JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS - TERM (ONE YEAR)
Judicial term law clerks are usually selected up to 18 months before the actual clerkship begins. Those interested in applying for a clerkship position should send their application packet directly to the chambers of the judge(s). The materials in the packet are not returnable to the applicant. It is preferred that the packets for a clerkship position include the following:
a) cover letter
b) resume
c) law school transcripts - sealed and certified
d) writing sample (preferably not longer than 10 pages)
e) three letters of recommendation
Applications are accepted between February 1st and approximately mid-March of each year. Beginning March 1, interviews are scheduled and held by each district judge. Law clerk selections are usually made by late April each year. The law clerks selected at that time begin their clerkships in August or September of THE FOLLOWING year. Example, law clerks selected in March, 1998 will begin their duties in the judge's chambers in the Fall of 1999. Applicants are not to contact the judge's chambers regarding the status of their application
If an applicant has interviewed with a judge and is offered a position by another judge, they should contact the chambers where they are under consideration, by telephone or letter, and advise the judge that they have accepted a position and are withdrawing their application.
MAGISTRATE JUDGE LAW CLERKS
The law clerk duties in their position with the magistrate judge are similar to law clerk duties for a district judge. The length of the duty term is a major difference. Law clerks to magistrate judges may be term law clerks with the term lasting one-two years or they may be career law clerks and stay five years or more.
Because there is no “season” for hiring law clerks to magistrate judges, those interested in these positions should monitor the Court’s Jobline, listed above, to learn of any vacancies as they may occur throughout the year. Application packets (not returnable) should reference the Job Announcement number and should include:
a) cover letter
b) resume
c) law school transcripts - sealed and certified
d) writing sample (preferably not longer than 10 pages)
e) the names of three references
These positions are filled quickly and the waiting period between being offered the job and beginning work is anywhere from several weeks to several months, not 18 months as it is for district judge clerkships’ “season.” Applicants should not contact the judge’s chambers regarding the status of their application.
PRO SE LAW CLERKS / DEATH PENALTY LAW CLERKS
These positions are usually full-time, permanent positions and become available only upon the departure of the law clerk currently holding that position or through the allocation of new positions by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts due to an increase in workload. Therefore, those interested in seeking such positions must monitor the Court's Jobline at 213-894-2904 periodically in the event an opening occurs. The salary for these positions vary according to experience. Applications for these positions are made through the Human Resources Department of the U.S. District Court. Applications should include the Job Announcement number given in the recording on the Jobline.
Extern terms are for summer, fall or spring. There are programs coordinated through the individual law schools or applicants may submit their application packet directly to the chambers of the judge(s). It is preferred that the packet for an externship include the following:
a) cover letter
b) resume
c) undergraduate grades ad law school grades (if available)
d) writing sample - under ten pages recommended
Applications are accepted up to six months in advance of the semester for which the student is applying. Interviews are scheduled and held by the law clerks working for the district judge(s) and offers are made at the time of the interview or shortly thereafter. Applicants are not to contact the judge's chambers regarding the status of their application.
If an applicant has interviewed with a judge and is offered a position by another judge, they should contact the chambers where they are under consideration, by telephone or letter, and advise the judge that they have accepted a position and are withdrawing their application. |