Clerkship Program
The Clerkship Experience
Clerkships, which generally last one or two years, provide a strong foundation for launching a legal career, and most legal employers (firms, government, legal academia and nonprofit) value clerkship experience. As a clerk, you have the opportunity to assist a judge with many aspects of the judicial process. You conduct legal research, write memoranda, draft opinions, observe judicial proceedings, and sit in on conferences. You gain an understanding of the legal process that can be learned only by working as a judge or as part of a judge’s chambers. It is a truly unique opportunity to have an impact on the law. And a major benefit of clerking is that you have the opportunity to develop a close relationship with a skilled and talented mentor. Such a relationship is likely to continue throughout your legal career.
A Tradition of Federal Clerkship Success
Post-graduate federal judicial clerkships are coveted positions, with law students and lawyers nationwide competing for limited spots. Year after year, LMU Loyola Law School (LLS) students and alumni secure these prestigious positions. Indeed, LLS placed students and alumni in 24 federal clerkships for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 terms. Another eight students and alumni have already secured federal clerkships this year for future terms. A key driver of this success is the Faculty Clerkship Committee, which provides individualized support to every applicant.
Building Career Off Federal Clerkship
Julien Kacou '17 was a clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit before becoming an associate at Skadden and now assistant general counsel for a family office. "The skills you learn while clerking translate to any practice area, and the experience offers a unique opportunity to discover what judges find persuasive and important."
Bankruptcy Court Clerkship an Important Building Block
"I consider my bankruptcy clerkship and the opportunity it afforded me to work through complex legal issues to be a crucial part of the development of my practice," said Michael Jimenez '20 of his time clerking for a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge. He is now commercial counsel at Longroad Energy.
Deputy AG Got Start as Fifth Circuit Clerk
Chris Kissel '20 was a judicial law clerk to the Hon. James E. Graves Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, who delivered the keynote address at LLS' 2024 Commencement ceremony. Kissel is now a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice.
Featured Faculty and News
Clerkship Committee Chair Draws on Own Personal Clerkship Experience to Help Students
Professor Amy Levin, chair of Loyola's Faculty Clerkship Committee, clerked for the Hon. Richard A. Paez, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, during 2002-03.
A crucial piece of experiential training, clerkships are a vital part of the story of LMU Loyola Law School.