Judicial Externships & Clerkships
Judicial Clerkships & Judicial Internships/Externships
Judicial clerkships, internships, and externships are invaluable opportunities for students and recent graduates to jump-start their careers in law. These roles develop real-world skills and offer experience that will support students after law school.
Judicial Clerkships
Judicial clerkships are among the most prestigious and competitive employment opportunities available to recent graduates. Usually lasting one to two years, a judicial clerkship is an excellent way to bridge the gap between law school and legal practice. Clerks at all court levels obtain unparalleled access to the judicial decision-making process. Clerks gain extensive first-hand knowledge and experience in a broad array of substantive and procedural legal matters. While obtaining a clerkship is competitive, South Texas College of Law Houston provides strong support for students and produces excellent outcomes every year.
Judicial Internships/Externships
Judicial internships and externships are typically volunteer positions with judges that provide students an opportunity to gain insight into the judicial process before graduation. These experiences help students develop strong legal research and writing skills while offering a firsthand view of judicial decision-making. Internships may take place during the summer or academic year and may be either full-time or part-time.
Students may also receive academic credit for a judicial internship; when they do, the experience is classified at South Texas as an “externship.” Students seeking credit should therefore consult the Externships page and register for courses designated as “Externship.” Hours completed through an externship may be applied toward the experiential education graduation requirement.
Judicial Clerkships & Judicial Internships/Externships FAQ
Judicial interns work full or part time in a judge’s chambers. Judges in courts all over the country and at all levels hire judicial interns. Some chambers may allow students to work remotely for all or part of their internship hours.
Intern workload typically varies based on the court and caseload; however, common duties of a trial court intern may include reviewing motions, researching applicable law, and drafting memoranda to assist the judge. A trial court intern may also attend hearings or trials and assist with research and drafting of a judge’s opinions.
Duties of an appellate court intern may include reviewing case records, researching applicable law, and drafting memoranda to assist the judge with decision-making. An appellate intern may also attend oral arguments and assist with research and drafting the judge’s opinions.
Academic credit may be available for judicial internships. Some internships may offer a stipend.
Judicial clerks work closely with the court. Clerks perform a wide range of tasks, including legal research, drafting memoranda, and drafting court opinions.
Trial court clerks may be responsible for assisting with discovery disputes, settlement conferences, and trials. Trial court clerks draft trial briefs and opinions.
Appellate judicial clerks often review the record from the trial court, review the parties’ briefs to the court, research the applicable law, and draft memoranda of law. Appellate clerks may also have the opportunity to draft opinions for the judge.
Responsibilities of clerks in specialized courts depend on the judge and docket.
Virtually every type of court offers clerkship and internship opportunities.
- Federal Courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Courts of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- District Courts (including magistrate and bankruptcy)
- Court of International Trade
- Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- Court of Federal Claims
- Military Courts (appellate and trial levels)
- State Courts
- State Supreme Courts
- Intermediate Appellate Courts
- Trial Courts
- International Courts
- Supreme Courts
- Ad Hoc Tribunals
