Thank you for your interest in Columbia Law School. The Office of Judicial Careers (OJC) is one of three career offices at Columbia Law and collaborates with faculty, staff, alumni, and judicial employers to place students and alumni in judicial clerkships and internships. We also host judicial panels and lectures to introduce and inform our students about the courts and their work. This guide sets forth OJC’s best practices for judicial employers.
For private sector corporate job opportunities, please contact the Office of Private Sector Careers. For public interest/public service work opportunities, please contact the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers.
To post a clerkship or judicial internship opportunity, visit Symplicity, our internal job board. Job announcements may also be sent to [email protected] and are added to Symplicity within one to three business days of receipt. Dawn Moore, OJC’s judicial liaison coordinator, is happy to help.
Summer Judicial Internships
Every year approximately 10–15% of the 1L class at Columbia Law School obtains a summer judicial internship. Rising 2Ls usually intern with a judge for 8–10 weeks starting in late May or early June. As judicial interns serving the public interest, our students are eligible to receive Columbia Summer Funding.
Judicial Externships for Academic Credit
Columbia Law School’s Externship Office supervises three judicial externship courses for our 2Ls and 3Ls: an appellate externship at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit; a district court externship at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; and a district court externship at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. These externships are taught and/or administered by judges who sit in these courts and serve as adjunct faculty or externship supervisors at Columbia Law. Please contact Liliana Vaamonde ([email protected]), director of externships and field-based learning, if you have questions about participating in one of these externships or would like to propose a similar externship opportunity at your court.
Independent Study for Academic or Pro Bono Credit
Independent judicial internships may qualify for academic or pro bono credit. A 2L or 3L may earn credit for supervised experiential study by undertaking a substantial project that requires the exercise of professional skills under the supervision of a Columbia Law School faculty member (including visiting and adjunct faculty). Students working with a judge during a semester may be eligible to receive academic credit. Students may also seek to provide pro bono hours to a judge or court as an intern or extern. These opportunities are independently arranged by the student, under faculty supervision. OJC is happy to help you post such an independent judicial internship or externship position.
- Job description
- Job location
- Salary/compensation or unpaid/volunteer/academic credit
- Length of employment (i.e., summer, limited term, or permanent position)
- Application materials required (i.e. cover, letter, resume, writing sample(s), transcript, recommendation letters, or references)
- Email or mailing address where applications should be sent
- Application deadline or indication that applications will be accepted on a rolling basis
Model job postings for both judicial clerkships and internships can be provided upon request to [email protected].
OJC actively solicits applications from Columbia Law candidates. Information about the latest vacancies is circulated to students and alumni via email, newsletters, and other platforms. We encourage judicial employers to schedule a call with Andrea Cristina Saavedra, assistant dean for judicial clerkships and judicial relations, or Dianisbeth Acquie, assistant director for judicial clerkships, to discuss your particular search and how OJC may be of service.
Bundling services are available upon request to accommodate employers that prefer to receive all job applications from candidates in one packet (with recommendation letters included).
OJC works with faculty to ensure timely production and delivery of recommendation letters. Inquiries regarding letters of recommendation should be sent to [email protected].
Curious about our talented students? Interested in collaborating with OJC to host an event?
Contact Dean Saavedra to discuss our clerkship candidates, placement services, speaking engagements, or how we may assist you further. The Faculty Clerkship and Judicial Relations Committee provides institutional support and guidance to applicants and welcomes the opportunity to connect with you as well.