Judicial Clerkship and Legal Intern Prep Guide

What a good one includes

• A detailed breakdown of court-specific jurisdiction rules, local rules of civil and criminal procedure, and the unique active docket pace of your specific bench.
• A structured bench memo template with clear sections for the procedural posture, questions presented, undisputed facts, and actionable recommendations for the judge.
• Annotated templates for drafting orders on motions to dismiss and summary judgment, highlighting common judicial phrasing and formatting preferences.
• A chamber protocol guide outlining email etiquette, phone screening procedures, confidentiality boundaries, and the precise chain of command among clerks and staff.
• A localized legal research and Bluebook citation cheat sheet that prioritizes the specific citation formats and database shortcuts preferred by your court.
• A brief dossier on your judge’s past notable rulings, writing style preferences, and known pet peeves in briefing.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on generic law school memo formats that fail to account for the specific judicial circuit's or state's preferred structure.
• Overlooking the strict confidentiality standards of chambers, which can lead to accidental disclosures or protocol breaches.
• Writing in an overly academic, verbose law-review style instead of the concise, plain-English voice required for actionable judicial orders.
• Neglecting to research the judge's specific standing orders and local rules before drafting your first memo.

Frequently asked questions