Judicial Clerkships: Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find general information about judicial clerkships and the application process?

Judicial Yellow Book - Contact information for federal judges and state judges (appellate courts only for state judges).
Almanac of the Federal Judiciary - Available on Westlaw: AFJ database. (Volume One - district, magistrate, and bankruptcy judges; Volume Two - Supreme Court and appellate judges). Provides biographical, professional associations, activities, honors and awards, publications, evaluations from lawyers, and case management statistics information.
BNA Directory of State and Federal Courts - Directory of federal and state judges that includes state trial court contact information (but not the lower limited jurisdiction courts).

The American Bench - This is the only print resource with listings of all federal and state court judges (including judges for limited jurisdiction state courts). Provides contact and basic biographical information.

Legal Directory of Judges - Available on Westlaw: WLD-JUDGE database. Provides contact information for all state and federal judges.

State court websites - These websites may provide contact information for state court judges not listed in print publications. The National Center for State Courts provides links to many of these sites.

Links to federal and state court websites: Federal Judiciary Homepage and National Center for State Courts
Information about state courts, including information and diagrams explaining court structure and jurisdiction:
- The American Bench
- BNA Directory of State and Federal Courts

Almanac of the Federal Judiciary - Available on Westlaw: AFJ database. (Volume One - district, magistrate, and bankruptcy judges; Volume Two - Supreme Court and appellate judges). Provides biographical, professional associations, activities, honors and awards, publications, evaluations from lawyers, and case management statistics information.
Federal Judges Biographical Database - Contains biographical information for all judges who have served on the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.
Judicial Yellow Book - Provides biographical information for federal and state judges (appellate courts only for state judges), as well as the identity and educational background of current law clerks.
The American Bench - This is the only print resource with listings of all federal and state court judges (including judges for limited jurisdiction state courts). Provides contact and basic biographical information.
Legal Directory of Judges - Available on Westlaw: WLD-JUDGE database. Provides biographical information for all state and federal judges.

Federal Law Clerk Information System - Searchable database with application information (timing and requirements) for some federal judges. This resource also includes a list of judges who have reported that they do not have clerkship openings.
NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list of all judges that are hiring. Even if a judge is not listed, he or she may be hiring clerks.

CareerLink (Judicial Clerkship section) - Generally the positions posted are staff attorney and pro se law clerk positions.
Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR) - Internet-based application system for some federal judges.
Chambers - Call the individual chambers directly.

Username: guide2008
Password: fightingswans

Timing information listed can be too general. Confirm requirements and deadlines by calling chambers directly and contacting OCPD.

CareerLink (Judicial Clerkship section) - Judge and court-specific hiring information for more than 20 states.
Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures (The Vermont Guide) - Provides an overview of various courts for each state and generally when and how to apply.
State court websites - The National Center for State Courts provides links to many of these sites.

Senate Judiciary Committee Report on Nominations - Lists the status of all nominees.
The University of Michigan Law School's Judicial Nominations Database - Lists the status of all nominees.
The Third Branch: Bulletin of the Federal Courts (Judicial Milestones section) - Provides information about federal judicial appointments, resignations, retirements, and deaths.

WCL's Judicial Clerkship Alumni Survey Database - Contact infomration and feedback from alumni who clerked with federal and state court judges around the country.
WCL Alumni Judges & Clerks - A list of current and past alumni clerks and alumni judges organized by jurisdiction.

Judicial Yellow Book - Includes each clerk's school and an index section organized by school for clerks and judges.
Judicial Staff Directory - Provides the clerk(s) for each listed judge.

WCL Alumni Judges & Clerks - A list of current and past alumni clerks and alumni judges organized by jurisdiction.
Legal Directory - Available on Westlaw: WLD database. Search by terms and connectors. For example, Claude /3 Hilton /s clerk.
Legal Directory of Judicial Clerkships - Available on Westlaw: WLD-CLERK database. Although not current, numerous former clerks are listed under judge names.

Almanac of the Federal Judiciary - Look under noteworthy rulings for federal judge's decisions.
Search on Westlaw or Lexis for the judge's recent opinions.
Search on Westlaw (ALLNEWS database) to locate recent articles about the judge.
Look on the applicable court's website for press releases that mention the judge.