Cecil C Humphreys School of Law :: Clerkships

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Clerkships

A judicial clerkship is one of the most prestigious, interesting, and professionally rewarding jobs in the legal profession, providing a credential, skills, and connections that can benefit you for your entire legal career. A judicial clerk obtains behind-the-scenes experience with the workings of the judicial system, has the opportunity to develop and refine research, writing, and legal analysis skills, and learns the intricacies of trial or appellate procedure. Because such positions are limited and viewed as highly prestigious, a judicial clerkship can further career goals and provide a competitive edge in seeking both private and public sector legal employment.

Judicial clerkships are usually one-or two-year appointments, although some judges hire permanent or career judicial clerks. Judicial clerkships are different from judicial internships, which are performed by law student volunteers either part-time during the school year or full-time during the summer. A judicial clerkship is generally a law graduate’s first full-time legal job, although it is becoming more common for judges to hire judicial clerks with one or more years of prior, post-graduate legal work experience.

If you have an interest in finding out more about judicial clerkships, review the Memphis Law Judicial Clerkships Manual.

Important Contacts

Estelle Winsett, Assistant Dean of Career Services; gwinsett@memphis.edu, Office: Law 236, Phone: (901) 678-3217
Professor Katharine Traylor Schaffzin, ktschffz@memphis.edu, Office: Law 367, Phone: (901) 678-1623

Links to Judicial Clerkship Websites
The following links provide further information concerning judicial clerkship opportunities in the federal courts, Tennessee state courts, and other state courts.