Career Development Hosts Judicial Clerkship Panel

Students considering summer and post-graduation clerkships filled the College of Law Courtroom on Wednesday, March 12, for the Judicial Clerkship Panel. The panel of state and federal judges, representing the trial and appellate levels of the state and federal judiciary, and their law clerks, spent the hour speaking about the benefits of judicial clerkships and encouraging students to submit applications.

The clerkship panel was made up of the following state and federal judges:

• Chief Judge Glenn Acree, Kentucky Court of Appeals
• Judge Joseph Hood, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
• Judge Eugene Siler, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

The judges advised students that they should possess good writing and people skills, academic abilities, and be easy to get along with in order to get hired as a law clerk. The judges also mentioned that they like to see activities and interests on a resume that make the applicant stand out from the crowd.

“Something I really want to see is someone with a passion for the law,” said Chief Judge Acree.

The law clerks also gave great advice to current students, instructing them to take full advantage of the Career Development Office and externship opportunities. Kate Anderson said to make sure to “dress the part and be yourself,” explaining if she had not, she would not have received her current position clerking for Judge Siler, and her previous position with Judge Heyburn.

Judicial clerkships are a popular employment choice for UK Law students post-graduation, during the summer, or for externships. Typically between 15-25% of UK Law graduates choose state or federal judicial clerkships as their first job because of the valuable experience and the connections the graduates make. Judicial clerkships often open doors to future opportunities in the law.