Congratulations! You've scored an interview with a judge and now you want to prepare for this crucial process.
This guide covers some of the research resources you can use to help you feel confident and knowledgeable about the judge, the jurisdiction, and the job you are aiming for, before you walk into those chambers. Not all of these steps may be necessary for every judicial clerkship interview, but these are some good places to start:
- find out basic biographical and career background about your judge, including high profile cases and key decisions, articles or books written by your judge
- get an idea of your judge's current caseload
- do in-depth research on your judge's decisions
- find all the published and unpublished opinions available
- find legal news and highlights about your judge's activities
- find general press coverage about your judge
- learn more about the jurisdiction's characteristics
- caseloads - criminal versus civil
- local demographics and socio-economic profile
- the state and federal court systems and their geographical/political boundaries
- review some general guidance about what the job of the clerk (and the interview) may entail
If you are just starting your research about judicial clerkship opportunities, please refer to the CDO's comprehensive Judicial Clerkship Application Guide, available at the CDO webpage on Judicial Clerkships (BerkeleyLaw login required).
