Which law schools have the most clerks?
Asked by: Amara Auer | Last update: January 1, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (51 votes)
Stanford Law School ranked No. 1 in the judicial clerkships chart: 47 (nearly 25%) of its 189 2022 J.D.s; Yale Law School ranked No. 2: 51 (nearly 24%) of its 213 2022 J.D.s; the University of Chicago Law School ranked No. 3: 44 (20.3%) of its 217 2022 grads.
What law schools have the most Supreme Court clerks?
After Harvard and Yale, the only other law schools that have sent more than 100 law clerks to the Supreme Court since 1960 are the University of Chicago Law School (148 clerks); Stanford University Law School (139 clerks); Columbia Law School (114 clerks); and the University of Virginia School of Law (112 clerks).
What percentage of law students are clerk?
According to the ABA data, just 3.4% of the class of 2023 found work as federal clerks. The 10 law schools that sent the highest percentage of graduates into these clerkships are responsible for a third of all clerkships across the country.
Which clerkships are most prestigious?
Clerking for a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is widely considered the most prestigious and competitive clerkship in the country. Each year, thousands of highly qualified applicants vie for a handful of positions, with only 36-38 clerks hired annually.
How many law clerks does each Justice have?
Each Justice is permitted to have between three and four law clerks per Court term. These are individuals who, fairly recently, graduated from law school, typically, at the top of their class from the best schools.
How to Choose the Right Law School For You
Do law clerks have to pass the bar?
Law clerks don't need to pass the bar examination to qualify for their jobs. They can choose to do so, though, in order to legally practice law. Their education prepares them for many careers in the law industry with ample opportunities for advancement. Paralegals, unless they obtain a J.D. or an LL.
What is the rule of four?
On the face of it, the Supreme Court's “Rule of Four” is straightforward. Where the justices have discretion as to whether to hear an appeal, at least four of the Court's members must vote to grant a writ of certiorari, which facilitates a full review on the merits.
What are the odds of getting a federal clerkship?
In our study, the overall "success" rate of those applying for a clerkship was quite high at 69.5%.
What is the most prestigious law school in the US?
The U.S. institutions in the top 10 were Harvard Law School, which ranked first, with Yale Law School ranked fourth, Stanford Law School ranked fifth, NYU School of Law ranked sixth, UC Berkeley School of Law ranked seventh, and Columbia Law School ranked tenth.
What is the clerkship rate at Yale Law School?
Yale Law School was No. 2 in 2023 with 24.11% of its JDs landing federal clerkships, followed by Stanford Law School at 20.77%. The University of Notre Dame Law School was next with 18.18% of graduates in federal clerkships, while the University of Michigan Law School rounded out the top five at 14.01%.
Is law clerk better than paralegal?
Law clerks have typically completed law school, while paralegals only have a relatively small amount of technical education in the field. Also, paralegals are confined to research and legal writing under the supervision of an attorney – they cannot provide legal advice.
Is it hard to get a clerkship?
Well, the chances of landing a clerkship are notably better than winning at Powerball (1 in 292 million), but they will be 0 if you get burned out and stop applying. The clerkship search can go on for months and months without feedback from judges. So, pace yourself and don't fall into any of the traps above.
Which law schools produce the most politicians?
- Harvard Law School: 18 (7 Senators, 11 Representatives)
- Georgetown University: 13 (5/8)
- University of Texas: 7 (0/7)
- University of Virginia: 6 (3/3)
Are all law clerks lawyers?
In some of the larger states, like California and New York, it can take several months to get bar results. Calling someone a “law clerk” is usually code for “not yet admitted to the bar” whether that means the person is still in law school or a recent graduate.
Is federal courts the hardest law school class?
“Hard Class, Horrible Book” said in part: Federal Courts and Federal Jurisdiction is generally recognized as the hardest course in law school. After surviving the course myself, I can attest to this fact.
What is the hardest law school in USA?
1. Yale University. With an acceptance rate of just 6.9%, it's no wonder that Yale is the hardest law school to get into. Only around 1 in 15 of their highly qualified applicants makes it through.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
What LSAT score do I need for a full scholarship?
What LSAT Score Do I Need for a Full Scholarship? It depends on what type of scholarship you're hoping to be granted. Needs-based scholarships don't require a high LSAT score. However, to be considered for a merit-based scholarship, it's wise to have a score close to 170.
What is the best school for clerkships?
Stanford Law School ranked No. 1 in the judicial clerkships chart: 47 (nearly 25%) of its 189 2022 J.D.s; Yale Law School ranked No.
Is a federal clerkship a big deal?
Many BigLaw and boutique firms value the experience and skills gained by former clerks, whether the clerkship was at the federal or state level. Clerking provides an associate with valuable exposure to the inner workings of the legal system, not to mention the experience gained in legal research, writing, and analysis.
What is an oral argument?
An oral argument is a presentation of a case before a court by spoken word. Lawyers or parties representing each side in a dispute have 30 minutes to make their case and answer questions from Supreme Court justices or Intermediate Appellate Court judges.
What is rule number 3?
The Rule of 3 is a powerful concept for chunking things down. You can take any large, overwhelming things and chunk it into 3 smaller things, to help you communicate better, organize your mind better, remember better, prioritize better, and take better action.
How many justices to grant a cert?
If the full Court acts on an application, five Justices must agree in order for the Court to grant a stay, but the votes of only four Justices are required to grant certiorari.