From Classroom to Courtroom: A Student’s Journey with the Judicial Clerkship Program

I initially heard about clerkships the very first semester in law school. I’m a bit more academia and writing geared, so when I received an email about the opportunity to participate, I wanted to do it! I’m a first generation student and I come from a small rural town outside Pensacola but closer to Alabama. I wanted to participate in JCP because the program exposes students of different backgrounds to what clerkships are, why you should do them, and how you can get into them.

One of the biggest things I was hoping to achieve was how to put myself in a better position to receive a clerkship. I was able to sit down with a judge who reviewed my resume, and I also heard from other clerks who presented their various backgrounds and how they communicated their interests in clerking as well.

One of the judges on the panel had a STEM background like me, and I was able to ask him during the panel how he highlighted his background when applying for clerkships and how I should do that. This was great because a lot of people who have STEM experiences don’t realize the opportunities they have, but this particular judge had multidisciplinary experiences which was very encouraging for me to hear having had prior interactions where I felt that my background didn’t necessarily fit what was expected from someone applying to a clerkship.

It made me realize that not all judges are looking for the same thing in candidates for clerkships. I got to sit down with judges who got to know me personally and review my resume. They gave me feedback on what I should include on my cover letter that people may not see right away from my resume. It was also nice to know what to look for “fit wise.” Different judges explained how they train their clerks, so this also helped me think about what I want to look for in a judge I potentially clerk with.

We did an assignment in our groups where we reviewed a hypothetical case that was similar to a case pending before the Supreme Court. I got to hear different perspectives and how various people contributed to the project, and this widened my thinking on how I should approach the issue presented to us in the hypothetical. We were put in groups that had a wide range of students from various ages, backgrounds, etc., which strengthened my analytical reasoning and improved my cultural competence.

Yes! I didn’t feel for a minute otherwise, and it was great because you could almost feel a mutual understanding in the room that everyone who was there had a different background and faced different obstacles, but that we were all here because we respected that about ourselves and each other. We want to be seen in clerkship positions in the future.

The panel of judges continually reemphasized that you didn’t need to have had a traditional path in order to apply, and JCP was wonderful in the sense that you had judges who were looking back on their careers and able to give encouragement to future generations of how you can do it regardless of where you come from. These connections offered a ton of support!

The biggest way JCP influenced me was to change how I present my past academic and work experiences. I was pigeonholing myself a bit faster and trying to fit the general narrative of what I was previously told is expected of those applying for a clerkship. I am no longer trying to fit the “typical narrative” and am staying truer to myself and what I want. I am more aggressively pursuing a clerkship, making more connections, and utilizing these connections. I am more confident that clerking will allow me to get academic and legal experience at the same time, hone my professional skills, and satisfy my intellectual curiosity.

Yes, because even if you don’t have an appreciation for the academic side of things, legal writing is important to the industry. Clerking gives you the ability to work with a judge who is a professional legal writer, and judges also have so many connections which will help you open doors. I truly believe a clerkship is beneficial for anyone regardless of their legal interests!

I reached out and reconnected with a judge on the Arizona Division I Court of Appeals. He was a speaker on a panel at JCP, and he sounded exactly like the type of judge I’d want to work with. I also made another connection where the judge offered to be a reference for me on one of my applications.

The same advice that I’ve received at JCP: if you even think you want to do a clerkship, you should pursue it and not let anyone tell you otherwise! Stay true to yourself. This was the biggest lesson I’ve learned in law school and at JCP. Don’t let your background or others define you negatively as your story needs to be heard and can be an inspiration or encouragement to others.

I’m glad I got to participate in JCP! JCP really helped to emphasize that there is no one size fits all and various experiences matter and are important to the legal field.