Judicial Law Clerks

About the Role

Judicial law clerks assist judges in research, drafting opinions, and managing cases in courts.

Other Common Titles

Judicial Clerk
Law Clerk
Judicial Assistant
Clerk of Court

Typical Tasks

Conduct legal research on case law and statutes.
Draft legal memoranda summarizing case facts and relevant law.
Assist in drafting judicial opinions and orders.
Review briefs and pleadings submitted by parties in cases.
Attend court sessions and taking notes on proceedings.
Analyze arguments presented in cases and provide recommendations.
Prepare summaries of cases for judges' review.

Notable People

Elena Kagan – Former law clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall and current Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sonia Sotomayor – Former law clerk for Judge Robert A. Katzmann and current Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Stephen Breyer – Former law clerk for Justice Arthur Goldberg and former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Recommended Resources

The U.S. Supreme Court: A Very Short Introduction
A concise overview of the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court, beneficial for understanding judicial processes.
Law Clerk Resources on Bloomberg Law
A platform providing news, research tips, and guides for law clerks and interns.
How to Win a Trial
This book offers insights into trial processes that can inform a clerk's understanding of court proceedings.