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. Judicial clerkships exist in most federal, state, international and specialty courts, providing numerous clerkship opportunities for students with varying backgrounds and accomplishments. Regardless of the court level, judicial clerks obtain unparalleled access to and knowledge about the judicial process. When considering clerkships, think about the following array of opportunities:

Federal Court

In the past, Florida State Law students have obtained clerkships at both the circuit court (appellate) and district court (trial) levels.

For a list of all federal court Web sites, visit www.ca8.uscourts.gov/wwwSites.html.

Generally, federal clerkships are considered by many to be very prestigious, and, as a consequence, the application process for federal clerkships is quite competitive. Most federal judges hire at least one clerk every year. Circuit court clerkships most frequently are for one year, although there is a recent trend among judges to require a two-year commitment. District court clerkships are almost always for two years, although there are a few district court judges who still hire clerks for a single year. Some judges accept applications for post-graduation clerkships as early as February of the second year of law school; others will not consider applications until the summer after the second year of law school or even the fall semester of the third year. Because most judges are looking for at least one clerk each year and some hire very early, it is best to apply by March 1 of your second year. This means that you must decide early which judges you want to apply to, and make provisions for letters of recommendation and transcripts to be sent during January and February of that year. Some judges also require a writing sample, so it’s best to have a good one prepared.

The Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR) is the single, centralized resource for notice of available clerkships, clerkship application information and law clerk employment information. Hundreds of federal judges have chosen to participate in OSCAR, which means that these judges only want to receive application materials electronically. When using OSCAR, students upload their application materials and designate the judges to whom they want to apply. Federal judges can sort and read application materials online, and can download and print the applications. If you’re planning to apply for a federal clerkship through OSCAR, be mindful of the following critical dates:

* These dates are based on the current “Law Clerk Hiring Plan” established by the U.S. Courts. Federal judges do NOT have to abide by these guidelines. Be sure to check the deadlines and requirements of each judge for whom you are applying. For more information, visit https://oscar.uscourts.gov.

State Court

While the application process for some state court clerkships may be less competitive than at the federal level, state court clerkships provide excellent opportunities to gain exposure to the bar in the jurisdiction where you are likely to practice.

The Florida Supreme Court, the five District Courts of Appeal, and the circuit courts all hire lawyers as judicial clerks or staff attorneys. Some justices and judges hire permanent clerks, and as a result, only have positions available when their clerks transition to other jobs.  Other judges hire clerks for one- or two-year positions; these judges generally have slots open every year. The best way to determine if a vacancy will be available is to contact the judge's office, but you can always check with the Marshal’s office at each court or postings listed on the court’s Web site.

The Florida Supreme Court Justices who regularly hire clerks usually do so in late spring or summer after the second year. If you are applying for federal court clerkships as well, you can apply to Supreme Court Justices at the same time; they will file your application and notify you if they are interested when they begin searching for clerks. District Court of Appeals judges generally do not hire until several months before they will have a clerkship vacancy. If you are interested in such a clerkship, you might want to contact the district court judges starting in January of your third year. Also, for some courts (the 1st DCA for instance) a single judge coordinates applications for clerkships and forwards them to judges who have openings.

Specialty Courts

Specialty Courts, the competitiveness of which varies, provide excellent opportunities to gain practical experience and expertise in a particular area at both the state and federal levels. These opportunities include, among others:  Court of Federal Claims, Tax Court, Bankruptcy Court, Court of International Trade, Alien Terrorist Removal Court, Military Courts (civilian clerks), Court of Veterans Appeals, International Tribunals and Administrative Law Tribunals (state and federal).  Judicial clerks serving these courts generally perform duties similar to judicial clerks at the trial level.

Other Helpful Online Resources

Federal Judicial Vacancies

Florida Law Clerk Resume Repository

Who Has Court Jobs

Judicial Clerkship Forum

12 Things Every Law Student Should Know About Judicial Clerkships