Law Clerk Application Information
Appellate Court
Superior Court
Application for Clerkships with the Supreme Court of Connecticut
NOTICE TO STUDENTS GRADUATING IN 2014
The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Connecticut Supreme Court will appoint seven law clerks for the 2014-2015 court year. Please refer to the Judicial Branch website for information about the Supreme Court including a list of the Supreme Court Justices.
The annual salary of each law clerk is $63,153.68, to be paid semi-monthly, and the term of service is for a period of twelve working months starting on Friday, May 30, 2014. During June, the new law clerks will be working with the clerks whose places they will be taking for the next court year. After their service in June, the new clerks will not report again for work until Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Law clerks may take four personal leave days with pay during their term of service and they will have a bank of twelve sick days. Otherwise, there are no paid vacation days. Employment will terminate on July 31, 2015.
No applications should be submitted before May 6, 2013. Interested persons are encouraged to apply as soon after that date as feasible. All applications must be received no later than June 15, 2013. Interviews will be scheduled by each individual Justice.
The basic qualifications for the position of law clerk are spelled out in this notice. Each of the Justices endorses the principle of affording equal employment opportunity to qualified applicants. It must be emphasized, however, that each Justice, in selecting law clerks, will be making an individual decision in which each will weigh those credentials that are felt to be most relevant.
Each of the Justices determines what tasks to assign to his or her law clerks. Law clerks are generally expected to do research, write memoranda, review draft opinions and assist in preparing preliminary draft opinions.
Application packets should contain the following items:
- A cover letter;
- A biographical resume;
- A certified transcript of grades achieved in law school, for four semesters, including, if available, information about class standing;
- A copy of any relevant scholarly writing;
- At least two letters of recommendation from faculty members with whom the student has studied. A letter of recommendation from a clerkship committee may also be sent if available. Letters of recommendation may be sent separately from the letter of application; and
- A statement of when the applicant will be available for a personal interview in Hartford.
Applicants should normally expect to graduate in the first quarter of their class and have demonstrated a substantial proficiency in legal research and writing. Law Review experience, or its equivalent, is highly desirable.
Applicants usually plan to take the Connecticut bar examination during the July after they commence their clerkships. This practice is for the convenience of the law clerks. Law clerks are not required to be members of the Bar of Connecticut or any other state.
Applicants wishing to apply to the Chief Justice and/or Associate Justices should send an application packet to each individual Justice. All applications should be mailed to the Justice(s) at the following address: Connecticut Supreme Court, 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.
After the Justice has reviewed the letters and resumes, a reasonable number of candidates will be selected for personal interview in Hartford at the applicant’s expense.
Candidates for clerkships should understand that although they are hired by individual Justices, if such Justice becomes unavailable due to illness, retirement, or movement to another court, the clerk will be assigned to work for another Justice during the term of their clerkship.
Application for Clerkships with the Appellate Court of Connecticut
Notice: The Appellate Court does not offer
summer internships. If you are interested in pursuing a clerkship with the
Appellate Court upon graduation, please follow the instructions below.
NOTICE TO STUDENTS GRADUATING IN 2014
Approximately seventeen law clerks will be appointed for the 2014-2015 court year for the Connecticut Appellate Court, which functions as an intermediate appellate court. Most of the law clerks will be appointed for the nine active Judges of the Court, including the Chief Judge. The remainder will be hired to work for the retired Judges and Justices who sit by designation on the Court, or to work on motions filed with the Court.
The annual salary of each law clerk will be in the range of $59,076.41 - $59,824.21, depending on the classification of the position, to be paid semi-monthly, and the term of service is for a period of twelve working months starting on Friday, May 30, 2014. During June, the new law clerks will be working with the clerks whose places they will be taking for the next court year. After their service in June, the new clerks will not report again for work until Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Law clerks may take four personal leave days with pay during their term of service and they will have a bank of twelve sick days. Otherwise, there are no paid vacation days. Employment will terminate on July 31, 2015.
Applications should be addressed to the Honorable Alexandra D. DiPentima, Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, 75 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.
No applications should be submitted before July 1, 2013. Interested persons are encouraged to apply as soon after that date as feasible and all applications must be received not later than August 16, 2013. Interviews will be held on October 1 and 2, 2013.
The Judges endorse the principle of affording equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants. The basic qualifications for the position of law clerk are spelled out in this notice. It must be emphasized, however, that each Judge, in selecting law clerks, will be making an individual decision in which each will weigh those credentials that are felt to be most relevant.
An original and 11 copies of the following information should be included with the letter of application:
- A cover letter;
- A biographical resume;
- A certified transcript of grades achieved in law school, including, if available, information about class standing;
- A copy of any relevant scholarly writing; and
- At least two letters of recommendation from a faculty member with whom the student has studied or a letter of recommendation from a clerkship committee, or both. Letters of recommendation may be sent separately from the letter of application.
Applicants should expect to graduate in the first third of their class and have demonstrated proficiency in legal research and writing. Law Review experience, or its equivalent, is highly desirable.
Applicants usually plan to take the Connecticut bar examination during the July after they commence their clerkships. Law clerks are not required to be members of the Bar of Connecticut or of any other state.
Candidates for clerkships should understand that although they are hired by individual judges, if such judge becomes unavailable due to illness, retirement, or movement to another court, the clerk will be assigned to work for another judge or judges during the term of their clerkship.
The Judges will review the applications and decide which candidates should be selected for personal interview in Hartford at the applicant’s expense.