In the 2021-2022 Academic Year, OJC, with the indefatigable support of faculty mentors, judicial and law clerk alumni, welcomed an inaugural cohort into the Initiative. As one inaugural participant stated: “[I] could not recommend [the Initiative] more to 2Ls. I felt much more prepared to apply for a clerkship, importantly because I knew a lot more about what a clerkship even was.” Yet another said “ I really enjoyed and appreciated the program. The things I found most helpful were the calendar [of events] and my professor mentor. I also really, really appreciated my alumni mentor and her insights. It was just really helpful to have these connections and people to talk to with questions [as I was going through the process].” And, importantly, one participant said that “[d]espite deciding not to move forward with a clerkship, I am glad I was able to learn more about the process, about what it means to be a clerk, what applying looks like, and to connect with my mentors and use their advice to inform how I am planning my future.”
The Initiative cohort also hosted judicial lectures at CLS, and enjoyed courtroom and chamber visits in Spring 2022 to the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The CDI also connected members with alumni mentors and, importantly, with each other.
The Clerkships Diversity Initiative (CDI), now in its third year, is a program for second-year Columbia Law School students interested in clerking and exploring opportunities in the judiciary. Students are paired with faculty, alumni, and third-year mentors to discuss clerkships and workshop application materials. Over the course of the academic year, CDI Scholars attend biweekly sessions and engage with different topics pertaining to the judiciary and judicial clerkships. In addition, the students attend court visits across New York City to meet with judges—this year, we have had the opportunity to visit the SDNY, the Second Circuit, and the Appellate Division, Second Department.