Clerkships: The Details

Amy Wildermuth

April 14, 2009

Topics I will cover:

Application Strategy Cover Letters Resumes Writing Samples Recommendation Letters Interviews Offer Etiquette

Where should you apply? Where will I be competitive?

Qualifications Comparative advantage Alumni and summer job resources

What am I looking to gain from the experience?

Type of court Read opinions Research judges

Cover Letter

Short and sweet!

This is an oldie but a goodie:

Resumes

Watch margins Bigger font White space is OK! Think about job titles as a way to

avoid job descriptions

Letters of Recommendation Who?

Professors Judges* Lawyers

What should you provide? Resume Explain why you’d like a clerkship Provide some personal information

so writer can say more than this person did well in my class

Writing Samples

What does a judge look for in a clerk? More academic than advocate Confidentiality

How do you handle hot-button topics?

What is your BEST work? Well-written and well-researched Like to talk about it

Interviews

Some judges do screening interview on phone so be prepared

No reimbursement for travel More substantive Read opinions and other info on

judge before interview Contact former clerks if possible I recommend mock interviews

with faculty

Offer Etiquette

Presumption is that if you are offered a job, you will accept on the spot

If a judge does allow you some time to consider an offer, which is very rare, tell any other judge with whom you interview that you have an outstanding offer but that you have been given additional time to consider it

When in doubt, call me: 801-913-4608