The Judicial Clerkship Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or responsibility for preparing law students for judicial clerkships or for managing the departure and return from employer organizations of associates who pursue judicial clerkships. This Section serves as a clearinghouse for judicial clerkship information important to the NALP membership.
Join Section Group on NALPconnect
2024-25 Section Co-Chairs: Jennifer Pollard, University of Maryland Carey School of Law and Amy Nixon, Chicago-Kent Law School
June 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2024 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2025 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year, with potential small group topics on alumni clerkship databases, tracking “off-plan” judges, diversity clerkship initiatives and clerkship-oriented coursework.
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on the continued implementation and use of the OSCAR NextGen platform. Collect feedback on OSCAR from the membership and provide to the AOC.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update a guide for career counselors serving as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Clerkships covering as many jurisdictions as possible. Continue to collaborate with the Public Service Section to explore using PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
Monitor the extension of the pilot hiring plan and update the membership on any alterations. Collaborate with the other sections to assess the impact of the extended plan.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Clerkship Hiring & DEI Liaison
Continue to collect and update existing research, reports and publications addressing federal and state court diversity, including statistics on judges, clerks and recruiting and hiring initiatives. Collaborate with the DEI Steering Committee to create a webinar or Bulletin+ article about the findings.
Judicial Workplace Conduct
Provide section members with resources and guidance designed to help them more effectively counsel and support interns and clerks on conduct issues that arise in the judicial workplace.
Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Steering Committee.
2023-24 Section Co-Chairs: Jennifer Pollard, University of Maryland Carey School of Law and Amy Nixon, University of Chicago Law School
February 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2023 Board Report (PDF)
July 2023 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2024 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year, with potential small group topics on alumni clerkship databases, tracking “off-plan” judges, diversity clerkship initiatives and clerkship-oriented coursework.
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on the continued implementation and use of the OSCAR NextGen platform. Collect feedback on OSCAR from the membership and provide to the AOC.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update a guide for career counselors serving as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Clerkships covering as many jurisdictions as possible. Continue to collaborate with the Public Service Section to explore using PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
Monitor the extension of the pilot hiring plan and update the membership on any alterations. Collaborate with the other sections to assess the impact of the extended plan.
Judicial Workplace Conduct
Provide section members with resources and guidance designed to help them more effectively counsel and support interns and clerks on conduct issues that arise in the judicial workplace.
2022-23 Section Co-Chairs: Janet Siegel Brown, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Todd Rogers, University of Colorado Law School
April 2023 Board Report (PDF)
February 2023 Board Report (PDF)
November 2022 Board Report (PDF)
July 2022 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2023 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year, with potential small group topics on alumni clerkship databases, tracking “off-plan” judges, diversity clerkship initiatives and clerkship-oriented coursework.
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts on the continued implementation and use of the OSCAR NextGen platform. Collect feedback on OSCAR from the membership and provide to the AOC.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update a guide for career counselors serving as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Clerkships covering as many jurisdictions as possible. Continue to collaborate with the Public Service Section to explore using PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
Monitor the extension of the pilot hiring plan and update the membership on any alterations. Collaborate with the Recruiting Section to assess the impact of the extended plan.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Clerkship Hiring & DEI Liaison
Continue to collect and update existing research, reports and publications addressing federal and state court diversity, including statistics on judges, clerks and recruiting and hiring initiatives. Collaborate with the DEI Standing Committee to create a webinar or Bulletin+ article about the findings.
Member Relations
Reach out to new members on a regular basis to welcome them to the section. Educate new and continuing members about ways to get involved. Consider contacting members from other sections and groups to encourage them to join.
Knowledge Management and Resource Implementation
Identify top resources relevant to the section and collaborate with the NALP staff to explore location options for the compilation to provide easy access.
Judicial Workplace Conduct
Provide section members with resources and guidance designed to help them more effectively counsel and support interns and clerks on conduct issues that arise in the judicial workplace.
Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Steering Committee.
Communications, Social Media & Marketing
Develop at least four (quarterly) social media posts to share with the NALP staff and conduct monthly member outreach on NALPconnect to update the membership about the work of the group.
2021-22 Section Chair: Laura Woodson, University of Georgia School of Law
April 2022 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2021 Board Report (PDF)
July 2021 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2022 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year, with potential small group topics on alumni clerkship databases, tracking “off-plan” judges, diversity clerkship initiatives and clerkship-oriented coursework.
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts on the continued implementation and use of the OSCAR NextGen platform.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update a guide for career counselors serving as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Clerkships covering as many jurisdictions as possible. Collaborate with the Public Service Section to explore using PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
Monitor the extension of the pilot hiring plan and evaluate the impact of pandemic innovations and those innovations when it isn’t a pandemic year. Collaborate with the Recruiting Section to assess the impact of the extended plan.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Clerkship Hiring
Collect existing research, reports and publications addressing federal and state court diversity, including statistics on judges, clerks and recruiting and hiring initiatives. Collaborate with the DEI Section to create a webinar or Bulletin+ article about the findings.
Member Relations
Reach out to new members on a regular basis to welcome them to the section. Educate new and continuing members about ways to get involved. Consider contacting members from other sections and groups to encourage them to join.
Knowledge Management and Resource Implementation
Identify top resources relevant to the section and collaborate with the KM/RI Advisory Group to explore location options for the compilation to provide easy access. Ensure NALPconnect is used for section communications.
2020-21 Section Chair: Michele Hoff, Georgetown University Law Center
April 2021 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2020 Board Report (PDF)
July 2020 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts on the continued implementation and use of the current version of OSCAR, as well as the development, testing, training, and implementation for the new OSCAR platform. The OSCAR Work Group will coordinate with the NALP staff on an annual postcard to be sent to federal judges in conjunction with the Administrative Office's outreach schedule.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update the "best practices" guide for career counselors as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Clerkships. Solicit additional volunteers and cover additional jurisdictions. Explore implementing PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with Section membership to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2021 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
In collaboration with the Recruiting Section, gather information on the impact of the hiring plan (including any delays due to shelter-at-home orders) and information regarding the future iterations of any plan.
Member Relations
Reach out to new and/or continuing members on a periodic basis to welcome them to the section and educate them about ways to get involved. Consider reaching out to additional members encouraging them to join the section.
Knowledge Management
Collaborate with the KM Advisory Group in helping to identify, review, and classify NALP information relevant to judicial clerkships to assist in more effective data searches.
2019-20 Section Chair: Michele Hoff, Georgetown University Law Center
April 2020 Board Report (PDF)
February 2020 Board Report (PDF)
November 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2019 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
Strategic Planning
Collect feedback and prepare a memorandum to the Board of Directors highlighting strategic goals for the Section and its subject matter and/or area of interest.
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts on the continued implementation and use of the current version of OSCAR, as well as the development, testing, training, and implementation for the new OSCAR platform.
The OSCAR Work Group will coordinate with the NALP staff on an annual postcard to be sent to federal judges in conjunction with the Administrative Office’s outreach schedule.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update the “best practices” guide for career counselors as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Clerkships. Solicit additional volunteers and cover additional jurisdictions. Explore implementing PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with Section membership to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2020 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
In collaboration with the Recruiting Section, gather information on the impact of the revised hiring plan.
2018-19 Section Chair: Samantha Kasmarek, Syracuse University College of Law
April 2019 Board Report (PDF)
February 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2018 Board Report (PDF)
Work Groups:
OSCAR
Support and work in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts on the continued implementation and use of the current version of OSCAR, as well as the development, testing, training, and implementation for the new OSCAR platform.
The OSCAR Work Group will coordinate with the NALP staff on an annual postcard to be sent to federal judges in conjunction with the Administrative Office’s outreach schedule.
State Courts
Continue to prepare and update the “best practices” guide for career counselors as a complementary resource to the Vermont Law
School Guide to State Court Clerkships. Solicit additional volunteers and cover additional jurisdictions. Explore implementing PSJD as a resource for state court clerkship postings.
Annual Education Conference / Bulletin Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with Section membership to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2019 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Consider the production of educational webinars throughout the year.
Diversity in Judicial Clerkships
Collaborate with Diversity & Inclusion Section to study the presence of minority and diverse law school graduates in judicial clerkships and try to identify data. Aim to create a report that can be presented at 2019 Annual Education Conference or presented as a webinar or Bulletin article.
Bankruptcy Court Clerkships
Work with the Hon. Laurel Isicoff, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida, in the promotion of Bankruptcy Court clerkships across the country.
Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan
Support NALP member schools and employers in connection with the guidelines set forth in the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan.
2017-18 Section Chair: Maureen Kieffer, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
April 2018 Board Report (PDF)
February 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2017 Board Report (PDF)
July 2017 Board Report (PDF)
2016-17 Section Chair: Maureen Kieffer, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
April 2017 Board Report (PDF)
February 2017 Board Report (PDF)
November 2016 Board Report (PDF)
July 2016 Board Report (PDF)
2015-16 Section Chair: Amy Killoran, Georgetown University Law Center
April 2016 Board Report (PDF)
February 2016 Board Report (PDF)
November 2015 Board Report (PDF)
July 2015 Board Report (PDF)
2014-15 Section Chair: Amy Killoran, Georgetown University Law Center
April 2015 Board Report (PDF)
February 2015 Board Report (PDF)
Addendum (PDF)
November 2014 Board Report (PDF)
July 2014 Board Report (PDF)
2013-14 Section Chair: Amy Perez, University of Miami School of Law
April 2014 Board Report (PDF)
February 2014 Board Report (PDF)
November 2013 Board Report (PDF)
July 2013 Board Report (PDF)
2012-2013 Section Chair: Melissa Lennon, Temple University Beasley School of Law
April 2013 Board Report (PDF)
February 2013 Board Report (PDF)
November 2012 Board Report (PDF)
July 2012 Board Report (PDF)
2011-2012 Section Chair: Melissa Lennon, Temple University Beasley School of Law
April 2012 Board Report (PDF)
February 2012 Board Report (PDF)
November 2011 Board Report (PDF)
July 2011 Board Report (PDF)
2010-2011 Section Chair: Sheila Driscoll, The George Washington University Law School
April 2011 Board Report (PDF)
February 2011 Board Report (PDF)
November 2010 Board Report (PDF)
July 2010 Board Report (PDF)
2009-2010 Section Chair: Sheila Driscoll, The George Washington University Law School
April 2010 Board Report (PDF)
February 2010 Board Report (PDF)
November 2009 Board Report (PDF)
July 2009 Board Report (PDF)
2008-09 Section Chair: Kirsten Solberg, Harvard Law School
March 2009 Board Report - PDF
February 2009 Board Report - PDF
April 2008 Section Meeting Ideas - PDF
May 2008 Conference Call Notes - PDF
July 2008 Board Report - PDF
November 2008 Board Report - PDF
2007-08 Section Chair: Kirsten Solberg, Harvard Law School
April 2007 Section Meeting Summary (Keystone) - PDF
May 2007 Conference Call Minutes - PDF
List of Bulletin articles as of June 2007 - PDF
July 2007 Board Report - PDF
November 2007 Board Report - PDF
February 2008 Board Report - PDF
April 2008 Board Report - PDF