Judicial clerkships prepare exceptional attorneys for the practice of law. In many ways, judicial clerkships represent a one-year (or two-year) extension of your Law Center career, with one important distinction: you actually get paid for the privilege of learning! Working directly with a judge can build lifelong relationships, and many former clerks maintain close and continued contact with their judicial mentors.
A judicial clerkship is a job for law school graduates with a court or judge, typically lasting one or two years. Judicial clerks act as attorneys and legal assistants to judges. Legal research and writing are part of every clerkship; other tasks may vary based on the judge and the court. Clerkships provide new graduates with a perfect opportunity to investigate another city and network within its legal community. The intangible benefits of the clerkship experience cannot be overstated. Thus, the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) faculty and the Career Development Office (CDO) strongly recommend students consider clerking. If you obtain a judicial clerkship, you will be pleased to have it on your resume for the rest of your career.
The CDO maintains resources for students interested in pursuing a judicial clerkship. Resources include a clerkship handbook with more information on clerking and the application process, information on alumni clerks and judges, and news and upcoming events. Students can view these materials through our Judicial Clerkship SharePoint page. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Powers, Director of Judicial Clerkship and Externship Programs, at wapowers@central.uh.edu.
