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Hiring Info
To locate judge and court specific hiring information, please visit CareerLink and click "Judicial Clerkships."
The Vermont Guide
Username: guide2008
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Timing information listed can be too general. Confirm requirements and deadlines by calling chambers directly and contacting OCPD.
Judicial Clerkships: State Court Clerkships
State court clerkships should not be overlooked. Clerks have the opportunity to learn state laws and procedures, observe local proceedings, and gain contacts with state judges and attorneys that could lead to the next job. Appellate court clerks often have the chance to create new law on an issue of first impression, and trial court clerks learn the "inside scoop" on the state's litigation process. If you think you might practice in the state, a state court clerkship can be the ideal post-graduate position.
The most difficult aspects of applying for state court clerkships are the variations in application and hiring processes.
- CareerLink
This regularly updated database provides the most specific hiring information for the judges and courts listed. - The Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures (The Vermont Guide)
For those states not listed on CareerLink, use this Guide to research general application procedures and timelines. - BNA Directory of State and Federal Courts, Judges, and Clerks
For those states not listed on CareerLink, use the contact information within this resource (for state appellate and trial courts) to call chambers directly and inquire about hiring practices.
Courts Levels
State courts are generally divided into four levels of courts. Note that some states, such as the District of Columbia, do not have mid-level appellate courts or trial courts of limited jurisdiction.
Hightest Court
In most states, the highest appellate court is called the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals. This court consists of approximately seven justices and hears criminal and civil appeals from the mid-level appellate courts. It handles the most complex and unsettled issues of state law. Some states (e.g., Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey) have a centralized hiring process for clerkships in this court, but many state courts require separate applications to each justice. The court sits in the state's capitol, but some justices may have chambers in other cities.Mid-Level Appellate Court
Often called the Court of Appeals or Appeals Court, this intermediate appellate court handles criminal and civil appeals from the trial courts. In several states, this court is divided into departments or divisions by jurisdiction. Some states (e.g., Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York) have a centralized process or hire a central staff to service the entire court, while other states require separate applications to each judge.Trial Courts
State trial courts are usually called Circuit Courts or Superior Courts. These courts of general jurisdiction represent the greatest number of clerkship opportunities within the state judiciary. The trial courts handle civil and criminal cases within a defined geographic area such as a county or city. In some states, judges rotate through civil and criminal calendars. The hiring process varies greatly by state so applicants should research courts of interest. For example, applicants for positions in Virginia should direct their applications to the chief judge of the court, while applicants for positions in Maryland must apply to each judge separately.Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction
Each state also has local courts of limited jurisdiction, often called district courts. These courts adjudicate cases in specialized legal areas such as family and probate, civil actions demanding monetary amounts below certain thresholds, and misdemeanor criminal cases. In some states, judges rotate through civil and criminal calendars. The hiring process varies greatly by state so applicants should research courts of interest.
Application Timing
The timing for state court clerkships varies by state and is less standardized than for the federal courts.
States on Federal Plan Timing:
Some state judges and courts conform to the federal plan and begin accepting applications in September of the students' third year for clerkships for the following year.States NOT on Federal Plan Timing:
Some state judges and courts accept applications earlier (i.e., during the spring semester of students' second year or the summer before students' third year).
Steps for researching state court clerkships:
- Find out about the state's court structure by looking at charts provided in BNA Directory of State and Federal Courts and Want's Federal-State Directory. The American Bench also explains the jurisdiction of the various courts within each state.
Research judges and courts on CareerLink.
For judges and courts not listed on CareerLink, use the Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures (Vermont Law School) to locate general application procedures and timelines.
Some state court websites contain clerkship hiring information and/or contact information for judges and courts. Go to the National Center for State Courts for links to these websites.
If the above resources fail to answer your questions, it is acceptable to call chambers or the court with inquiries about application timing and requirements. The following resources provide contact and biographical information for state court judges:
- Judicial Yellow Book: Appellate court judges.
- BNA Directory of State and Federal Courts: Appellate court and general trial court judges.
- The American Bench: All state court judges, including judges for the trial courts of limited jurisdiction.
- For further resources, click here.
