Judicial Internships/Externships
A judicial internship/externship is a full or part-time position in a judge's chambers filled by a law student. These positions are available during the summer or academic year. Many federal and state judges in courts throughout the country hire interns/externs. Although most positions are unpaid, you can receive academic credit through WCL's Externship Program.
Role of Interns/Externs in Chambers
The work assigned to an intern/extern varies depending on the type of court, caseload of the judge, and the judge's own preferences in assigning work. Most interns/externs have the opportunity to conduct extensive legal research, draft opinions and orders (for review by the clerk or judge), discuss legal issues with the judge and law clerks, and observe courtroom proceedings. An internship/externship within any court will enable you to observe the trial or appellate litigation process from the perspective of a judge.
Application Process and Timing
Although some internship/externship positions are posted on CareerLink, most positions are not advertised. As a result, it is important to use the resources listed below to identify additional opportunities. By using the contact information contained in these resources, you can call judges in courts of interest and ask if they hire interns/externs. If you do not have time to call judges directly, you can apply to all the judges in courts of interest. However, before applying to judges in the DC area, please consult WCL's List of DC Area Judges Who Frequently Hire Interns/Externs and WCL's List of DC Area Judges Who Reported That They Do Not Hire Interns/Externs.
The typical internship/externship application includes a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, writing sample, and a list of two or three references. Since hiring is completed on a rolling basis, it is advantageous to apply early. For the majority of judges, the following timelines apply:
- Fall - apply in July/August
- Spring - apply in September/October
- Summer - apply in November/December/January
Key Resources
The following resources contain internship/externship postings or judge-specific contact information:
- CareerLink
Search for postings by selecting the "Judicial" practice area within the "Summer" or "Temporary-Part-Time" job levels. - Judicial Yellow Book
Find contact information for all federal judges and state appellate judges. - BNA's Directory of State and Federal Courts, Judges, and Clerks
The best resource for contact information for state trial judges. - WCL's List of DC Area Judges Who Frequently Hire Interns/Externs
- WCL's List of DC Area Judges Who Reported That They Do Not Hire Interns/Externs
- WCL's Database of Addresses for DC Area Judges (Updated November 2008)
Please note that this list was compiled in summer 2007 and includes ALL judges in the courts listed (including judges who do not hire interns/externs). Students are responsible for verifying these addresses. - Externship Database
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