Photo: Ramon FVelasquez (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Job description
A typical day involves researching case law, drafting memoranda that lay out the issues and possible outcomes, and preparing draft opinions for the judge's review, then sitting in on oral arguments and conferring directly with the judge about how a case should be resolved. Clerks review complaints, petitions, and motions to determine what's actually at issue, and translate the judge's reasoning into precise written work. Most clerkships run one to two years and are widely used as a springboard into litigation, government, or academic legal careers, since the role offers an unusually close view of how judges actually think through a case.
Pros
- Close, direct mentorship working alongside a judge on real cases
- Strong exposure to legal research and writing early in a legal career
- Standard, predictable hours (40-45 per week) relative to many legal roles
Cons
- A relatively small number of positions nationwide, so opportunities may be geographically limited
- Requires a Juris Doctor plus bar admission before you can even apply
- Fast pace with real deadline pressure and demand for precision in every document
A typical day
The docket drives the day: a trial judge's chambers with two hundred open cases means the clerk triages motions by deadline, starting with a discovery dispute set for Thursday. The morning is research and drafting — a proposed order with findings the judge will review, edit, and sign or send back. Court convenes at 10, and the clerk sits through testimony taking notes the judge will want at the break, flagging an evidentiary issue likely to recur after lunch. The afternoon alternates between the research queue and the practical machinery of chambers: checking citations, managing the opinion pipeline, and fielding a procedural question from a self-represented litigant with careful neutrality — clerks inform, never advise. The day ends with a draft ruling delivered and the next case file opened; the pace is calendar-driven and the learning is total immersion.
Tasks at the job
- Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
- Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
- Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
- Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
- Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
- Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and most of the day is spent sitting at a desk.
The pace is often fast, with real time pressure to meet deadlines. Precision and accuracy are essential to the work.
Education necessary or common
Juris Doctor (JD) plus bar admission
Common college majors
Licenses & certifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) — required
- Bar admission
- Strong legal research and writing credentials from law school
Career path
Related fields
Courses to take
- AP English Language — the job is research distilled into clear writing
- AP US Government — procedure, precedent, and the courts' structure
- Debate or Speech — legal reasoning practiced aloud
- AP US History — the law in context
- AP Psychology — courtrooms run on human behavior
Clubs, activities & competitions
- Mock Trial — procedure and argument from the inside
- Debate team — evidence-based persuasion
- Youth in Government or Model Congress — drafting and deliberation
- Library or research assistant roles — the research temperament shows early
First steps you can take now
- Observe a day of trial court — the rhythms of a real docket are the job's context
- Practice legal-style research: pick a question, find primary sources, and write a one-page answer with citations
- Read a plain-English overview of how a lawsuit moves from filing to judgment
- Talk to a law student or young lawyer about what clerking taught them
