A clerkship in a Virginia Circuit Court can be an excellent opportunity, particularly for those who wish to pursue careers in prosecution, public defense, legal aid or a more regional firm.  While not every court hires term clerks, most of the larger counties have at least one position open each year.  Below, please find a list of Virginia Circuit Courts that are hiring clerks and their rough deadlines.  Additional details about these positions will be posted n Symplicity as they are received:

For those folks still considering a 2012 clerkship, we are still seeing new opportunities.  Check out these newly posted positions:

Wisconsin Supreme Court
Justice Michael J. Gableman of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering applicants for a clerkship beginning in Summer or Fall 2012.  Interested applicants should follow the directions in the Symplicity posting.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Judge James Gilstrap, whose chambers are located in Marshall, Texas, is looking to hire two clerks to begin in September 2012.  Judge Gilstrap has a large IP caseload.  Interested applicants should apply via OSCAR.

United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Judge Sara Lioi, whose chambers are located in Akron, OH, is looking to hire a clerk to begin in August  2012.  Interested applicants should apply via OSCAR.

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Nieman is currently accepting applications for Term Law Clerk for approximately 12-month position starting August 20, 2012. His chambers are located in Springfield, MA.  Duties would include legal analysis, case management, drafting memoranda, orders, and opinions, and other duties as assigned, including clerical tasks.  Interested applicants should apply via OSCAR.

Although many Federal Appeals judges do not take interns, a few such opportunities have arisen this month.  The following positions may be of interest to 1Ls interested in appellate work:

1.     The Honorable Catharina Haynes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit intends to hire four unpaid judicial interns for her Dallas, Texas chambers for the summer of 2012. Judge Haynes will consider applicants who are currently in their first or second year of law school. Applicants should be in the top twenty-five percent of their class, and should have strong research and writing skills, an interest in federal civil and criminal law, and a commitment to public service and professionalism. Job tasks are anticipated to include researching and drafting memoranda, as well as reviewing and summarizing recent Supreme Court, circuit, and state case law.  Details on how to apply can be found on Symplicity.

2.     The Honorable Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is currently accepting applications for an unpaid summer internship in his chambers.  Candidates are encouraged to send materials to his chambers as soon as possible, care of law clerk Lauren Willard.

For those still on the clerkship market, there are new positions trickling in every week. Here are two that caught our attention this week:

Judge Lawrence Karlton, United States District Court for the Northern District of California.  Applications are being accepted via OSCAR for one week only and must be submitted by November 30th.  The job starts in September 2012.

The Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands, which is comprised of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, and is the highest court in the territory of the United States Virgin Islands is looking for an appellate law clerk to the Chief Justice.  Applications may be submitted by either postal mail or e-mail (details on Symplicity) and must be received by January 1, 2012.

The Joint Internship Diversity Project, sponsored by the Judicial Resources Committee and the Just The Beginning Foundation, is accepting applications now through January 9, 2012.  The Project will place 50 students as judicial interns in federal judges’ chambers across the country, with the goal of sharing the judicial internship experience with minority, underrepresented, or economically disadvantaged law students. 

Interns will be given substantive legal assignments, likely involving motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, magistrate judge reports, and habeas corpus petitions through which the intern will be exposed to a variety of procedural and substantive issues.  Interns will have the opportunity to draft bench memoranda, judicial orders, and opinions. 

Following the applicant’s electronic submission of application materials, there will be a two-step review process.  Should an applicant pass the initial review, the applicant will then be interviewed, either in-person or via telephone.  Selected applicants will then be referred to one of the Program’s Participating Judges for a second interview. 

Applicants should possess strong research and writing skills and be prepared to handle the rigors of working in a federal court.  Applicants commit to a minimum internship period of six, full-time weeks and attend mandatory training workshops prior to the beginning of the internship, either in-person or via videoconference. 

All application materials must be e-mailed to jrcjtbf@gmail.com by 5 P.M. Monday, January 9, 2012.  Though second-year law students e-mail their materials at any time, we ask that first-year law students not submit their application materials before December 1, 2011. 

Please address application packets to:

Matthew Maddox

Program Coordinator

United States District Court

Eastern District of Virginia

Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse

401 Courthouse Square

Alexandria, VA 22314

Students must submit all of the following materials:

1) cover letter explaining your interest in participating in the Judicial Resources Committee and the Just The Beginning Foundation’s Joint Internship Diversity Project;

2) resume;

3) unofficial law school transcript (if first semester law school grades are incomplete, please send an undergraduate transcript, and supplement with law school grades as they become available);

4) writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length);

5) list of three references; and

6) completed geographical preference form, with locational rankings.  [Download this form from the Just The Beginning Foundation website www.jtbf.org.]

Labor Day has passed, but there are a good number of judges still hiring, at both the state and federal level.  So, how do you find out what’s available?

1.      Keep up your account on OSCAR.  Judges post new openings all the time.  Here is a sampling of new postings this week:

Judge Marian Horn

United States Court of Federal Claims

Washington, DC

Term: 1 Year

Term Start: Sep 4, 2012

Judge Helen Burris

United States Bankruptcy Court

Spartanburg, SC

Term: 2 Years

Term Start: Sep 1, 2012

Judge Veronica Duffy

United States District Court

Rapid City, SD

Term: 1 Year

Term Start: Oct 1, 2012

Judge E. Scott Frost

United States District Court

Abilene, TX

Term: 1 Year

Term Start: Aug 1, 2012

Students may add new applications on OSCAR any time.  Please just alert the appropriate secretaries when you do so.

2.      Look for new nominees:

Check out the clerkships web page for links to sites that track new nominations and confirmations.  It is not necessary (or recommended) to wait for a nominee to be confirmed before you send an application.

3.      Check Symplicity (and this blog).  Here is a sampling of recent state court openings:

Kent County (Delaware) Court of the Common Pleas

Newcastle County (Delaware) Court of the Common Pleas

Sussex County (Delaware) Court of the Common Pleas

Charles County (Maryland) Circuit Court

Washington County (Maryland) Circuit Court

Virginia Beach (Virginia) Circuit Court

Many of these positions do not require letters of recommendation.  If they do, however, requests can be made on CARS.  Again, please notify the secretaries when a request has been made.  If you hit your request cap on CARS, please send a note to me at judicialclerkships@virginia.edu and I will raise the limit on your account.

A number of terrific state courts have gotten in touch with us this week about publicizing clerkship opportunities.  We’ve heard from judges in several states and at different level courts.  Here is a sample of some state clerkship positions that we’ve posted to Symplicity:

 Louisiana Court of Appeals:  Fredericka H. Wicker is currently accepting applications for a two-year judicial clerkship in her chambers at the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal in Gretna, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.  The clerkship will commence in August of 2012.  Applicants should submit a resume with references, an official transcript and a writing sample.  The writing sample must be work that was done in connection with the students’ experience on a journal or moot court.  And the resume should specify the students’ ranking (you need to note that UVA does not rank).  All submissions must be received by September 30, 2011.  

South Carolina Court of Appeals: Chief Judge Few at the South Carolina Court of Appeals,  located in Columbia, SC is collecting resumes and cover letters at this time for a clerkship starting in August 2012 and ending in August 2014. Materials are due by September 15, 2011.

Norfolk Circuit Court:  Judge John R. Doyle, III will conduct first round interviews at the law school for students interested in clerking for the Norfolk Circuit court for the 2012-2013 law clerk year. Selected applicants will be invited for an on-site second interview with the full committee consisting of four judges (Karen J. Burrell, Charles E. Poston, John R. Doyle III, Everett A. Martin, Jr.). The judge will be on grounds on September 22.  We have created a new OGI session entitled “Norfolk Circuit Court.”  Interested students should submit their resumes via this session for initial review by the judge. 

Harford County (Maryland) Circuit Court: The court has 6 positions available for judicial law clerks to provide legal support to Circuit Court judges.  The normal contractual term is from August until July.  Responsibilities include conducting legal research, drafting memoranda/proposed orders/opinions for Circuit Court judges. Assignments may also include assisting judges with issues relating to special programs (drug court, ADR, domestic violence, etc.); working with prosecutors, bar, and support agencies to coordinate case management; reviewing and summarizing case files; responding to attorneys and self-represented litigants. Incumbents can also expect to interact heavily with the Administrative Judge, attorneys, the public, local court-related agencies and service providers on a regular basis.   The deadline to apply is September 30, 2011.

A number of great state court opportunities have deadlines in the next month.  Additional details about all of these clerkships can be found on Symplicity.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Supreme Courts:

Connecticut Supreme Court, deadline 8/19:

Applicants wishing to apply to the Chief Justice and/or Associate Justices should send an application packet to each individual Justice. The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Connecticut Supreme Court will appoint 7 law clerks for the 2012-2013 court year. Please refer to the Judicial Branch website for information about the Supreme Court including a list of the Supreme Court Justices.

Maine Supreme Judicial Court, deadline 8/31:

The application packet consists of a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample, two letters of recommendation from law school faculty, and one letter of recommendation from summer 2011 work experience or most recent work experience.  Law Clerks in Maine work for the entire Court but are assigned to work in the chambers of the individual justice appointing them.  Justices currently have chambers in three locations: Portland (four justices), Augusta (one justice) and Bangor (two justices).  Applicants MUST identify in their cover letter the location or locations (Portland, Augusta and/or Bangor) at which they are willing to accept a clerkship assignment.

Vermont Supreme Court, deadline 9/1:

Submit one application by email in “PDF” format to:  monica.bombard@state.vt.us          

For questions, please contact Monica Bombard at 802-828-4784 or by email monica.bombard@state.vt.us

New York Court of Appeals, deadline 9/15:

Central Legal Research Staff Clerkship with New York’s highest court

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, deadline 9/26:

On August 22, 2011, the Supreme Judicial Court will begin accepting applications for clerkships for the court year that begins Wednesday, August 29, 2012.  Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible; the Justices will interview and make offers on a rolling basis beginning on September 12, 2011. 
Each candidate must submit in paper form: (1) a current resume; (2) an official law school transcript; (3) a writing sample not to exceed ten pages and not edited by another; and (4) two letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a law school faculty member.  A single cover letter should be addressed to The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court. 

Other State Appellate Courts:

Connecticut Appellate Court, deadline 8/19:

Interested persons are encouraged to apply as soon as feasible. Interviews will be held on October 4 and 5, 2011.  An original and 11 copies should be included with the letter of application.  Approximately 17 law clerks will be appointed for the 2012-2013 court year for the Connecticut Appellate Court, which functions as an intermediate appellate court. Most of the law clerks will be appointed for the nine active Judges of the Court, including the Chief Judge. The remainder will be hired to work for the retired Judges and Justices who sit by designation on the Court, or to work on motions filed with the Court.

Minnesota Court of Appeals, deadline 8/19:

Apply on-line at www.mncourts.gov attaching a resume and legal writing sample to the on-line application.  Official law school transcript(s), including class rank, and an explanation of the grading system, MUST BE MAILED DIRECTLY FROM THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE; recommendation letters are optional.  Approximately 12-16 clerkships will be offered in October 2011 for the term August 2012 through July 2013.

New York Supreme Court, deadline 9/21; 10/14:

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Third Judicial Department, is currently seeking applications for one-year clerkships. Clerkships with the Third Department's Law Research Department afford participants the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into the appellate process through the observation of oral argument, review of the Court's proposed decisions and extensive legal research and writing in a wide array of legal topics. Deadline: 9/21

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial Department, is also seeking applications for one-year clerkships. Eight Appellate Court Attorney positions with the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, in Rochester, New York will be open commencing August, 2012. Deadline: 10/14.

Virginia Trial Courts:

Chesterfield Circuit Court, deadline 8/19

Arlington Circuit Court, deadline 8/26

Danville Circuit Court, deadline 8/26

Richmond Circuit Court, deadline 8/31

 Henrico County Circuit Court, deadline 9/2

Alexandria Circuit Court, deadline 9/10

Prince William Circuit Court, deadline 9/10

Roanoke Circuit Court, deadline 10/1

Other Trial Courts:

Vermont Trial Court, deadline 9/1:

Vermont’s centrally organized trial court law clerk program provides law clerk assistance to trial court judges on location throughout Vermont. Law clerks concentrate on research and writing for all judges of the civil, criminal, and family divisions of the superior court, as assigned, and may participate in other projects. Some law clerks are assigned exclusively to the environmental division of the superior court. Please e-mail one set of application materials per application in PDF form, between September 1 and October 5, to jud.recruitment.state.vt.us with the subject, "trialcourt law clerk hiring".Applicants for both environmental and non-environmental positions should send two applications in separate e-mails.

Maine District Court, deadline 9/2:

The State of Maine Judicial Branch is accepting applications for 2012-2013 Law Clerkships for the Maine District Court. The 2012-2013 Law Clerk year is from August 20, 2012 through August 19, 2013. Two positions are expected to be available. Law clerks are based in Portland, Lewiston, and/or Bangor.  The District Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate criminal, civil and family matters without a jury. The thirty-six judges of the District Court have statewide jurisdiction. Eight Family Law Magistrates assist in the processing of family matter proceedings involving children. The District Court law clerks receive assignments from all District Court Judges and Magistrates.

Delaware Unified Family Court, deadline 9/14:

Ten judicial law clerk positions are available in Delaware's statewide Family Court system. Locations: six positions in Wilmington, two positions in Dover, two positions in Georgetown

Circuit Court of Maryland, deadline 9/30:

The Circuit Court for Harford County, Maryland has 6 positions available for judicial law clerks to provide legal support to Circuit Court judges. This is a unique opportunity to put your legal skills to work, learn court operations from the inside out, and gain invaluable "real life" practical experience while working in a challenging, high volume, highly-variable and fast-paced environment.

A few frequently asked questions:

What is the difference between OSCAR and CARS?

CARS is UVA’s internal system for organizing letters of recommendation.  All students who are using faculty recommenders must put their ENTIRE judge list (including OSCAR judges) on CARS by July 28th.  This allows the faculty to see a complete list of judges to whom you are applying and allows the secretaries to generate paper letters of recommendation for those judges that require it.  

OSCAR is an online information clearinghouse administered by Symplicity on behalf of the Administrative Office of the US Courts.  It allows judges to disseminate information about available clerkships and tell students how to apply for them.  OSCAR also enables federal judges to accept online applications if they would like to do so.  Students who are applying to judges who accept online applications need to create draft applications on OSCAR in addition to adding those judges to their CARS lists.   Draft applications on OSCAR will be due by August 8th (exceptions will be made for judges on your CARS list who open online positions after that date)

How do I “read” the judge information on OSCAR?

All federal judges have the option of registering on OSCAR to share clerkship information, but not every federal judge has done so. 

Greyed-out judges have not registered on OSCAR.  These judges have provided no information about their hiring practices.  Students can either assume that the judges are hiring and send paper applications, or they can call chambers to ask about potential openings.

Available judges (tagged with a green Available) are judges who have posted an open position.   These judges are accepting either paper applications (marked with a mailbox) or online applications (marked with a globe). 

Judges who have posted a profile to OSCAR but have not posted an open position are presumed by OSCAR to be not hiring.  If we have received confirmation that these judges are not hiring for 2012, we have marked this information in CARS and you will not be able to request letters for that judge.  Otherwise, we have marked those judges as “status unknown” in CARS.  If you believe that a judge without a posted position is hiring for 2012 (if, for example, the judge’s status has not been updated since last year), we encourage you to contact chambers to ask about the judge’s status.   We will continue to update the information in CARS as we receive updates from OSCAR or from the judges' chambers.

When can judges view online OSCAR applications?
Regardless of when you finalize your applications, OSCAR will not release it to the judges until September 6th.   Therefore, there is no reason to rush and get your online applications done, as they will not be viewable by judges until after Labor Day. 

Many state courts begin, and often finish, hiring before the federal process even gets under way.  This is particularly true of state appellate courts, which often want to fill their slots over the summer.  These courts typically hire on a rolling basis, so early applicants are at a significant advantage, and spots may be full if you wait until the deadline to apply.  The following courts are now accepting applications:

Supreme Courts:
Connecticut Supreme Court (deadline early September)
Delaware Supreme Court (has begun hiring)
Hawaii Supreme Court (deadline 9/30)
Maine Supreme Judicial Court (deadline late August)
Minnesota Supreme Court (deadline late August)
New Hampshire Supreme Court (deadline early-August)
New Jersey Supreme Court (rolling deadline)

Intermediate Appellate Courts:
Connecticut Court of Appeals (deadline late August)
Minnesota Court of Appeals (deadline late August)

Trial Courts:
Delaware Family Court (deadline early September)
Maine Superior Court (deadline early September)
Arlington (VA) Circuit Court (deadline early September)
Henrico (VA)  Circuit Court (deadline early September)
Manassas (VA) Circuit Court (deadline early September)
Prince William (VA) Circuit Court (deadline early September)

Later dates:
These courts will begin to accept applications in August or September:
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (8/5)
Vermont Supreme Court (8/2)
Alexandria (VA) Circuit Court (9/1)

Please be aware that other state courts are likely to be hiring, but these are the courts that have a unified hiring process and have made us aware of their deadlines.  Additional information will be posted as it is received. If you have questions about these positions or any clerkship-related matters, please contact Ruth Payne at judicialclerkships@virginia.edu.