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Job outlook for judicial interns in the United States
Are judicial internship jobs in demand?
Judicial internship job and salary trends over time
Judicial internship jobs over time
Judicial internship job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,766 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,745 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,108 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,055 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,852 | 0.00% |
Average judicial internship salary over time
Judicial internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,523 | $24.29 | +6.5% |
| 2024 | $47,448 | $22.81 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $47,036 | $22.61 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $45,094 | $21.68 | --0.8% |
| 2021 | $45,472 | $21.86 | +2.0% |
Judicial internship jobs by state
Most common states for judicial interns
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 30 | 4% |
| 2 | California | 39,536,653 | 52 | 0% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 20 | 0% |
| 4 | New York | 19,849,399 | 20 | 0% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 15 | 0% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 14 | 0% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 13 | 0% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 12 | 0% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 4 | 0% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 4 | 0% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 2 | 0% |
| 12 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 2 | 0% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 1 | 0% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
Judicial Internship job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of judicial internship experts
The University of Illinois at Chicago
California University of Pennsylvania
University of Iowa
Drake University
University of California - Davis
Faulkner University
New England Law | Boston
Texas Tech University
Southern Illinois University
University of Connecticut
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Judicial Internship job market given the pandemic?
Mark Wojcik: The economy is in a "K-shaped recovery." Some businesses and industries are in the upper part of that "K," and they're doing well. Other businesses and industries are in decline -- the lower part of that "K." Law firms that represent clients in the upper part of that K are succeeding. These client companies are expanding and have legal work for firms.
Law firms also did well when their clients were able to take advantage of pandemic relief funding. These clients were often larger companies that benefitted from that government support.
I recommend that students and new lawyers get involved in bar associations. You'll be able to network and learn about which firms are doing well. Be active in a visible way -- volunteer to speak at an upcoming meeting or write an article for the bar journal or a committee newsletter.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Judicial Interns?
Brian Kohlhepp: Largely, this would be acquiring a Master's degree. Many folks obtain this degree for an advancement at their current employer or in order to make themselves a more attractive candidate to the overall job field.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Judicial Internship job market given the pandemic?
Bram Elias: Yes, definitely. (What will the enduring impact be? Ah. I have pretty much no idea. I happily defer to the wisdom of Melissa in Career Services!)
What soft skills should all Judicial Interns possess?
Bram Elias: So much of legal work is research, analysis and writing - so any job that involves learning new things and synthesizing what you've learned into a written final product is helpful, especially if you have to get work done on tight deadlines. Journalism is great. Advocating on behalf of others is great. Policy advocacy, politics, non-profit work - all great. Doing something you care about. For folks who haven't had any exposure to lawyers in their life, it can be useful to have some time seeing what lawyers really do all day so you know what you're getting into - so working as a paralegal, an investigator for lawyers, a translator for lawyers, or for a court system - all great. Really, any job at all is great, as long as it's a job you care about and want to do well. And no job at all is fine too! The most important thing is knowing why you want to go to law school in the first place.
What soft skills should all Judicial Interns possess?
Katie Atkinson Overberg: The pandemic has shown us how important it is to be a problem-solver, to be adaptable, and to be a team player. In addition, skills such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and resiliency will always add to a lawyer's talents.
How have salaries changed over time for Judicial Interns?
Katie Atkinson Overberg: Legal salaries vary greatly by employer size and geography. The Midwest, and Iowa in particular, has maintained a steady yet conservative increase before the pandemic and held steady during the pandemic, hoping to avoid the cuts and layoffs that occurred during 2008.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Judicial Internship job market given the pandemic?
Kevin Johnson: The job market continues to be robust. Hiring by many employers was put off from August to January. Besides the timing change, the hiring market has the hiring of our students has been steady.
What soft skills should all Judicial Interns possess?
Bryan Morgan: As mentioned earlier, the Class of 2021 can adapt and are also resilient which should help them succeed in their legal careers.
Peter Towne
Assistant Director of Career Services and Pro Bono CoordinatorNew England Law | Boston
Career Services Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Judicial Internship job market given the pandemic?
Peter Towne: The legal world has been fortunate in not being hit as hard by the pandemic as other sectors of the economy. As with others though, we've seen a big shift towards remote work and increased flexibility in the workplace location. Thankfully, even now with many courthouses shifting to remote hearings and appearances for the time being, the past year has proven that most legal work can be done in a remote capacity and so there are still jobs and opportunity to be had. A silver lining here as well is that anything that was litigation based and had significant slowdowns due to the initial shutdown, will still likely see consistent work increases moving forward due to the now mounting backlog in the court system that will keep litigators busy for years to come.
Also, we are likely to see other upward shifts in legal work similar to other economic down turns, as there tends to be an uptick in the kinds of legal work that helps sort out the challenges faced when things go poorly. In other words, any areas where there are widespread economic challenges, the fallout tends to create legal work. For example, we'll likely see increases in bankruptcy filings, mortgage/foreclosure related litigation, evictions/housing disputes, issues around unemployment benefits, and general consumer protection actions related to consumer debt and predatory lending practices. Interestingly, despite the challenges of the pandemic, another area that has seen consistent work is real estate, resulting from the positive impact of lower borrowing costs, and perhaps some urban flight. There also is likely to be a continued uptick in divorce filings and family law related disputes.
Long term there will inevitably be other unique or novel challenges that crop up that attorneys will be called in to assist with as a result of the current crisis. Some of these may be related to contract disputes in the entertainment industry or event planning, as well as possible changes in the insurance landscape relating to business interruption insurance, workers compensation coverage, or health insurance issues.
What's a good job out of college for Judicial Interns?
Paula Smith: The first professional legal job out of law school covers every area of law and every geography. Every legal job provides opportunity for growth and experience in the profession. Students choose law firms, government agencies, and public interest jobs according to their interest and passion. Some graduates work in civil litigation, others work in criminal prosecution or criminal defense. Some choose a more client-centered practice area including family law, personal injury, or legal aid services.
What's a day at work look like for a Judicial Internship?
Jennifer Brobst: Recent graduates who are newly employed will be relieved to learn that there is always some leeway given to the new hire, at least for a little while. Even the harshest supervising attorneys will put together some form of onboarding. If they don't, and a recent graduate working as a deputy prosecuting attorney, for example, is sent to court without instruction, then it will show if they appear lost as to what to do. It's a little humiliating, but the best of attorneys have been through it. Recent graduates need to be willing to be professional and ask court clerks, opposing counsel, judges, and others in the profession basic questions when necessary.
On the other hand, new attorneys in large firms may find the onboarding process frustrating if it is very extensive, as they may want to jump in the deep end and have more responsibility more quickly. If the pandemic continues to impact whether attorneys must work from home, it may be a little lonely at first, working remotely at a new job. However, this will be temporary, and all new attorneys hopefully will remember to appreciate that they have successfully finished law school and passed the bar, a major accomplishment, in itself. During the pandemic, attorneys have been considered essential workers and there is a reason for that. They genuinely are of service to their communities, especially in times of crisis.
Joseph McAlhany Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of HistoryUniversity of Connecticut
Department of History
What type of skills will young Judicial Interns need?
Joseph McAlhany Ph.D.: In recent years, the stereotype of millennials in the workplace had become something of a running gag: they required constant affirmation, were unable to function independently, and believed the workplace should accommodate their individual needs. Whatever grains of truth in that stereotype, it is clear that adaptability, flexibility, and independence are the skills they will now need, as workplaces will expect employees to be able to adjust to drastically different circumstances on the fly, and to do so without the necessary processes and structures already in place.