Judicial Clerkships: A Unique Opportunity We asked current, past, and future judicial clerks to evaluate the clerkship experience. The verdict: "It will make me a better lawyer." Kristin Davis, one of the J.D. advisers at the Law School's Office of Career Services, takes a special interest in her work connecting law students with judicial clerkships because of the excellent experience she had when she was a clerk herself. 30 GARGOYLE Spring 2006 "Most people I know, myself included, think that clerking is the best legal job they've ever had," says Kristin Davis, whose work as a Career Service J.D. Adviser at the UW Law School includes helping students through the process of applying for judicial clerkships. Davis came to the Law School in August 2002, after serving for three years as an Assistant Director of Career Services at Harvard Law School. Her own clerkship experience, with Justice Linda K. Neuman of the Iowa Supreme Court, followed Davis's graduation in 1993 from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. "I decided to clerk because I had heard what a fantastic experience it is," she says. Davis applied at both the state and federal levels, and decided that a state Supreme Court clerkship would provide her with the best opportunity to observe the power of judicial decision-making. "I was not disappointed," she says, noting that her research and writing skills improved signifi- cantly, and that she worked on a wide variety of legal subjects that allowed her to discover new areas of interest.
Transcript
Judicial Clerkships:A Unique Opportunity
We asked current,past, and future judicialclerks to evaluate theclerkship experience.
The verdict:"It will make mea better lawyer."
Kristin Davis, one of the J.D. advisers at the Law School's Office of Career Services, takes aspecial interest in her work connecting law students with judicial clerkships because of theexcellent experience she had when she was a clerk herself.
30 GARGOYLE Spring 2006
"Most people I know, myselfincluded, think that clerking isthe best legal job they've ever had,"says Kristin Davis, whose work as a CareerService J.D. Adviser at the UW Law Schoolincludes helping students through theprocess of applying for judicial clerkships.
Davis came to the Law School in August2002, after serving for three years as anAssistant Director of Career Services atHarvard Law School. Her own clerkshipexperience, with Justice Linda K. Neuman ofthe Iowa Supreme Court, followed Davis's
graduation in 1993 from WashingtonUniversity School of Law in St. Louis.
"I decided to clerk because I had heardwhat a fantastic experience it is," she says.
Davis applied at both the state andfederal levels, and decided that a stateSupreme Court clerkship would provide herwith the best opportunity to observe thepower of judicial decision-making. "I wasnot disappointed," she says, noting that herresearch and writing skills improved signifi-cantly, and that she worked on a wide varietyof legal subjects that allowed her to discovernew areas of interest.
"Ultimately, my judge was thebest mentor I've ever had," saysDavis. "She took a keen interest inmy professional development, andalso became a good friend."
Davis's positive experience hasmade her an advocate for clerking.She is enthusiastic about carryingout the Law School's commitmentto provide support for studentsinterested in pursuing the uniqueopportunity of working for a judgefor one or two years.
Students seeking clerkshippositions that begin immediatelyafter graduation usually apply thepreceding fall. During the summermonths, as students prepare to sub-mit their applications, Davis main-tains an e-mail list-serve to sendout important information.
Most judges require studentsro submit a writing sample andthree letters of recommendationin addition to a letter of interestand resume. "Judges often want tosee an articulated reason as to whyyou want to come to their court,"says Davis.
"Things really ramp up inAugust," Davis explains. TheTuesday after Labor Day is the datejudges across the nation beginreceiving numerous applications.Most federal judges engage in aten-day "reading period" of all theapplications they have received, andthen begin inviting students tointerview for the positions.
After the applications havebeen submitted, Davis continues toadvise students on their interview-ing skills. She conducts mock inter-views with students and maintainsa file of surveys completed byalumni who have interviewed withjudges across the nation. Whenstudents receive offers from judges,Davis is available to answer addi-tional questions they may have.
•••
Three UW Law School alumniand one soon-to-be graduate haveshared their thoughts with theGargoyle about the applicationprocess, benefits of clerking, andrecommendations to students inter-ested in applying.
Eric Barber '04 clerked forWisconsin Supreme Court ChiefJustice Shirley Abrahamson imme-diately after graduation, and willbegin a clerkship with JudgeRichard Wesley of the U.S. Court ofAppeals, Second Circuit, in 2006.
Barber knew he wanted toclerk after law school for theopportunity it provides to observethe judicial decision-makingprocess. "Unless you become ajudge," he says, "it's the onlyopportunity to be on that side ofthe door." This perspective is valu-able to any attorney as an advocatefor clients, Barber says, adding, "It'san intellectual way to spend a year."
Barber had interviewed withJudge Wesley before accepting hisposition with Justice Abrahamson.He learned from Judge Wesley'sformer clerks that the judgebecame a valued mentor to each ofthem. Barber says he believes thesecond year will enhance the skillsand perspective he gained withJustice Abrahamson.
Barber recommends that stu-dents interested in clerking talk withpeople who have clerked, includingfaculty at the Law School.
"The application process takestime and the interviewing is strenu-ous," he recalls, "but all the effortsthat students make early in theirlaw school careers to prepare them-selves for judicial clerkship applica-tions are also the prudent coursefor any legal career path." Writingexperience and good law schoolgrades are both important, he says,as are strong letters of recommen-dation from law school faculty.
"Clerkships are a career-enhancing activity," Barber says,adding that practicing attorneysrecognize them as valuable experi-ences. "My clerkship experienceswill provide opportunities that Iwould not have had otherwise," hesays about future career goals.
•••Sarah Maguire '05 is currentlyclerking for Judge Richard Cudahyof the U.S. Court of AppealsSeventh Circuit Court. Maguirewill clerk for Federal District CourtJudge Kimba Wood of the SouthernDistrict of New York after her yearwith the Court of Appeals.
In her current position,Maguire does research for oralarguments, writes draft opinions,and researches issues for benchmemos. "Clerking requires a lot ofwriting," she notes.
Maguire says she enjoys theamount of interaction she has withJudge Cudahy, adding that shechose to apply to clerk for himbecause of his reputarion for beinga thoughtful mentor to his clerks.
"I think that clerkships arevaluable primarily because of thetype of work that clerks do,"Maguire says. "Clerks have anamazing amount of responsibility,and the learning curve is intense.The work we get is among the mostinteresting (and most contested) inthe legal profession. To do thatlevel of work fresh out of lawschool is a rare opportunity, andit's something to cherish."
Maguire recommends thatstudents interested in clerkshipsparticipate in writing-intensiveacrivities like law journals. "Judgeslook for how academic you are,"she says. She also advises studentsto think early about clerking andbegin developing relationshipswith professors, who will know
"Unless you become ajudge, it's the only oppor-tunity to be on that sideof the door."
- Eric Barber '04
the student's work when the timecomes for recommendations.
"The most valuable thingI've learned personally from theclerkship," Maguire says, "is thatit's one thing to analyze a problemacademically and quite anotherthing to apply the academics(which I love) to a living problem.My clerkship has, in some ways,taught me to temper rigorous legalanalysis with empathy."
•••Fitzgerald Bramwell '05 iscurrently clerking for U.S. DistrictCourt Judge Jennifer B. Coffmanof the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Bramwell says that in additionto having excellent grades andjournal and/or moot court experi-ence, students need to have some-thing special on their resume thatmakes them stand out. For exam-ple, judges asked him about hisexperiences as a Peace Corpsvolunteer during his interviews.
32 GARGOYLE Spring 2006
"To do that level of workfresh out of law school isa rare opportunity andit's something to cherish."
- Sarah Maguire '05
"You need to be more than abrain." Law students across thecountry applying for highly desir-able clerkship positions are all verybright, he says, and the ones whoget the positions are able to distin-guish themselves somehow.
Clerks are able to see thelegal process in a way that's verydifferent from that of a first-yearassociate at a large firm, Bramwellnotes. "Clerking is an opportunityto pull back the curtain and seehow the courts operate," he says."It's been a great experience so far."He enjoys the mentorship relation-ship he now shares with JudgeCoffman. "The experience is verydifficult to replicate."
He appreciates the opportun-ity to work with many differentareas of law, to conduct a substan-tial amount of research, and towrite draft orders for the judge."I always thought I was a goodwriter, but I'm still learning a lotabout how to write more clearlyand concisely," he says. He likesthe challenge of examining "two
"It will make me a betterlawyer. I am getting tosee what effective argu-ment looks like. "
- Fitzgerald Bramwell '05
well-briefed motions and an issuethat can go either way," and havingto make a recommendation to thecourt on how the case should beresolved. "This was a bit intimidat-ing at first," says Bramwell.
"The experience will make mea better lawyer," he says. "I am get-ting to see what effective argumentlooks like."
•••Lola Velazquez-Aguilu 3L willbegin clerking for Justice Alan Pageof the Minnesota Supreme Courtafter she graduates from the LawSchool in May 2006.
Velazquez-Aguilu says shedecided to clerk after law schoolbecause of the unique learningexperience it offers. "Clerks get tosee what moves judges to decidecases," she says. Velazquez-Aguiluwas also interested in clerking for theopportunity it provides to see theend stages of litigation that first-yearassociates at law firms do not regu-larly have the opportunity to see.
Clerkships can also be a goodway to make a transirion to a newarea of the country and, for appli-cants who have been out of lawschool for a few years, to anotherarea of law.
"More and more judges arelooking for people who have beenout of law school for a year ortwo," says Davis. "Some judgesprefer the experience that workingfor a year gives."
- Valerie Vidal
•••
Interested in clerking?
Recent graduateswho are thinking aboutapplying for clerkshippositions are encour-aged to contact KristinDavis for advising and
information on theapplication process.Call 608-262-6444,
"Clerks get to see whatmoves judges to decidecases."
- Lola Velazquez-Aguilu 3L
"Clerking provides rhe oppor-runiry to look ar law at an entirelydifferent level," she says.
•••This year, Kristin Davis will begindiscussing clerkships with first-yearlaw srudents in their spring semes-ter. The general mechanics of rheapplication process are describedon a Web page, where students cansee a lisr of the many alumni andLaw School faculry who have hadclerkships (see www.law.wisc.edu/career/JudicialClerkships.htm) .
Davis also encourages studentsto look into the opportuniries forjudicial internships, which areoffered through the Law School forsrudents who have completed theirfirst year. ''These are also a goodway for srudents to decide if a clerk-ing position after graduation is rightfor them," Davis says.The intern-ships are summer or semesrer-Iongpositions with judges at differentlevelsof the Wisconsin court system.(Seewww.law.wisc.edulclinics/JudicialInternshipProgram.htm. )
Patel Joins CareerServices Staff
Attorney Nilesh Patel '02 joined theprofessional staff of the Universiryof Wisconsin Law School's CareerServices Office as a career adviser atthe beginning of 2006.
Patel is a 1995 graduate of theUniversiry of California-Berkeley,and a 2002 graduate of the UW LawSchool. His undergraduate degree wasin political economy, with an emphasis
in human-resources management.After his law school graduation, Patel practiced with Hazelbaker
& Russell in Madison, focusing on labor and employment law andmunicipal law. In 2004-05, he practiced as a pension-rights attorneyat the Elder Law Center in Madison. Since 2003, Patel has been amember of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Diversiry Outreach committeeand its Minoriry Clerkship Program subcommittee.
As a law student, Patel had summer clerkship positions atWhyte Hirschboeck in Milwaukee and at Littler Mendelson's SanFrancisco office. He also participated in the Law School's clinicalLegal Defense Program.
"Nilesh's background and experience will make him an excellentcareer adviser to our students," comments Career Services DirectorJane Heymann. "He has already begun meeting with students,reviewing cover letters and resumes, and planning additional pro-grams for spring semester. Having another lawyer on our staff willenable us not only to increase the level of service that we provide tosrudents, but also to devote more time to employer outreach andexpansion of our alumni career network."
Foley Adds Law School DimensionTo UW-Marquette Basketball Rivalry
Spirits ran high at the UW Kohl Center on December 10 at the 112th meeting of the UWBadgers and Marquette Golden Eagles basketball teams. The Foley & Lardner law firmsponsored the game, in recognition of the two Wisconsin universities that have lawschools. The final score of UW 77 - Marquette 63 entitled the UW Law School to takehome the game ball, here in the hands of Dean Ken Davis. Celebrating the event, fromleft, are Marquette Law School Dean Joseph Kearney, Dean Davis, UW Regent Presidentand Foley partner David Walsh, Foley partner Marc Marotta, and UW Athletic DirectorBarry Alvarez.
Ifthe percentage of attorneys andlaw students was higher than
usual at the December 10,2005,men's basketball game at the UWKohl Center, there was a reason forit: the law firm of Foley & Lardnerwas sponsoring the game, andbrought along a contingent of fanson both sides.
To encourage camaraderiebetween Wisconsin's only two lawschools, the firm provided gametickets for Marquette and UW LawSchool students, faculry, and staff,as well as members and guesrs ofthe Foley firm.
Mastermind of the evenr wasFoley partner Greg Monday '93, ofthe firm's Madison office. "1wantedthe firm to sponsor a UW basket-ball game, and 1 thought aboutwhich game would be the most rele-vant to our practice," Monday says."The UW-Marquette game is sucha great in-state rivalry, and these arethe two schools in Wisconsin thathave law schools. Whenever thatgame occurs each year, the attorneysin our firm who are graduates ofthe schools are e-mailing back andforth, and 1 thought, 'This samething is probably happening in
firms allover the state.' "Monday's proposal was quickly
embraced by his colleagues. "Weliked the idea of supporting a bas-ketball game, because that helpsthe athletic department," Mondaysays. "But we also wanted toprovide a benefit to the academicsector, to turn it into a platformfor the law schools to get in touchwith their supporters. This way itwas a double benefit."
"At the pre-game luncheonin the Chancellor's Suite, we hadMayor Dave [Cieslewicz ofMadison] and Governor Jim
Doyle," Mondaysays. "That was anendorsement tosupport of thelaw schools."
At this l12thmeeting of the rivalschools on the basket-ball court, the scorewas UW77,Marquette 63. Thegame ball was award-ed to the UW LawSchool, and specula-tion is high as towhether this may bethe beginning of anew traveling trophybetween the two lawschools.
"It would be likethe Paul Bunyan ax,"Monday says, referringto the football trophythat travels between theWisconsin Badgers andMinnesota Gophers."But 1 don't know what[Coach] Bo Ryanthinks about that."
