Delaware Chancery and Supreme Court Clerkships Guide Forum

Post by **TLS** » Tue Oct 27, 2026 7:38 am

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Delaware Clerkships: Court of Chancery, Supreme Court and Superior Court

Short answer: Delaware is the corporate-law clerkship market. The Court of Chancery hires clerks for the Chancellor, six Vice Chancellors and three Magistrates for one- to two-year terms (Delaware Chancery). The Supreme Court's five justices hire one-year clerks and can make offers two years ahead (Delaware Supreme Court info sheet). The Superior Court's 2027-28 window is open through Oct. 30, 2026 (Delaware Superior Court).

Fast facts

Chancery: Chancellor, six Vice Chancellors and three Magistrates in Chancery; one- to two-year clerkships (Delaware Chancery).
Chancery 2027-28 window: Nov. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 (closed) (Chancery application page).
Supreme Court: five justices; one-year terms starting in late August; apply at the start of 2L year; top 10% and law review preferred; pay about $59,480 per the sheet last updated November 2024 (Supreme Court info sheet).
Superior Court: 21 judges (New Castle 15, Kent 3, Sussex 3); term Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 (Superior Court).
Superior 2027-28 window: May 22 to Oct. 30, 2026; most judges choose before the deadline (Superior Court info).
Delaware bar: not required for Superior Court clerks (Superior Court info).

Which Delaware court fits you

Court of Chancery: for corporate, M&A and fiduciary litigation. Applications go to the Chancellor, Vice Chancellors and Magistrates for one- to two-year terms (Chancery application page).
Supreme Court: final appeals, including corporate cases from Chancery. Send a resume, transcript, writing sample and letters to chambers (Supreme Court info sheet).
Superior Court: civil and criminal trial work across three counties. Apply by email to [email protected] or in hard copy, addressed to Judge Paul R. Wallace (New Castle), Judge Jeffrey J Clark (Kent) or Judge Craig A. Karsnitz (Sussex) (Superior Court).
Complex Commercial Litigation Division (CCLD): a five-judge Superior Court panel with its own clerk hiring. Its 2026-27 window was June 1 to Oct. 31, 2025 (CCLD announcement).

Superior Court application packet

Cover letter, resume, law and undergraduate transcripts, writing sample and references (Superior Court).
Top 10% or journal membership preferred; review is rolling (Superior Court info).

Hours, bonuses and exit options

TLS members debate Chancery workload, competitiveness and firm bonuses in DE Chancery Clerks Working 3900 Hours?!?! and Chancery Court: Competitiveness+Bonuses. Firm policies on Delaware bonuses differ, so check the clerkship bonus guide and ask each firm. For Delaware and corporate-litigation placement after a clerkship, talk to BCG Attorney Search.

Discuss on TLS

FAQ

Q: When does the Chancery window open?
For 2027-28 it ran Nov. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 (Chancery application page). Watch that page for the 2028-29 cycle.

Q: How early does the Delaware Supreme Court hire?
Offers can come as early as late summer, two years before the clerkship starts (Supreme Court info sheet).

Q: Do I need the Delaware bar to clerk?
Not for the Superior Court (Superior Court info). For Chancery and the Supreme Court, confirm with chambers (n.a. on the pages we checked).

Related guides

Last verified: September 26, 2026, against the official court pages linked in this guide (older or secondary sources are labeled). Hiring status changes often, so confirm on the court or chambers page before you apply. Spot an error? Reply in the linked discussion thread or PM a moderator.