Getting a Legal Job
Curated legal job boards and a playbook for landing a standout summer internship or clerkship — whether you\'re a 1L law clerk or a newly admitted attorney.
Legal Job Boards — During Law School
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Apply to federal district and circuit judge clerkships.
Your law school's primary OCI and job posting portal — check your school's login.
Employer directories and the OCI recruiting calendar.
Public service and government positions for students and grads.
Nonprofit and public-interest legal roles.
Judicial clerkship listings and hiring plans.
How to Land a Great Summer Internship or Clerkship
The summer job is the gateway to your post-grad offer. A federal judicial clerkship is the single most valuable credential on a young lawyer\'s résumé. Here\'s how to win both.
Start in 1L fall
Big-law 2L summer recruiting (OCI) happens in your rising 2L summer, but eligibility and interview skills are built during 1L. Attend every networking event.
Target a judicial internship first
A 1L judicial internship is the single best résumé line for later clerkships and big-law. Apply to federal magistrate and state appellate judges October–January.
Don't overlook midsize & boutique firms
They often hire earlier, offer hands-on experience, and convert summer associates to full-time offers at rates comparable to big law.
Network before you need a job
Informational interviews with alumni in your target practice area produce 60%+ of unposted openings. Send a short, specific email; ask for 20 minutes.
Nail the writing sample
Polish one 8–12 page memo to perfection. It is the artifact every employer reads first and weights most.
Apply the clerkship timeline
Federal clerkship hiring follows the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan. Track judge openings on OSCAR and apply the day the plan opens to your class year.
Bonus: clerkship → big law
A one- or two-year federal appellate clerkship often translates to a $50k–$100k signing bonus at large firms and an accelerated associate class year. Prioritize federal over state, and appellate over trial — but a state supreme court clerkship can be just as valuable in regional markets.