- Judicial Intern
In the United States, a judicial intern is usually a
law student or sometimes a recentlaw school graduate who provides assistance to ajudge and/orlaw clerks in researching and writing issues before the court. These positions are usually unpaid.Many judicial law clerks had one or two judicial internships while they were in law school. [ The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) Study on Law School Activities (Reported by Students Receiving an Offer for a Judicial Clerkship) http://www.nalp.org/content/index.php?pid=219#29 ] Judges also frequently hire previous judicial interns as judicial law clerks once these judicial interns finish their law school education. Among the most prestigious judicial internships are those in the federal courts and in a state's highest court.
Working as a judicial intern at any level of government is usually a means for a law student to gain practical legal experience and familiarity with the court operations. Judicial law clerk positions are more competitive and prestigious than judicial internship positions. However, a judicial intern can often exert the same impact and influence on the judge's decision-making process as a judicial law clerk. Similar to a judicial clerkship, a judicial internship can also open up many career opportunites.
A judicial intern's selection process is similar to that of a judicial law clerk. High grades, high class ranking, and relevant extracurricular activities such as membership in the law school's law review or being a member of the law school's Moot Court Board are usual and important criterion in selecting a judicial intern. [ The American Bar Association's Frequently Asked Questions page on Judicial Internship Selection Criterion http://www.abanet.org/litigation/jiop/faq.html ]
A judicial extern or extern law clerk are other titles that are commonly used for a judicial intern.
The American Bar Association Section of Litigation accepts judicial internship applicationsannually. [ The American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Programhttp://www.abanet.org/litigation/jiop/overview.html ]
References
External links
* [http://www.supremecourtus.gov/jobs/jip/jip.html The Judicial Internship Program at the Supreme Court of the United States]
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