Judicial Clerkships

Judicial Clerkship Success at Carolina Law

At UNC School of Law, judicial clerkships are a valued and well-supported career path. Twenty-five members of the Class of 2025 accepted clerkship positions in state and federal courts spanning the country. 

A Strong Pipeline of Federal Clerks 

Ten graduates from the Class of 2025 served in federal courts, clerking for federal judges in California, Vermont, Indiana, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.  

At publication, four of the ten federal clerks are embarking on a second federal clerkship, reflecting the growing prestige of Carolina Law’s pipeline. UNC Law sees its graduates head to federal circuit court clerkships after completing district court clerkships, including one who will join another Carolina Law classmate at the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2026. 

Thriving in State Courts 

Fifteen graduates from the Class of 2025 clerked in state courts across Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Among them, five served at the state supreme court level, and four secured positions at the prestigious North Carolina Business Court. Several will go on to federal clerkships following their state court appointments. 

How Carolina Law Supports Clerkship Success 

Carolina Law provides exclusive resources to help students secure clerkships, including: 

  • Access to a specialized career counselor who works closely with students throughout the clerkship application process, offering individualized guidance on strategy, application materials, networking, and interview preparation 
  • Specialized clerkship databases, with access to external paid resources like Leadership Connect and Firm Prospect 
  • Strong alumni and faculty mentorship, with Carolina Law graduates and faculty actively guiding students through the clerkship process 
  • Summer judicial internships and dedicated funding that enable students to gain firsthand experience in judges’ chambers, develop professional relationships within the judiciary, and build credentials that are highly valued in the judicial clerkship application process  

Thanks to the dedication of our alumni, faculty, and Dean Hessick, Carolina Law continues to build a strong and growing pipeline of judicial clerks. 

Interested in a clerkship? Explore our resources and connect with our Career Development Office to start your journey today. 

Careers