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New Law Clerk Hiring Plan: Applicants Must Complete Second Year of Law School

Friday, June 8, 2018

A majority of judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit are following a new national law clerk hiring plan.  Starting with students who entered law school in 2017, the application and hiring process for law clerks will not begin until after a law student's second year. 
 
For students who entered law school in 2017 (the graduating class of 2020), judges will not accept applications before June 17, 2019.  For students who enter law school in 2018 (graduating class of 2021), judges will not accept applications before June 15, 2020.
 
Participating judges will keep a clerkship offer open for at least 48 hours to allow an applicant sufficient time to consider the offer.  A number of other circuit courts are also implementing the plan.  This is a two-year pilot plan.  Participating judges will reconsider their participation after June 2020.
 
First Circuit Court of Appeals Judges participating in the plan include:

  • Honorable Jeffrey R. Howard, Chief Judge
  • Honorable Bruce M. Selya
  • Honorable Michael Boudin
  • Honorable Norman H. Stahl (excluding the 48-hour open offer provision)
  • Honorable Sandra L. Lynch
  • Honorable Kermit V. Lipez
  • Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson
  • Honorable William J. Kayatta, Jr.
  • Honorable David J. Barron

 
A copy of the plan will be posted on the OSCAR website at:
https://oscar.uscourts.gov/federal_law_clerk_hiring_pilot