Judicial Clerkships

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Faculty Quotes on Clerking

"Clerking has been the most formative experience of my career. It was amazing to work with real judges to evaluate briefs, hear and be persuaded by arguments, research the law, decide the correct results, and write short, hopefully compelling opinions. I highly recommend it to anyone with a passion for the law, a dedication to getting things right, and an interest in gaining some perspective very early in their careers."

Professor Benjamin Halasz

"Should you seek a clerkship? — YES and double yes! Unless and until you become a judge yourself, you will never have the opportunity to see into the process of judicial decision making that a clerkship affords you. Not only will this intensive year or two hone your legal skills, it will also help you understand how and why decisions are made as they are. That insider knowledge will benefit you for the rest of your career, regardless of the path it takes from there. In short: just do it. You'll love it."

Former Dean & Professor of Law, Kellye Testy

"My two clerkships still stand as my favorite legal jobs ever. (This is saying a lot because my current job teaching here at UW Law is pretty amazing too.) Clerking helped me to develop my analytical, research and writing skills—all while working on fascinating cases that exposed me to a variety of legal issues."

Professor Kathryn Watts

"Some people get horrible advice that clerking is not useful for people who will practice transactional law … Sad!"

Professor Clark Lombardi

"The work you do as a clerk is important, instructive, and engaging. It can lead to valuable professional relationships—and, often, lifelong friendships—with the Judge, your co-clerks, and others in chambers. It's also a lot of fun. I have a hard time imagining a better start for a junior lawyer."

Professor Lisa Manheim

"Clerking for Justice Hans Linde (ret) on the Oregon Supreme Court was an invaluable experience. In some ways, that experience was more beneficial — both educationally and professionally — than law school itself. It greatly sharpened my analytical skills, substantially improved my research skills, and significantly enhanced my writing skills. It was also important for two other reasons: First, it gave me more time to plan my career options, and second, it played a central role in helping me secure a Supreme Court fellowship under the Chief Justice. In short, judicial clerkships, though difficult to obtain, are well worth pursuing. Take heed!"

Former professor Ronald Collins

"Advantages to clerking include continuing one's legal education in an applied setting, mentoring by a judge, and a boost to the CV. It's also usually a fun and interesting job. What's not to like?"

Professor Ryan Calo

"Clerking is perhaps the most fun job you can get immediately after graduation. I loved it. I got to work directly with the judge and my co-clerks on interesting legal issues, not from a textbook or an exam hypothetical, but from real-life disputes that actually mattered. It's like the best parts of law school, but instead of paying tuition, you get paid."

Professor David Ziff

"Clerking for a high-volume appellate court was like getting a graduate degree in law. Because 50% of the caseload was criminal, I learned an enormous amount of criminal law and procedure during my clerkship. I also learned how to become fast and efficient at legal research."

Professor Helen Anderson

"Everyone told me that my clerkship year would be the best one of my life. It is difficult for the real thing to live up to that kind of expectation, but that perfectly describes my experience working for Judge Goodwin (9th Circuit; Pasadena, CA). Judicial clerkships present an unparalleled opportunity to gain high level legal experience at a young age, and offer new grads the opportunity to create a mentor/mentee bond unlike nearly any other in the legal profession."

Professor Steve Calandrillo

"Clerking in Federal District Court provided me with exposure to different areas of law, criminal and civil, which shaped the type of work I pursued as a lawyer. I observed and interacted with a range of excellent attorneys which helped me figure out what type of an attorney I wanted to be. Also, spending a year in Hawaii after 3 years of law school in Seattle was a welcome break. 25 years later I still keep in touch with my judge and some of the clerks I worked with who are now practicing in different parts of the country."

Professor Kim Ambrose