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What do you have to do to become a law clerk?

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Doc’s Answer

Jessica most judges prefer law clerks who have some experience with legal procedures and research. Serving an internship or working in a law office while preparing to take the bar exam can satisfy this requirement. The prospective law clerk should accept work that builds research and legal writing skills. Once hired by a judge, a law clerk my become a senior law clerk and mentor or train new clerks, or seek to advance their law careers by joining or starting a private law firm.

STEP 1.) OBTAIN YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DREGEE
Before enrolling in law school, a prospective law student must first earn an undergraduate degree. Law schools generally don't have requirements as to a specific degree field or course of study. However, law schools can only afford to accept the best applicants, so the pre-law student should maintain a high grade point average in his or her undergraduate program.

STEP 2.) TAKE THE LSAT & APPLY TO LAW SCHOOL
Before being accepted into law school, aspiring laws students must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and pass with a minimum required score. This test features three multiple-choice sections covering reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. There's also a written essay section which isn't graded but rather submitted to law schools along with the test scores. Applicants are generally required to sign up for the Credential Assembly Service, which administers the LSAT and assembles the student's Law School Report. This report contains the applicant's LSAT scores, undergraduate transcripts, and grade point analysis, as well as the student's letters of recommendation and his or her personal essay. The law schools to which the student applies access this report when making admissions decisions.

STEP 3.) EARN YOUR JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE
Once accepted into law school, it's time to obtain a Juris Doctor degree. It generally takes three years of full-time attendance to graduate law school. Courses generally include civil and criminal law and procedures, contract law, torts, legal writing and research, constitutional law, ethics, and specialty law courses. Those who aspire to work as law clerks should choose classes that will build their skills in legal research, writing, and judgment.

STEP 4.) PASS THE NEW YORK BAR EXAM
Law school graduates must take the state bar exam before being able to practice as a lawyer. Since a judicial law clerk is often a lawyer, graduates who want to be law clerks generally must also pass the state bar exam. In some cases, a judge may hire a law school graduate who hasn't yet passed the bar, on the condition that the clerk take it.

Jessica prospective employers may also look for law school graduates who were active participants in various student groups, such as moot court or trial team, or who wrote for their school's law journal.

Hope this was Helpful Jessica

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Donna’s Answer

Law students often seek positions as law clerks. Not much pay probably but substantial experience. Some top notch firms are able to hire from the best schools, sometimes just for summer positions, others year-round. I don't remember it was that hard to get a job as a law clerk. I would try to get such a position with a firm that I wanted to work with as that is the hope that you can transition to an attorney. Don't take a job unless it is in an area of law that you hope to get into. You can always offer to volunteer for a very short period of time to show your capabilities. Also, talk to your law school advisor as openings are frequently posted with law schools.
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Edmund Larry’s Answer

Law clerks are typically law students who have completed at least one year of law school. They work as legal apprentices alongside experienced lawyers.

Getting a position as a law clerk can be a very competitive exercise. The law firms and corporations that hire law clerks seek out the best students at the most prestigious law schools.

Get guidance from your law school’s placement office. Also, many law firms and corporations have summer intern programs. Check in with law firms and corporations in the cities where you aspire to clerk and apply to be considered for their intern program.

Good luck!
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