Just the Beginning Foundation: Judicial Externship/Clerkship Program

The purpose of the Judicial Externship/Clerkship program is to foster racial diversity among law clerks serving in the federal and state judiciary.  The program targets eligible minority and/or economically disadvantaged law students to assist them in developing skills necessary to succeed as judicial law clerks.  We encourage you to apply to the JTBF Judicial Externship Program if you are a rising second or third-year law student and wish to obtain an externship during the academic school year for either a modest stipend or course credit through your law school.  Please apply to the JTBF Judicial Clerkship program if you are a recent law school graduate interested in clerking after graduation. 

Summer 2008 applications are due by March 1, 2008. 


About the JTBF Judicial Externship/Clerkship Program

The Program is only open to rising second and third-year law students who plan to seek judicial clerkships after graduation. JTBF matches law students with federal and state judges across the country. The program encourages judges to provide law students with assignments that will enhance their legal research, writing and analytical skills, such as developing effective outlining techniques, drafting of memoranda of law, and briefing of judges about case-related issues. Students should complete at least one high quality memorandum of law or other key legal document each semester of the externship. Students are encouraged to interact with the assigned judge and chambers' law clerks.

Program externs receive a quarterly stipend in an amount determined by JTBF. Also, course credit may be obtained, depending upon the students' law school curriculum policy. To receive course credit, law students must perform the amount of time required by their respective law schools. Course credit, however, is not a prerequisite for participating in the Program. Law students may not receive academic credit and a stipend simultaneously.

The 2 Components of the JTBF Judicial Externship/Clerkship Prgoram

Academic year externships require at least a one semester commitment. However, many externship terms are for the full academic year. During the law school academic year, law students work a minimum of ten (10) hours per week on externship assignments to receive a quarterly stipend.

A limited number of summer externships are also available. Law students selected for a summer externship must perform at least thirty-five (35) hours per week of work during the summer for at least eight (8) weeks to receive a summer stipend.

Required Application Materials

You must submit the following to apply to the Program:

  1. Program Application Form  (this form may be submitted either online or a hard copy of this form may be printed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page)
  2. At least one letter of recommendation for externships; Two letters of recommendation for clerkship applicants. 
  3. Law school transcript  (unofficial transcripts distributed to the student are acceptable for extern applicants. Full time clerkship applicants must submit an official transcript)
  4. Statement of interest (250 words or less)
  5. Resume
  6. Writing Sample (Required for full-time clerkship applicants only)

How to Apply to the Program

There are three ways to submit your application to the Program:

  1. Online application form: You may click here and fill out and submit your application form online.  (Please note all applicants must submit a resume, official or unofficial transcript, letter of recommendation, and a writing sample (writing sample for full-time clerkship applicants only) by either email to dirons@jtbf.org or by regular postal mail to Darice Irons.) 
  2. Email: You may print the application form and email an attachment of the completed application in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format to dirons@jtbf.org. You may also submit a scanned copy of your official or unofficial law school transcript via email.  In addition, law professors (or other recommenders) may send an electronic copy of their recommendation letter by email, but please make sure that the full name of the applicant is included in the subject line of the email to ensure correct processing and filing of the letter of recommendation.  Finally, you may submit your statement of interest as a separate attachment to your email.
  3. Regular mail:  Applicants may submit their application materials via postal mail to the following address:
    Darice Irons
    Director, JTBF Judicial Externship/Clerkship Program
    233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6600
    Chicago, IL 60606

JTBF Share the Wealth Judicial Clerkship Program

The JTBF Share the Wealth Judicial Law Clerk Program is a judicially organized referral program for a select group of law students who apply and are invited to interview with the JTBF judges panel in Virginia.  JTBF judges pre-screen qualified law student applicants by conducting group interviews, and impressive applicants are either offered positions with Share the Wealth judges or are referred to minority and non-minority judges who contact JTBF and are interested in hiring one of our applicants.

To learn more about the JTBF Share the Wealth Judicial Clerkship Program, participating judges, and how to apply, click here. 

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