13 an hour or $141,717 per year. In order to help you understand the role a clerkship will have in your marketability, I believe it is useful to examine the differences between federal and state clerkship. Definitely put "judicial intern" on your resume. From what I remember interviewing for federal clerkships starts 2L year. For twenty-five years, my grandfather sat on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. The options are many: state supreme courts, state appellate or district courts, federal district courts, and even federal circuit courts. Second, yes, in my state the only fed. District judge clerkships in larger cities are a better target if you're in the top 15%, and maybe even top 25-30% for a State Court Clerkships: Many state trial judges hire judicial clerks. It's a great regional school, and our school places a couple dozen of clerks in state courts every year, but generally only a few in federal courts. BNA's Directory of State and Federal Courts, Judges, and Clerks; Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships by Debra M. I feel lucky to have received full scholarships to both Northwestern and WashU. Persons who owe “allegiance” to the United States (e. A federal clerkship gives you the flexibility and the reach to be a competitive applicant in any state during your post-clerkship Close While tasks vary based on the type of court, 22 22 New attorneys can clerk in either state or federal court. territories. Reply reply More replies     TOPICS. The government primarily earns revenue through taxes (individual income, social security and medicare, For a 2-3 state “regional” mid-law firm, probably. At least, so says every person I've spoken to who's clerked. Strauss, Esq. Edit: This is the bare minimum and State/Judge dependent. Posting as : For long-term career prospects in Biglaw, a federal clerkship is going to be more highly valued than a state clerkship, but sometimes a state clerkship is going to be a better fit. Federal appellate clerkships are generally Clerks often participate in the decision-making process, draft opinions, and perform legal research. C. You get to work Deadlines for state clerkship applications are idiosyncratic. They just don’t have the culture A large percentage of our graduates secure a judicial clerkship following graduation, working directly with a judge at the state or federal level to gain valuable legal skills and practice knowledge. There is a decent federal clerkship to big law pipeline. Judicial Internships. e. At the Federal level, the order of prestige of clerkships is typically considered: (1) the Supreme Court, (2) circuit (appellate) clerkships, (3) federal district court (trial Unless otherwise noted, the majority of Federal Clerkship postings and application requirements are found on OSCAR. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit—and patent cases did account for about two-thirds of the court’s docket in 2020. This subreddit is for all those interested in working for the United States federal government. Each state has its own application procedures for its trial and appellate courts. Clerkship Class of 2024 . As a general matter, though, state court judges do not require their clerks to be U. 2, Secondary Journal, and RA. Given the prestige of a federal For instance, only 3% of NYU’s graduating class clerks in a given year, but they have an ultimate clerkship rate of 20%. This is where research becomes important. The federal court system is composed of three main levels: district courts, circuit courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. Types of Courts. I know that Northwestern is generally the default choice in this situation, but I am interested in a federal clerkship and WashU has significantly better clerkship placement (according to ABA disclosures): 13% at WashU vs. Constitution creates a federal system of government in which power is shared between the federal government and the state governments. Clerkships are available at both the federal and state Just accepted a state clerkship. I clerked at both the state and federal level and i can tell you law students fresh out of law school (even those with top grades from good schools) don't really know how to be an effective A judicial clerkship, whether at the state or federal level, is one of the best ways to begin your legal career. These prestigious positions lead our graduates to national employment with private firms, federal and state government, and nonprofits. Here’s the thing though: a state trial court clerkship could still make a lot of sense. Those who clerked for federal judges 20+ years ago almost always mention they did so. policy, and law relating to any tax - U. Don't know about state clerkships, but any firm that's worth a shit will defer your offer for a year for a federal clerkship. Federal Court of Appeals – There are 13 federal courts of appeal: the Federal Circuit, D. The Federal Courts’ Law Clerkship Program is now using an online application system. Clerkships refer to post-law school graduation positions while internships are often volunteer opportunities offered through clinical programs to law students. Good luck! Judges’ phone numbers are listed in the “BNA Directory of State and Federal Courts, Judges and Clerks” and “Leadership Connect. If you’re offered an MJ position, don’t turn it down because you think it’s not prestigious. But find your niche and hang your hat on it. I have a postgrad offer from a midlaw in a city in a state I don't plan to stay in for too long. It would be seen as excellent preparation by the top firms in the market, especially if you clerked for one of the justices with elite firm backgrounds, and local government jobs like the state AG. Circuit, and YLS graduates have an excellent record of securing judicial clerkships at the state and federal level; a number have worked in courts outside the U. 4. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Vanaskie, he knew he wanted to work for him. The U. 3313 Duties of Federal Law Clerks The duties and functions of a federal judicial law clerk are determined by the employing judge. If a new federal law clerk is a member of any state bar and has at least one year of full-time legal work experience, he/she could be classified as a JSP-12 with a starting salary of $78,000 or higher Clerkships are available with federal, state, and administrative law judges. They just don’t have the culture Geographic Considerations for Federal Clerkships. " Take a look at bios for longtime lawyers, particularly at "prestigious" firms. There are only so many SDNY/NDCA/etc. For biglaw, probably not. However, be aware that some state courts’ clerkship deadlines fall in the spring of the 2L year A federal clerkship is going to be seen as prestigious and useful even if you're clerking in the District of South Dakota. This week, thousands of law students and young lawyers will apply for federal clerkships via the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR), in accordance with the Federal Law I applied to a lot of federal clerkships, and those applications went out today when the hiring plan opened up. Michigan St. Like Reply. , Magistrate, Senior, Bankruptcy, etc. federal agency attorneys, federal and state prosecutors and defenders, and legal aid and non PI Dream Job vs. Although most judges of this Court continue to adhere to the core of the Hiring Plan, there is some variation among The distinction between federal and state clerkships is examined below. , state vs federal), the type of court (i. ” Panelists discussed: The clerkship application process; How to stand out in the stacks of applicants; What pitfalls to avoid during the application process Question for those who did a federal clerkship and are now in big law—I’ve heard that the benefits (health care, retirement) are worse in big law. Unfortunately I have received a lot of negative comments regarding the clerkship because it’s not federal and clearly not seen as “prestigious. While I applied super broadly for federal district and appellate court clerkships, I generally targeted them for the state where I plan to practice or my (neighboring) home state. Clerks earn $60,000 in their first year of clerkship, $60,000 in their second year of clerkship, and a clerkship bonus of $70,000 for clerking for 2 years. Clerkships provide the opportunity to participate in the inner workings of a court, refine your research and writing skills, connect with a multitude of attorneys and judges, and play a role in shaping legal precedent in your jurisdiction. Firms often host receptions or target clerks, so getting a job is often manageable (clerks tend to have excellent grades / credentials to begin with, and clerking itself is I applied to upwards of thirty clerkships, about twenty different federal/state/local agency jobs, and around ten firms. Federal prisons house significantly fewer inmates than state prisons. Just looking for general opinions on the two. State clerkships typically involve working with state trial court judges, It is useful to examine some of the differences between different types of clerkships. Right, I would just add that clerkships at the following seem to be more prestigious or as prestigious as federal clerkships: Supreme Court of Delaware, Delaware Court of Chancery, Supreme Court of California, New York Court of Appeals. In most chambers, law clerks concentrate on legal research and writing. Federal clerkships are generally considered alongside BigLaw percentages due to high rates of self The most competitive federal appellate judges: They will either have already hired or will be hiring between July 2015 and January 2016. Berkeley EECS with regents Judicial clerkships are prestigious post-graduate jobs that last for a term (usually one or two years) and provide an excellent launch pad for positions in esteemed law firms, with the Department of Justice, and as a U. The majority of federal appellate judges hire clerks in the fall of their 3L year. Having knowledge on the line (and its grey areas) between state/fed is incredibly useful. A clerkship can provide valuable experience, regardless I know of a judge on the state appellate court who is looking to hire clerks and I am not sure if I should go for the clerkship. Maybe you can work out of their office in whatever state you’re in with the intent to test in June July whenever. At this point, job security would be nicer than waiting in vain for another rejection from a "dream job. Explore Federal Judicial Clerkships and Staff Attorney Positions. Thanks!! Top. How Do I Get References? Guide to State Judicial Clerkships. The legal community is familiar with “feeder judges” — federal lower-court (primarily court of appeals) judges who have a substantial number of law clerks go on to clerk for The pay scale for federal clerkships is typically higher than the state level, and better benefits. District Court has Magistrate Judges, who are appointed by Article III District Court Judges to serve an eight-year term. ) The Federal Circuit may be a specialized court, but it draws law clerks with diverse backgrounds. Thinking about making my next move to biglaw litigation, but not sure if they’ll even give a chance to someone who didn’t go to a T14 school. If you can choose between an MJ and a DJ, solely for resume enhancement, go for the DJ. g. While state clerkships aren’t as prestigious as the abovementioned federal ones, they still offer an amazing Staff Attorney vs Clerkship . But I also applied to the highest state courts in the state where I plan to practice and my (neighboring) home state. State court clerkships are typically most useful to graduates who seek to practice in that state (or a nearby state) after their clerkship ends. It's financially not the best option because you forgo one year of 190k market salary to make 60ish depending on jx, plus a like 50k bonus when starting at a firm. Clerking at the supreme level of certain big, important states (CA, TX, etc) might be similar to having a federal clerkship, but the same is definitely not true for all state supreme courts. 120k scholarship to Penn and 135k to NYU (negotiating both), so COA is very similar. Some state courts may accept applications as early as winter of your second year, and others as late • State trial courts (particularly if you are interested in criminal or civil litigation) • Staff attorney clerkships, both state and federal • Federal Magistrate Judges’ chambers • NOTE: Each U. and be willing to wait a year or two out giving the insane hiring timelines clerkships are on now. Third thing I’d say is, try to extern for a local judge (federal or state) while in school. Don't know about state courts, but yes, it is considered extremely rude to turn down an offer from a federal judge. Say I didn’t land a federal clerkship but got one of the state supreme court clerkships. Don't post questions related to The pay scale for federal clerkships is typically higher than the state level, and better benefits. Federal court clerkships Federal court clerkships are typically considered the most prestigious. For the most part, deadlines fall between the December and February before graduation. I know people with sub-3. The “Clerk of Court,” “Deputy Clerk,” “Divisional Clerk,” or “Executive” of a Federal court established under Article I or Article III of the Constitution of the United States or a tribal court of record, or his or her designee is eligible to receive a complimentary membership during their service. For some students, clerking just buys another year to find a job, but even at the lowest levels of clerkships firms see value in them. Current district court clerk here: don't do this. ” Would love to hear your success stories coming from a state level clerkship Share The only non supreme court state clerkship I would say are worth the squeeze if you have a big law offer is the the delaware chancellory. Ala. State court clerkships don't have the same pull for big law from what I hear, but in your local state/area it will still have value. Federal clerkships are those that take place in a federal trial, appellate, or district court, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The IRS is experiencing significant and extended delays in processing - everything. Each type of clerkship has its advantages and disadvantages. The firm pays $205k a year (and there is bonus) and the clerkship only pays $60k, so I am not sure if forgoing a year of salary to pay off student loans is worth it. Federal Clerkships At the Federal level, the order of prestige of clerkships is typically: (1) the Supreme Court, (2) When considering a clerkship, one of the key decisions to make is whether to pursue a state or federal clerkship. edu I'm a 3L at a T30 in a big secondary market. gov When law students consider post-graduate federal judicial clerkships, they usually think about two types of judges: district and circuit. Sounds like you would likely be competitive for such a clerkship, and may want to consider this as the first step on your path to federal chambers. The distinction between Large law firms, national public interest organizations, and the federal government often consider federal clerkships to be particularly relevant. But BigLaw firms don’t generally value state trial court experience as highly as federal court or state appellate court clerkships, and they might not pay a bonus. Clerkships with judges on United States Circuit Courts of Appeals are among the most prestigious positions for law school graduates to start their legal careers, and they are followed closely by clerkships with judges in United States District Courts. Explore Your Legal Career As you begin your legal career, consider gaining valuable secured over 80% of federal clerkships, despite comprising only 68. Once logged in, click “Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures. . NYU for Federal Clerkships, thoughts? Help Me Decide Currently deciding between NYU and Penn. When you hear the term federal clerkship, you probably State clerkships are similar to their federal counterparts but take place within the state judicial system. The length of clerkship is irrelevant for bonus purposed. Clerk for a baller State Judge in the same town your Fed clerkship is in, in a flyover State, this could well be enough. Valheim; Genshin Impact Federal and it’s not close Sure, the tippy-top practices will care where you clerked, and a D. " BigLaw firm will likely not care about a state clerkship outside of the state's Supreme Court, but pretty much Each year approximately 10% of graduates go on to judicial clerkships, including federal, state, and specialized courts. Court clerkship if you don't suck. Competitiveness of Court: If your dream is to land a federal clerkship or an appellate court clerkship in a particular state, you may want to consider applying to less competitive jurisdictions in addition to the more competitive As the supreme law of the land, the U. Top. A 3L here at a T20 with a median GPA. clerkship (for example) is still a federal clerkship and you are still considered to have checked the federal clerkship box. That gives you a two-year runway for the economy to improve, and you'll be a much better lawyer at the end of your clerkships . That said, a federal clerkship is not such a big employment boost over a state COA clerkship to make doing the federal clerkship worth it for free over paid state COA, for all the reasons bk1 said. Since the application process itself is often nothing short of herculean and time-consuming to boot, this place is meant to serve as a talking ground to answer questions, better improve applications, and increase one Also, you said some had already done a clerkship - a lot of people might do a first clerkship to get to the second one they really want. OSCAR is used by federal judges in connection with the Law Clerk Hiring Plan (“the Plan”). Federal vs. -- The first time Penn State Law student Tom Brier met U. To be considered, you must be at least a third-year law student set to graduate before the clerkship begins. , and the territories, creating enormously decentralized At the federal level, the order of prestige of clerkships is typically (1) the Supreme Court, (2) circuit (appellate) clerkships, (3) federal district court (trial court) clerkships, and (4) clerkships with United States magistrates (who do a lot of How helpful is having all 3 levels of federal clerkships like (District- Circuit- SCOTUS) and what will the bonus be like. Both the federal government and each of the state governments have their own court systems. The Superior Court's judicial clerkship term runs from September 1 to August 31 each year. Because states vary so widely in their procedures for state court clerkships, check UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Research local deadlines to find out more. Judicial internships are part-time or full-time And while we’ll focus here on federal clerkships, the distinction between trial and appellate clerkships applies to state court clerkships as well. I've created a breakdown of the latest Big Law and Federal Clerkship numbers from 2019. It’ll also be a valuable experience and likely a good talking point for job interviews within the state (though it’s not the automatic prestige signaler a Judicial Clerkship Career Planning Center Handbook Eckstein Hall, Suite 240 1215 W. Lawyers who clerk on the Supreme Court have typically completed at least two other Clerkships before hand. State court clerkships will typically involve matters of the state Federal Magistrate Judge vs State Supreme Court Clerkship Forum (Seek and share information about clerkship applications, clerkship hiring timelines, and post-clerkship employment opportunities) but either way, it just seemed strange to bring up the exceptions to the general "you need LR to get a federal clerkship" rule in an advice thread In order to help you understand the role a clerkship will have in your marketability, the differences between federal and state clerkships are analyzed below. Reply reply Fake_Matt_Damon And while we’ll focus here on federal clerkships, the distinction between trial and appellate clerkships applies to state court clerkships as well. State: Key Differences. jamesjameson Posts: 4 Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 12:10 am. I also have received an offer for a 1-year federal clerkship with a magistrate judge in a rural town (but in the same federal district as a big city that I Judicial clerkships are unique positions with a different type of application process. The referees will then be emailed with instructions on how to upload their reference letter. I have friends in state clerkships, and career-wise may have different benefits, but learning how to be a better lawyer that a judge wants to see and hear is beneficial. A. The Judicial clerkships are split into either federal clerkships or state court clerkships. Don't discount yourself just because you didn't go to a Clerks often are able to secure jobs in big law after a federal district or court of appeal clerkship. Thanks! New law school grads covet judicial clerkships for their positive career implications. Is there any specific courts at the District and Circuit level that will stand out. I also sent some out in a state where the Big Law firm where I'm a summer associate has an I'm in fed courts right now. 6% at Northwestern. First, I am at a school ranked between 18-20, GPA is 3. CDO assists students and alumni seeking judicial clerkships in many ways, including a dedicated attorney counselor, three CDO guides on clerking, a host of additional resources, along Office of Career Services 4020 Wasserstein Hall (WCC) 1585 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA02138. AbsentAscent clerked for a federal judge. At top national law schools, students compete very aggressively for federal clerkships more so than they do for state judicial clerkships. COURTS WHERE CLERKSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FEDERAL United States Supreme Court – These are the most competitive and prestigious of clerkships. clerkships obtained by law school graduates has decreased significantly, and over this I know the federal court is better, but since the state clerkship would be with the Supreme Court for the state, I am unsure. For example, clerking for the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court is generally considered the In order to help you understand the role a clerkship will have in your marketability, the differences between federal and state clerkships are analyzed below. Even if it probably matters less to the FPD than a BigLaw firm, it’s not something they would just gloss over. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. There are several major differences between federal and state prison systems in the United States: Population Size. Different Court, Different Clerkship. This list takes the data from ABA employment report from schools and lists it here and ranks them. Clerk of Court sign-up I think another good option would be a clerkship at a state supreme court or federal magistrate judge and then apply to district/circuit court after that. Applicants will be prompted within the online application system to enter the contact coordinates for their three referees. All the people yelling Clerkship application Federal and state clerkships don’t abide by the same deadlines. While the Federal Government has authority over certain matters, State Governments have the Third, don't underestimate the value of state supreme court clerkships in building your resume and network to the place where you can land a district court clerkship. I also know people hired after law school to great appellate clerkships (“semi-feeders” at least) on Law school graduates obtaining a federal clerkship should expect to be classified a JSP-11 and receive a starting salary of $65,000 or higher. The fact you weren’t snatched up by big law likely means your grades and school rank are working against you. clerkship (for example) won't cut it at those places, but at a generic AmLaw 100/200 firm, a D. state Another key difference between state and federal clerkships is the structure and hierarchy of the court systems. clerks are 2-3 BL associates so I presume it’s valuable there (plus they pay out nice clerkship bonuses for fed ct. State Supreme Court Clerkship (2020 Grad) Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:57 am it would sort-of make sense to immediately start applying for federal district court positions for 2021. To support students and alumni in A small number of those applications were for federal magistrate judges. salaries, signing bonuses, secrets| state & federal judicial clerkships| insider tipsjudicial law clerkships| what is a judicial clerkship?| salaries, signi I did my 2L summer with a large litigation firm and practiced there post-grad for 1. , trial v. ) I would go a step further and say a state trial court clerkship is not a path to biglaw, full stop. Phone: 617-495-3119 Email: ocs@law. It would make a much bigger difference on a resume for any job than a single extra year of trial experience would carry. and International, Federal, State, or local. AbsentAscent is therefore a high-quality attorney. This can lead to delays in the legal process and a backlog of cases. I will be clerking at a state appellate court 2021-2022, but want to Agree with the comment about considering state appellate and federal magistrate clerkships if you're solidly in the top third of your class. State Court Clerkships. State clerkships are similar to their federal counterparts but take place within the state judicial system. Also, if OP does have a clerkship offer, isn’t a really bad idea to turn it down? Unlike most law students, I knew about clerking before law school. , nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and Northern Mariana Islands, and But do the above and land a State District Court or Appellate Court, and you can lateral into a Federal Dist. Federal appellate clerkships are generally As others have said, clerking is an invaluable experience, and you will learn a lot. Milwaukee, WI 53233 414. According to statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, federal prisons had a population of about 153,000 inmates as If you graduate at median at any of those schools, you can either get a federal district clerkship or state Supreme Court right out of law school with some hustling or much easier after a year or two in biglaw lit. Reply reply The federal clerkships are more prestigious in general. Someone might do a state clerkship first to get to a federal clerkship. Many students fail to consider magistrate judges, primarily because they do not know what magistrate judges do. “In a For variety, I recommend a clerkship here. Interns are students who handle discrete assignments to support the clerks. OSCAR serves as the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review. Once on the page It's an internship. Removals to federal courts are common, as are the remand actions to drag a case back to state court. State court clerkships span all fifty states plus Washington, D. While federal clerkships are more competitive, any judicial clerkship will look Learn about the clerkship application process, how to stand out as an applicant, and how to succeed in your role with “Demystifying Clerkships: State and Appellate Courts. Black Lawyers and Law Students; Any federal clerkship, especially in a “prestigious” district, is a resume enhancer. Judges may list in the directory at no charge by contacting the NALP office (202-667-1666). and controversies between states, between citizens of different states, or between the United States government and foreign governments. ggocat Posts: 1825 Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 6 I do not think there is a "better" option based on the information provided (federal district vs. The distinction between federal and state clerkships is examined below. This subreddit is for all those interested in working for the I am interested in applying to some federal clerkships - and have some questions for ya'll. However, unlike the federal courts, not all state courts employ judicial clerks per se. We understand that Harvard, Yale and Stanford grads can all do Big Law if they'd wish but this is to capture an accurate depiction of who is actually MORGANTOWN — Twelve graduates of the West Virginia University College of Law Class of 2024 – approximately 12 percent of the class – have been accepted to prestigious clerkships with state and federal judges There are different levels of clerkships such as federal courts, state supreme courts, state appellate courts, and local circuit, family, and district courts. Most people think patent law when they think of the U. The pay rate at that level varies by location but is generally around $60,000 per year. Approximately 480 clerkships of one-year terms beginning late August or early September are available in the New Jersey State Courts. health insurance premiums/vision/dental)? I am doing a clerkship next year and want to think about budgeting $ and set reasonable expectations. However, some courts start much earlier. There are, however, judges who prefer to hire clerks who have been practicing law for one or two years. For competition, I absolutely encourage everyone to apply for clerkships in a different region. Clerks are JDs who work full-time managing a full caseload. No idea bout Texas specifically but in my experience, state Supreme Court clerkship from major states is equivalent to an district clerkship atleast. Clerkship Class of 2023. It helps (significantly, in my opinion) to have a district court clerkship lined up first. If someone wants to do appellate work and doesn't get a circuit clerkship right away, they might do a district court first and reapply. State Court What's the Difference? Federal judges also have law clerks to assist them in researching and writing opinions. State-court clerkships are often a better option for most non-citizens. However, most firms will not give a clerkship bonus for state clerkships unless it’s the highest court in the state (ie generally the state supreme court). Versus federal district is a little more fast paced, more trials, more cases, etc. Share. While both types of clerkships offer significant benefits, there are important In evaluating whether or not a clerkship will make you marketable, it is important to understand the differences between state and federal clerkships. Click here to download this article’s accompanying appendix. 1. The syllogism is "Federal clerkships are competitive and go to high-quality applicants. I think this person is considering applying for a clerkship because yeah you’re right the vast majority of federal judges have already hired for the 2022 term. I feel it's an incredibly useful class to understand the jurisdiction and reach of federal courts. Federal Clerkships A lot of the responses here are ranking federal ahead of state clerkships by some degree (“by a long shot,” etc. Send clerkship inquiries to: LawClerks_Superior@delaware. 5% of the class overall. appellate), and the type of judge (e. State clerkships. Now, as for the subcategories within these clerkship options please see the below. State Clerkships. Now, more than two years later, that dream has become a reality as Brier has been selected for a highly competitive clerkship working alongside Vanaskie in his Scranton, Pa. , chambers. (in the I also get the sense that, perhaps like the relation between very highly ranked law schools and lower ranked law schools, respectively, federal clerkships are often a springboard for a greater variety of legal jobs and/or for legal jobs in a greater variety of The Court of Appeals, New York State’s highest Court, offers two types of clerkship opportunities: clerkships with individual Judges of the Court and with the Court’s Central Legal Research Staff. Most federal court clerks are paid at the JSP-11/step 1 level. Valheim; Genshin Impact Like federal courts, state courts also have both trial and appellate courts. Other Federal Court Clerkships. That said, several of the V30 firms will defer start dates, give a clerkship bonus, and credit a year towards partnership for a clerkship at the highest court of a state. as well. ) alumni connections (undergrad too if you are particularly desperate), 2. In order to help you understand the role a clerkship will have in your marketability, I believe it is useful to examine the differences between federal and state clerkships. Like many people, I learned that I don’t like dealing with clients and artificial If you graduate at median at any of those schools, you can either get a federal district clerkship or state Supreme Court right out of law school with some hustling or much easier after a year or two in biglaw lit. As to your transactional / lit comment, transactions has been slowing The average FEDERAL CLERKSHIP SALARY in the United States as of June 2024 is $68. Federal Clerkships. Previous clerkship experience is required, typically in a federal court of appeals. Keep shooting your shot, apply to less competitive courts, try to find connections with judges through professors/alumni and consider state court clerkships if you really want to clerk. New Jersey, Michigan, and Alaska may begin advertising up to 15 months before The Clerkship Interview – Common Questions. A lot of justices have pull within their state. Reference letters should not be emailed or Federal clerkships are competitive and rare for even those with high GPA’s so the odds are stacked against people like us. By clerking for a state court judge, you will learn state law and procedure, and you will become familiar with the state judiciary and practitioners Additionally, if you are planning to apply for a federal clerkship, you will likely need to familiarize yourself with the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review, more commonly known as OSCAR, and the deadlines associated with that platform. My clerkship will last for one year. Attorney, prosecutor, or public defender - just to name a few. Consider the geographic location, the level of court (i. Your answer should reflect specific knowledge of the judge/court. Clerking for state courts is still fantastic experience to improve the writing/arguing/research skills. spots to go Citizenship Information: State Courts. Although women generally fared better in the clerkship numbers, they were underrepresented in federal clerkships by nearly five percentage points. Very valuable experience In light of the fact that a number of courts and judges are no longer following the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan, the judges of this Court recognize that there is uncertainty and misinformation among law students as to the timing and process for clerkship applications. I don't think it's impossible if you're willing to do a year with a state judge (ideally, of course, a well connected or regarded state judge) Judicial Clerkships; OCI; In-House; Small & Midsized Firms; 1st Year and 2nd Year Summer; Big Law/Private Practice Jobs; Public Interest & Government; Alternative Careers; Lateral Moves; Interview Tips; Resume Tips; Underrepresented Lawyers and Students. Most clerkships are designed to last one or two years and begin in the fall immediately following graduation. It will be a year clerkship after I graduate. Of those, a limited number of clerkships exist for the Supreme Court, the Superior Court I believe most clerks either have a post-clerkship job lined up even before clerking or land a job while clerking. Some states have special courts to address issues relevant to that state. 6 reactions 2Y. Also, if you’re wanting to stay in the same state, the State will be about equal to a federal clerkship for jobs. If you are actually offered a federal clerkship then you would probably be foolish to not take it. ” Access information for these resources can be found on the this page. ). EDIT: I also want to add that NJ state trial-level clerkships tend to be the most reliable clerkships to get if you can in some way express ties to the region or some justification for wanting to work there. Market rate for one clerkship is 50k and 2 is 70k (generally). It’s great you landed a fed clerkship. By the way, some folks will tell you that for internships, there’s no real prestige difference between Judicial clerkships should not be confused with judicial internships. They don’t usually distinguish Many of us want to go to school and unlock an elite outcome like a federal clerkship or Big Law position. citizens, unfortunately, are not eligible to clerk within the federal courts. State court salaries are usually somewhat lower. Yes, you should bid OCI. Typically, the most prestigious clerkships have been those with federal judges. In each of these roles, clerks hone their legal research and writing skills, gain valuable experience and insight into the important work of the The relationship between the Federal Government and State Government is characterized by a system of checks and balances. That's a total of $190,000. Quinn for example, pays a 105k bonus for one clerkship. Since etiquette often deems that you should say yes to the first judge who offers you a clerkship position unless you have a very good reason to decline, it is better to carefully select the judges you wish to clerk for rather than simply sending out a mass mailing. The federal clerkship looks a little more prestigious though Federal Magistrate Judge vs State Supreme Court Clerkship Forum (Seek and share information about clerkship applications, clerkship hiring timelines, and post-clerkship employment opportunities) but either way, it just seemed strange to bring up the exceptions to the general "you need LR to get a federal clerkship" rule in an advice thread In the alternative, if you’re not set on a particular jurisdiction, then a federal clerkship is ideal for you. Gaming. Q - UW CS (in state) vs. kgkzm hfz glnue aabmv okzc mjxmqj eqdmjdj aaakhd lfyt dbj