how to apply to a federal clerkship as a experienced attorney

On its face, the federal judicial clerkship application process is relatively straightforward:

• you identify judges you’re interesting in working for;
• you send each one an application consisting of your law school transcript, a résumé, a writing sample, and several letters of recommendation; and,
• each judge reviews the applications, schedules interviews, and selects the clerks for the following year.

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How do I apply for a federal judicial clerkship?

On its face, the federal judicial clerkship application process is relatively straightforward: you identify judges you’re interesting in working for; you send each one an application consisting of your law school transcript, a résumé, a writing sample, and several letters of recommendation; and,

What are the duties of a federal judicial law clerk?

The duties and functions of a federal judicial law clerk are determined by the employing judge. In most chambers, law clerks concentrate on legal research and writing.

What kinds of clerkships are available in criminal law?

The Drug Enforcement Administration offers 1-year judicial clerkships for its Administrative Law Judges. The Criminal Division Asset Forfeiture Fellowship and the Gaye Tenoso Indian Law Fellowship are three-year programs. Some U.S. Attorneys’ Offices hire Honors Program attorneys for two-year term appointments that can lead to permanent employment.

How long does it take to get a clerkship in law?

Law clerks are typically hired for a one or two-year term, with hiring decisions usually made one-two years prior to an intended employment date. A judicial clerkship provides direct insight into the judicial process and is a valuable and enriching experience.

How long does it take to become an experienced attorney?

What is the Department of Justice?

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How prestigious is a federal 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.

How hard is federal clerkship?

It is an extremely competitive process and it can be very difficult to even land an interview with a federal judge. The process is extremely formal, with specific start and end dates for the application process that are uniform for all judges.

How do you list a federal clerkship on a resume?

Type of Clerkship Include the full name of the court, the city where the clerkship was located, your status as a law clerk and the name of the judge. Match the format of the entry to the rest of your resume.

Is doing a clerkship worth it?

Most lawyers change jobs during their career, and having a clerkship shows that you are a highly capable lawyer, improving your value regardless of the type of work you do. And, you will be more competitive for postgraduate fellowships, scholarships, internships, and government honors programs.

Which clerkships are most prestigious?

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 great deal of the legwork for federal district court judges).

Should I clerk while in law school?

A judicial clerkship after law school is an invaluable professional experience that provides training and growth opportunities for all lawyers regardless of eventual practice area or specialty. You can intern for judges during law school as well and reap some of the benefits of a clerkship experience.

What should be included in a clerkship application?

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.

How long should a clerkship writing sample be?

Career and Professional Development Your writing sample must be well-organized, free of typographical and grammatical errors, and demonstrate your legal research and analytical skills. Although there is not typically an official page limit, your sample should be from 8-15 pages.

How do you describe a law clerk on a resume?

Collaborates with colleagues and has strong social skills. Interacts with clients and has excellent client services skills. Handles multiple matters simultaneously and has good time-management and organization skills.

How do you answer why do you want to clerk?

Here are some good answers that can help you pass the test: “I want to clerk for you because you are a great mentor to your clerks.” “I want to clerk for you because I will have a chance to work on a certain type of cases.” “I have an interest in criminal work, and you allow your clerks to work on criminal cases.”

Why do a federal clerkship?

A judicial clerkship provides the opportunity to hone research and writing skills while being exposed to a wide variety of legal issues. Furthermore, a clerkship offers insight into the judicial process and provides practical familiarity with the litigation process.

How many law clerks do federal judges have?

Almost all federal judges have at least one law clerk; many have two or more. Associate Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are allowed four clerks. Although the Chief Justice is allowed to hire five clerks, Chief Justice Rehnquist hired only three per year, and Chief Justice Roberts usually hires only four.

How do you list judicial internships on a resume?

List it like you would any other internship and title it 'Judicial Intern'. Mention the law firm or court you worked for in the location part. Include bullet points of relevant achievements from your internship. You can also add the judge or clerk you worked for in your references.

How do you write a cover letter for a judge?

In the salutation, always use the appropriate title (e.g., Judge/Justice/Chief Justice) followed by the judge's last name. Dear Judge Cote: Dear Justice Cotter: Senior, magistrate, and bankruptcy judges are addressed simply as “Judge” with no modifier. Close the letter with “Respectfully” instead of “Sincerely.”

How to Get an Attorney Position During and After Your Judicial Clerkship

Over the past several years, I have worked with countless law clerks and gotten them positions during and after their federal and state clerkships....

Is it a Good Idea to do More than One Clerkship?

Many clerks will do a federal district court clerkship and then a federal appellate court clerkship. Some will clerk for a magistrate judge and the...

When Should a Clerk Begin Looking for a Position?

You should begin looking for a position between three and six months before your clerkship ends. You can start as late as a few months before your...

Is it a Good Idea to Use a Recruiter When Searching for a Position During a Clerkship?

Recruiters will not represent you unless they have firms with job openings they can submit you to. They can market you to those they know will inte...

Ultimately, is a Clerkship Marketable?

However, if you already have an offer to work for a very well-respected and top law firm following law school, you are likely (1) to be more market...

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How to Get a Federal Attorney Position - Lewis & Clark Law School

Lewis & Clark Law School – Career & Professional Development Center . How to Get a Federal Attorney Position (prepared by Career Services) There are two main hiring avenues for entry-level attorney positions in the Federal Government:

What is an incoming attorney?

Incoming attorneys, particularly entry-level attorneys, receive significant training to develop the skills and acquire the experience and knowledge required for proficient handling of investigations and litigation. Thus, some components require incoming attorneys to commit to a period of service.

How to contact the Department of Justice?

Individuals with disabilities or special needs who need an accommodation may leave a voice mail message at (202) 514-8900 or email AskOARM for assistance.

How to contact OARM?

Individuals with disabilities or special needs who need an accommodation may contact OARM at (202) 514-8900 or leave a message at (202) 514-3396 or contact us via email at [email protected] .

How long does it take to become an honors attorney?

Entry-level attorneys: All Honors Program attorneys are required to pass a bar examination and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) within 14 months of entry on duty. Incoming hires not yet admitted to a bar may enter on duty under a special appointment authority for "law clerk/trainees" for a period not to exceed 14 months.

Where are the Honors Program attorneys located?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons typically hires Honors Program attorneys for the central office in Washington, D.C. , consolidated legal centers located nationwide, or one of 99 penal institutions throughout the country.

Who is eligible for employment with the DOJ?

Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Is ABA accredited law school required?

While this is a general policy, some hiring components may specifically require graduation from an ABA accredited law school.

Who selects the clerks for the following year?

each judge reviews the applications, schedules interviews, and selects the clerks for the following year.

How to preserve sanity during clerkship?

How to Preserve Your Sanity During the Clerkship Application Process. The most critical thing you can do to stay sane is to gather information – talk to friends who have been through the process, to the person at your school who coordinates clerkship applications, to your recommenders, and to anyone with a stake in your final decision, ...

Do all judges follow the guidelines?

Not all judges follow the guidelines, even for in-school applicants, and applicants who’ve graduated are not bound by the guidelines.

What is a clerkship in law?

The clerkship is a "bonus" that gives you a different perspective on practicing law. Attorneys with prior experience tend to be the most valued.

How many years of practice do you need to be a federal appellate clerk?

For most attorneys who have less than four or so years of practice, a federal appellate clerkship will almost certainly make them more marketable than not doing a clerkship, provided they are not a handful of the very best law firms.

When Should a Clerk Begin Looking for a Position?

You should begin looking for a position between three and six months before your clerkship ends. You can start as late as a few months before your clerkship ends, but it is not advisable. You do not want your clerkship to finish and not have a position to go to.

Is it a Good Idea to Use a Recruiter When Searching for a Position During a Clerkship?

They will also tend to have a lot of boutiques and other law firms you may not know about. Also, they can do a lot of leg work getting you out to markets and opportunities you might not otherwise know of. However, you should not rely on recruiters 100% to get you a position. You should always supplement their efforts with your own. If there are firms and potential opportunities you know about that a recruiter does not tell you about (for example, firms in a given market), you should apply to those firms without the recruiter.

Why do law firms prefer appellate clerks over district court clerks?

There are also fewer appellate judges than district court and magistrate judges. Therefore, law firms prefer appellate clerks over district court clerks because the presumption is that the attorneys working for them get better training. This is not always the case. Not all appellate judges are rocket scientists.

What do litigators do in law firms?

Litigators inside of law firms do discovery, argue motions in court, work long hours, and may work on tedious tasks such as discovery and document review, and work for a variety of often unpleasant attorneys and supervisors. They need to deal with difficult and demotivating office politics and employ a different work style than clerks. While a clerkship may give you excellent skills, it is not the same as working in a law firm. The skills needed to be a good advocate and law firm attorney are very different. When working to produce profit for a law firm and the best results possible for a client, the pressures and demands are entirely different than in a clerkship.

How long does it take to become a law clerk?

The most marketable law clerks have legal experience working in a law firm before clerking. Law firms prefer two to four years in a law firm before a clerkship. Law firms like if you attended a top law school or did exceptionally well at a lesser law school.

What is a law clerk intern?

Law Clerks & Legal Interns. Law Clerks are paid employees of the U. S. Courts. All unpaid individuals who volunteer their time are considered interns.Interns who are not receiving payment from an outside party in relation to their voluntary service are considered employees of the Court. Law clerk applicants should first check ...

How long is a term law clerk?

Term Appointment is the most common. Term law clerks serve an appointment understood to be less than four years, but are generally one or two year appointments. Individuals who hold this job title are covered by Social Security and are eligible to participate in health and life insurance programs including long-term care insurance, and pre-tax health and dependent care supplemental insurance programs.Term law clerks are not eligible to participate in the retirement system or Thrift Savings Plan.

What is a career appointment in law?

Career Appointment includes an expectation that employment will last for four or more years.Career law clerks are entitled to participate in all benefit programs offered including health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, pre-tax health and dependant care supplemental insurance, retirement system and the Thrift Savings Plan.

How long is a law clerk's term?

Law clerks are typically hired for a one or two-year term , with hiring decisions usually made one-two years prior to an intended employment date. A judicial clerkship provides direct insight into the judicial process and is a valuable and enriching experience.

Can a non-citizen be interviewed?

Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for future employment. An offer of employment can only be made if the non-citizen candidate is a lawful permanent resident who is ‘seeking’ U. S. citizenship. A lawful permanent resident ‘seeking citizenship’:

Do law clerks need to check the OSCAR system?

Law clerk applicants should first check the OSCAR system to determine which judges may be hiring clerks and the timing of those clerkships.Some judges will not be bringing in new clerks or interns during each “hiring” season. If a judge is not using the OSCAR system, then it is advisable to contact that chambers to learn whether or not applications by mail are appropriate. A Court directory which provides contact information for each chambers is provided at the bottom of this page.

How long does it take to become an experienced attorney?

As a general rule, an attorney who is an active member of the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction and has at least one year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience is eligible for an experienced attorney position. Nevertheless, some attorney positions require greater experience and additional eligibility criteria.

What is the Department of Justice?

The Department of Justice offers a broad range of opportunities for experienced attorneys to work on many significant and complex issues that face our nation. Our lawyers work in virtually every area of legal practice.

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