How to put a clerkship on a resume Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm coming off two years of clerking on the D.Ct. and CoA and am beginning to reach out to firms. I asked a co-clerk what he put on his resume as a description for his clerkship and he said that he left the description blank and that this was in fact a common practice. Several other friend who have clerked have said the same. It seems to make sense given that (a) it's awkward describing what you've done within the relatively intimate confines of a judge's chambers and (b) everyone knows what you do at most clerkships anyways.

Just figured I'd throw the question out here to confirm or hear if anyone has had a different practice.

[A. Nony Mouse]

That's what I've usually seen, too. I have used something like "conducted legal research, drafted orders and opinions, assisted judge at trial" before. But I don't think it served any real purpose - you should be applying to employers who know what clerks do.

[ph14]

I left it without a description, and I think that's what all my co-clerks did too. Seems to be a pretty (very?) common practice and the prevailing norm, at least among the handful of people I talked to. Employers will know what you did as a law clerk for a judge.

[rpupkin]

I work at a place that gets a lot of apps from current clerks, and I'd say 80% of them them just list the clerkship position. I really think this is the right approach. When you start listing clerkship duties (e.g., "performed legal research," "drafted motions"), it almost makes the clerkship seem like an externship or something.

This is really not a big deal either day. But don't describe your clerkship duties. Save the space for other stuff.

[JusticeJackson]

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[BVest]

I put a description of case types when I was applying after my clerkship. But I was really angling for specific positions. E.g., securities lit, or whatever. So I wanted to convey the message that I had worked on a good number of cases in that arena.

If you're going to do this, just be sure your judge allows it. Some judges don't like clerk's disclosing exactly which cases they worked on.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Ended up just keeping it without a description. Thanks for the advice, all!