A Judicial Clerkship is a postgraduate position that provides direct insight into the judicial process and is a valuable and enriching experience. A Law Clerk gains practical experience by attending judicial proceedings, performing legal research, and providing other assistance to the judge. Law Clerks also are exposed to the methods and customs of practitioners, and learn the level of professional behavior expected of lawyers. Many former Law Clerks find that the prestige and experience associated with service in chambers and courts broadens their future employment opportunities.
If you are interested in applying to Judicial Clerkships, please schedule an appointment with Natalie Butcher, Associate Director of Career Services and Judicial Clerkships by calling (530) 752-6574 or sending an email to careerservices@law.ucdavis.edu.
Judicial Externships differ in that they are positions for current law students.
Clerkship Placements
A sampling of federal and state court judges who have hired UC Davis School of Law students and alumni for post-graduate clerkships in the last several years.
Specialty Court Panel Discussions and Interviews with Judges
There are several specialty court clerk panel discussions and interviews with specialty court judges available for viewing:
- State Court Clerkship Panel Discussion
- Magistrate Court Clerkship Panel Discussion
- Bankruptcy Court Clerkship Panel Discussion
- Ninth Circuit Opportunity and Equality Committee Panel: Advice from Law Clerks of Diverse Backgrounds and Perspectives
- Ninth Circuit Opportunity and Equality Committee Panel: Common Myths Regarding Federal Clerkships
Application Assistance
- Judicial Clerkship Guide
- PowerPoint Presentation - The Application Process
- PowerPoint Presentation Slides
- Application Checklist
- Applicant Judicial Clerkship Survey (Required)
- Key Resources
- Blank Interview Evaluation
- Mail Merge and Adobe PDF Conversion Instructions
- Student Travel Instructions
- Grade Sheet Template
- Guide to researching judges in Westlaw
- Writing Sample Cover Sheet Template
- Letter of Recommendation Template
Federal Courts
- OSCAR (Online System for Clerkship Application & Review)
- OSCAR Resource Page
- US Courts - General Information
- List of Federal Court Websites
- Newly Confirmed Judges
- US Senate Judiciary Committee
- US Tax Court
- Federal Employment of Non-US Citizens
State Courts
- Court Opportunity Recruitment for All (CORA) - state court application portal for clerkships and externships
- Insight and Inside Information for Select State Court Clerkships
- National Center for State Courts
- The Guide to State Judicial Clerkships (contact the Career Services Office at (530) 752-6574 for login; by: Vermont Law School)
- California Courts
- State Court Judicial Clerkship Information and Deadlines
Federal Administrative Courts
- Applying for Clerkships with Federal Administrative Law Judges
- Federal ALJ Post Graduate Clerkships (by: NALP)
- Government Honors & Internship Handbook (contact the Career Services Office at (530) 752-6574 for login)
- Department of Agriculture (posts on USAJobs)
- Department of Health & Human Services (posts on USAJobs: Appeals Board; Office of Medicare Hearings & Appeals)
- Department of Housing & Urban Development (Office of ALJ; Office of Appeals)
- Department of the Interior, Board of Land Appeals (posts on USAJobs)
- Department of Labor
- Environmental Protection Agency (posts on USAJobs)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (see: Federal ALJ Post Graduate Clerkships)
- Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (see: Federal ALJ Post Graduate Clerkships)
- Merit Systems Protection Board
- Securities & Exchange Commission (posts on USAJobs)
- US DOJ (hires through the DOJ Honors Program: Drug Enforcement Administration; Executive Office for Immigration Review; other participating components with clerkship positions vary each year)
- US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Atomic Safety and Licensing Board)
International Tribunals & Foreign Courts
- Opportunities with International Tribunals and Foreign Courts (by: Yale Law School)
Alumni Judges & Alumni Clerks
- Alumni on the Bench
- Alumni - Administrative Law and Other Types of Judges
- Alumni Clerks - Historical Clerkship Data
- Interview and Clerkship Evaluations
Diversity Program
- Share the Wealth Judicial Law Clerk Program (Deadline: June 28, 2024)
Additional Information
- The Path to the Federal Bench (by: The American Constitution Society)