Judicial Clerkships
Chicago students are encouraged to consider completing their law study with the capstone experience of a judicial clerkship following graduation. A judicial clerkship offers a unique and challenging post-graduate opportunity to develop a relationship with a judge, to observe lawyers "in action," and to reflect on many of the novel legal issues of our time. In addition, for those interested in academic careers, a judicial clerkship is an important credential. Students interested in applying for judicial clerkships are aided by a faculty committee, the Office of Career Services, faculty and their assistants, programs, and resources in the Office of Career Services.
An increasing trend in the clerkship market is for alumni to seek clerkships after spending some time in practice. Chicago alumni have had great success in the clerkship market under this growing trend. Over the past several years, approximately 33-40% of each graduating class obtained a judicial clerkship at some point. Following an initial judicial clerkship, some graduates elect a second judicial clerkship. From October Term 2012 to October Term 2023, we have had 41 clerkships on the Supreme Court among 11 different justices. From October Term 1990 to October Term 2023 we have had 125 clerks at the Court.
Our clerkships reflect the diversity of both our faculty and our student body. Our newly-minted graduates and alumni clerk throughout the country, in every part of the federal judiciary and in many state courts as well. Every year, it is the goal of the faculty and staff at the Law School that any student or alumnus who chooses to apply secures a clerkship, and we do everything we can to help make that happen.
Clerkship data by clerking term since October Term 2015 is shown below.
| October Term | SCOTUS | Federal Appellate | Federal District | State Appellate | Other | Total |
| 2015 | 2 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 56 |
| 2016 | 1 | 36 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 76 |
| 2017 | 4 | 42 | 43 | 8 | 3 | 100 |
| 2018 | 2 | 56 | 44 | 10 | 3 | 115 |
| 2019 | 4 | 53 | 52 | 8 | 3 | 120 |
| 2020 | 7 | 57 | 48 | 6 | 5 | 123 |
| 2021 | 9 | 63 | 46 | 5 | 2 | 125 |
| 2022 | 3 | 56 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 115 |
| 2023 | 3 | 59 | 55 | 4 | 2 | 123 |
| 2024 | 0 | 62 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 133 |
| Total | 35 | 507 | 449 | 70 | 25 | 1086 |
"Other" includes other federal courts (such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, International Trade, Tax, and Federal Claims), state trial courts, and foreign courts.
UChicago Law graduates find work in every part of the legal profession, as well as in non-legal careers where a law degree is a substantial asset, and our judicial clerks are no exception. Here is information about where recent students who clerked immediately after graduation chose to work after they finished clerking.
| Class of 2022 | Class of 2021 | Class of 2020 | Class of 2019 | Class of 2018 | 2018-2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Firm | 84.62% | 83.61% | 75.86% | 81.48% | 74.07% | 79.45% |
| Government | 7.69% | 9.84% | 18.97% | 5.56% | 11.11% | 11.07% |
| Public Interest | 7.69% | 3.28% | 3.45% | 11.11% | 11.11% | 7.11% |
| Academia | 0.0% | 3.28% | 1.72% | 0.0% | 3.70% | 1.98% |
| Business & Industry | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.85% | 0.0% | .40% |
For more information about judicial clerkships, please contact the Office of Career Services.