Judicial Externships

Think about what you are hoping to take from this experience

A judicial externship is a special opportunity to see how justice is administered. With the exception of post-grad clerkships, this is one opportunity many will not have again in practice. That said, you should consider what your goals are for the experience as it will help guide where you apply (both geographically and to what court), and if another experiential opportunity might better serve your larger career/ learning objectives.

Consider what level of court you want to be at

What do you want your interactions with the judge or clerk to be like? Do you want more research or more court observation?

• Trial Courts – SF Superior Court, U.S. District Judges and Magistrate Judges, Agency and Specialty Courts
• Appellate Courts – CA Court of Appeal, CA Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals

Research the Judges

• Research in the Externships office – read reviews from prior externs which outline how much time the extern spent with their judge, what their work load was like, etc.
• Look Online – Google and use WL/ Lexis to read their opinions.
• UC Law SF career site – Review the Summer Surveys for limited information on the placements and to see where UC Law SF students have worked previously.

Timing of Applications

The timing of reviewing applications and conducting interviews varies greatly by location and judge but a majority of hiring for the Spring Semester takes place in September and October. If you don’t have a placement by the end of October and are flexible about where you work, there will still be some positions available. With the exception of the online system for the U.S. Northern District http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/externships, there is no easy way to tell if a judge/ court has openings and when they are conducting interviews. Start by selecting five or so placements you would happily say “yes” to. If those don’t work out, then move on to additional placements.

What You Need to Submit

All chambers expect that you will submit a cover letter, a transcript (unofficial is fine), a resume, three references or letters of recommendation, and a 5-10 page writing sample. Some chambers have additional requirements, look for these in the posting or ask if there is anything additional when you contact chambers. If you are submitting via email, put all of the documents into a single pdf for the convenience of the court. As you know, proofread carefully, including your email note submitting your materials.

The classes officially designated as satisfying the pre- or co-requisite course requirements are as follows:

The following courses satisfy the pre-/co-requisite requirement for any externship:

• Advanced Criminal Law Seminar
• Advanced Legal Research
• Alternative Dispute Resolution and Settlement
• Capital Punishment Seminar
• Class Actions Seminar
• Courts as a Political Actor Seminar
• Criminal Punishment Seminar
• Judicial Process Seminar
• Negotiations and Settlement
• Negotiations and Mediation.
• Pretrial Practice
• Problem Solving & Professional Judgment
• Roles and Ethics in Practice
• Trial Advocacy I or II
• Trial Objections

If you have not taken one of the above courses and would like to choose a course which is more closely tailored to your externship, choose one of the following:

 Federal District and Circuit Courts:

Complex Litigation, Federal Courts, Federal Criminal Law, Federal Pretrial Litigation

 Any appellate court externship:

Appellate Advocacy

 Any California court:

California Civil Procedure

 California appellate courts:

California Appellate Process

 California family law courts:

Family Law

 Probate courts:

Wills and Trusts

 Bankruptcy courts:

Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Remedies

Keep in mind that these are pre- or co-requisites, and are intended to be completed before or taken during the semester of your externship. Only one of the courses listed above is necessary.  Students registering for summer externships for credit may complete an appropriate course in the fall semester.

TRIAL COURTS

SF SUPERIOR COURT- Each county in California has a trial court (Superior Court).  The Court is divided into Civil and Criminal Divisions.  Externs usually work part-time.  Externs research and write to assist judge in ruling on motions.  Writing experience may be less extensive than at other courts.  Opportunity to observe court proceedings.

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGES- Externs prepare “bench memoranda” to assist judge in ruling on various pretrial motions (civil and criminal).  Externs also draft dispositions on social security, habeas corpus, and prisoner civil rights claims.  Opportunity to observe courtroom proceedings.  Externs usually work full-time.

U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGES- U.S. Magistrate Judges are appointed by U.S. District Judges.  In the Northern District of California magistrates have their own case calendars as well as matters, such as discovery disputes or settlement, referred by district judges.  Externs prepare “bench memoranda” to assist magistrates in ruling on matters referred by district judges and related to their own caseload.  Externs may be full or part-time.

AGENCY COURTS & SPECIALTY COURTS – Often these courts don’t have clerks so externs have close contact with the judge. This allows you to specialize in an area of law. These placements may not offer a substantial writing experience, depending on the placement, and are generally part time.

APPELLATE COURTS

CALIFORNIA COURTS OF APPEAL- Extern researches issues presented in appellant’s and respondent’s briefs, reviews trial record, and drafts an opinion for the judge.  Cases are both civil and criminal.  Externs usually work full-time. Address cover letter to “Justice” before the Judge’s name.

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT- Extern often screen petitions for hearing and write “conference memos” recommending whether a hearing should be granted or denied (most are denied).  Some externs work on “calendar memos” for cases for which a hearing is granted — discussing issues in greater detail and recommending disposition.  Externs screen mostly civil cases. Externs usually work full-time. Address cover letter to “Justice” before the Judge’s name.

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS-NINTH CIRCUIT- Externs prepare “bench memoranda” to assist judge at oral argument.  Externs also draft “memorandum dispositions” and opinions following oral argument. Externs work full-time.

• U.S. District Courts
• SF Superior Courts
• CA Court of Appeals
• CA Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Application materials include cover letter, résumé, writing sample (5 – 10 pages), transcript and three professional references

(E)  Electronic Applications

www.cand.uscourts.gov

Click  Career Opportunities, then, Applying for Judicial Externships

U.S. District Courts

Dear Judge _____

William Alsup
Charles R. Breyer   (E)
Vince Chhabria
Edward M. Chen
James Donato- email jdexternapp@gmail.com
Susan Illston- email SI_Applications@cand.uscourts.gov
William H. Orrick
Richard Seeborg
Jon S. Tigar- email tigarexternapplicant@gmail.com
Pro Se Department- email Michael_deibert@cand.uscourts.gov
*Laurel Beeler
*Jacqueline Scott Corley (E)
*Maria-Elena James
*Elizabeth D. Laporte
*Joseph C. Spero
*Nandor Vadas (Eureka) (E)

Dear Judge ____

Saundra B. Armstrong- email Keith_Fong@cand.uscourts.gov
Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers (E)
Phyllis J. Hamilton
Jeffrey S. White
Pro Se Department  (E)
*Donna M. Ryu
*Kandis A. Westmore