eCampus | Legal career tool kit
How to research clerkships
Federal Judicial Clerkships
Overview of federal judicial clerkships
- Only open to 3Ls in the top of the class
- Deadline for applications to be at judges chambers
is the day after labor day. (In 2006, September 5th)
- Federal Law Clerk Information System can search for
judges with vacancies and gives salary and other information.
- JudicialClerkships.com has useful links. The
author of the site has written a comprehensive book, copies are
available in Career Services
Why you need to know about OSCAR (Online System
for Clerkship Application and Review)
-
Enables applicants to file complete applications,
including letters of recommendation online.
- Applicants designate judges to whom they which to
apply.
- Majority of federal judges participate
Fast facts about OSCAR
-
Self assign user name and password at oscar.dcd.uscourts.gov
- All submissions must be in .pdf format
-
A grade sheet is a typed sheet with your classes
and grades on it. Do not try to load an official transcript.
-
All Pierce Law faculty and adjunct faculty have
been loaded onto OSCAR to be used as recommenders.
-
Site is user friendly and the help desk is open
8:30am 5:00pm everyday.
State Judicial Clerkships
Overview of state judicial clerkships
- Only open to 3Ls
-
State clerkships in many areas are much less
competitive than federal clerkships. Speak to a career counselor
for more information.
- The New Jersey Courts hire clerks throughout the
academic year. Several alumni have been successful in securing
employment with the state court of New Jersey (even as late as
May). The court hires over 300 clerks annually. Read the New Jersey court system's memo on clerkships (PDF).
How to find a state clerkship
-
Deadline for applications vary, each judge is
different. Check the state websites for hiring information.
- Career Services will be having resume collections
for various state court clerkships. Some states accept clerkship
applications as early as July 1. If you want to apply on your
own, please feel free to do so.
-
The State Clerkship Guide (password required) has information about each states courts.
