Clerkship Cover Letters, Resumes, Writing Samples and Recommendations
Short answer: Most federal chambers ask for a cover letter, resume, transcript or grade sheet, writing sample and letters of recommendation, but every posting sets its own list. In OSCAR a resume is always required, and every upload must be a PDF under 1 MB (OSCAR Applicant Prep Kit). Read the posting line by line; some courts want references instead of letters, extra forms, or two writing samples (D. Colo. vacancy).
What real 2026 postings require
- D. Colorado court law clerk: detailed cover letter, resume, AO 78 form uploaded as a "Resume" (with the page 5 optional background section completed), transcripts, two writing samples with no more than de minimis third-party editing, and three references; no letters yet (D. Colo. vacancy).
- S.D. Georgia bankruptcy: cover letter, resume with class rank and honors, transcripts, one recent writing sample, two letters and three references (S.D. Ga. Bankr. posting).
- CAAF, Chief Judge Maggs: brief cover letter, resume, transcript (a photocopy is acceptable) and a writing sample by email, plus two letters sent by recommenders (CAAF).
- Federal Circuit: court employment applications must include the Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment (Federal Circuit careers), form AO 78 (U.S. Courts).
- Keep it to one page: who you are, why this court or judge, and a tie to the district or circuit if you have one.
- OSCAR's online editor supports merge fields for judge name and address, and you can upload up to 100 cover letters at once. A signature image requires a PDF upload (OSCAR Applicant Prep Kit).
- Proofread every judge's name, title and courthouse address. A wrong name is the fastest way to be rejected.
- Name a connection only if the person agreed and the judge knows them.
Resume
- Put education first: school, class rank if strong, journal role, honors.
- List publications, moot court, research assistant roles and legal jobs with one-line descriptions.
- If you already have an accepted clerkship, list it; the Yale Law School Supreme Court guide suggests "Prospective Law Clerk" with the upcoming term (Yale CDO guide).
Writing sample
- Clear, strong writing matters more than subject or length. The Yale guide cites 7 to 10 pages as the usual recommendation for lower courts (Yale CDO guide).
- Use your own work with minimal editing. Some postings say so explicitly, such as the D. Colorado de minimis editing rule.
- Add a short cover note saying what the document is, whether it was edited, and that confidential details were removed with permission.
- Bench memos or opinions from an earlier clerkship need the judge's permission.
Grade sheets and transcripts
OSCAR does not take transcript scans. You type grades into its grade sheet form, which judges know is not official, so keep official transcripts ready (OSCAR Applicant Prep Kit).
Letters of recommendation
- Ask for two or three letters from people who know your writing: legal writing and doctrinal professors, and supervisors.
- In OSCAR, recommenders upload letters themselves, and letters are confidential from applicants (OSCAR recommender FAQ).
- Give recommenders your resume, transcript, writing sample, list of judges and deadlines at least three weeks ahead.
Checklist before you finalize
- Each file is a PDF under 1 MB.
- Grade sheet terms are numbered in order.
- Judge names and addresses are verified.
- Recommenders are attached to each packet.
- Judge-specific items such as the AO 78, references or extra writing samples are included.
- OSCAR and the hiring plan
- Clerkship interviews
- How to get a federal clerkship
- Clerkship Directory home
