Judicial Clerkships

Regardless of your career aspiration, a postgraduate judicial clerkship provides an outstanding entry-level legal experience and the chance to learn directly from a judge. Clerks read briefs, attend court proceedings, research and write bench memoranda analyzing the parties’ arguments, advise the judge on the disposition of a case, and draft opinions. Judges often become lifelong mentors and advocates, and form a foundation for an enduring professional network. 

Michigan Law has a strong tradition of placing students and graduates in clerkships at every level of the federal and state judiciaries, as well as with international tribunals. Our commitment to continuing that tradition is demonstrated by the resources that we make available to students seeking clerkships. We have seasoned faculty advisers who, together with a full-time attorney-counselor, provide one-on-one counseling to help students navigate what can be a challenging application process. Beyond our formally designated clerkship advisers, more than half of the faculty have served as law clerks, including many as former US Supreme Court clerks. They are happy to be part of your team of mentors, advisers, and advocates throughout the process.