Iowa Law is ranked #20 for placing students in federal clerkships and #28 for state and local clerkships (law.com 2021, based on data from Class of 2020). Our program continues to strengthen year after year. In 2021, we saw our largest clerkship class in recent history. 

What is a judicial clerkship?

Judicial Clerkships are a 1 -2 year position in which a recent law graduate work closely with a judge in the decision making process. Clerks get an inside look at judicial decision-making by drafting bench memos, orders, and opinions. 

Iowa Law graduates clerk for federal appellate and district court judges, state trial, appellate and Supreme Court justices, and an array of specialty courts including tribal courts. Some graduates have gone on to become judges themselves.  

Why should I clerk?

You will become very efficient at legal research. Your writing will improve dramatically. You will learn which methods of advocacy work better than others. You will become familiar with how judges think.

There are also soft benefits of clerking that are difficult to quantify. For many, their judge often becomes a lifelong mentor. Clerks also have opportunities to network with the other judges in the courthouse as well as with practitioners and firms that appear before the judge, which may open doors later. And for students who want to practice outside Iowa, clerking provides one of the best ways of getting into a new market.

Iowa Law has a highly successful judicial clerkship support program. Whether you are interested in working at a state or federal court, at a trial or appellate court, or at a specialty court, Iowa Law is committed to helping you find the post-graduate judicial clerkship opportunity that is right for you. Judicial clerkships provide terrific opportunities to learn from judges while providing worthwhile public service.