How long does it take to become a Law Clerk?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a law clerk. That is the time it takes to learn specific law clerk skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a law clerk.

Law Clerk vs Associate

A law clerk is an attorney that provides direct assistance and counsel to a judge, while an associate is a lawyer who works at a law firm under the firm's partners. A law clerk works with a judge by helping them make legal determinations and write opinions by researching issues before the court. They also draft trial briefs and other legal documents, review and verify briefs and legal authority, research and write bench memoranda, and orders.

What is a law clerk and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Andrea Schneider,

Jennifer Brobst

A law clerk provides legal research and support to lawyers and judges in a firm or court. They assist with drafting documents, conducting research, and analyzing legal issues. Law clerks also attend court proceedings and help to prepare for trials. They often work long and irregular hours and require strong writing, research, and analytical skills. Overall, law clerks play a crucial role in supporting the legal system and other legal professionals.

What general advice would you give to a law clerk?

Andrea Schneider

Professor of Law, Marquette University

Take every opportunity to network and volunteer. Make connections with leaders in your local and state bar organizations and those who lead legal service organizations in your area. Think about how your skills can be used in a variety of ways, and make connections throughout the community.

ScoreLaw ClerkUS Average

Salary

4.4

Avg. Salary $55,916

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.33%

Asian 10.29%

Black or African American 9.39%

Hispanic or Latino 17.81%

Unknown 8.28%

White 53.91%

Gender

female 47.46%

male 52.54%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a law clerk?

Pros

Potential for career advancement within the legal profession
Exposure to different areas of law and legal practice
Hands-on experience with legal writing and drafting
Possibility of flexible hours or part-time work
Chance to make a difference in the lives of clients or in shaping legal outcomes

Cons

High stress levels and pressure to perform well
Potential for limited job security or advancement opportunities
Possibility of low pay or limited benefits, especially for entry-level positions
Work may be repetitive or monotonous at times
Possibility of working under tight deadlines or in fast-paced environments

Key steps to become a law clerk

Explore law clerk education requirements

Most common law clerk degrees

Bachelor's

63.0 %

Doctorate

28.6 %

Master's

5.5 %

Start to develop specific law clerk skills

Skills	Percentages
Litigation	16.15%
Legal Issues	7.44%
Legal Memos	7.42%
Pre-Trial Motions	5.58%
Interrogatories	4.08%

Complete relevant law clerk training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New law clerks learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a law clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real law clerk resumes.

Gain additional law clerk certifications

Law clerk certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific law clerk certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for law clerks include Certified International Trade Law Specialist (CITLS) and MEDIC First Aid BasicPlus - G2010.

More About Certifications

Research law clerk duties and responsibilities

Hire specifically to perform legal research and write memorandums on probate cases, particularly those involving litigation.
Conduct legal research, draft various legal documents, including complaints, social security/disability appeals, settlement demand letters and subpoenas.
Research and draft affirmations in support, arbitration contentions, discovery responses, and attorney correspondence for insurance fraud litigation firm.
Value securities by performing company valuations utilizing DCF and multiples methods.

Prepare your law clerk resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your law clerk resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a law clerk resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable law clerk resume templates

Build a professional law clerk resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your law clerk resume.

Apply for law clerk jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a law clerk job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do law clerks rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Law clerk reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

I like the most is what the legal assistants typically do in their daily duites.

Cons

It is a profession that requires a high-studying level

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019