FEDERAL LAW CLERK HIRING PLAN

Updated April 15, 2022

Participation in the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan pertains to the hiring of law school students with two full years of grades in accordance with the timeline set forth below. Students who attend law school part-time or who seek a dual degree may have a later law school graduation date but meet the requirement of having two full years of grades. The dates set forth below do not apply to law school graduates; judges can accept applications, interview, and hire graduates on their own schedule.

Graduating Class of 2023

For students who entered law school in 2020:

Judges will not seek or accept formal or informal clerkship applications, or seek or accept formal or informal recommendations, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 13, 2022. Judges also will not directly or indirectly contact applicants, or schedule or conduct formal or informal interviews, or make formal or informal offers, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 14, 2022.

A judge who makes a clerkship offer will keep it open for at least 48 hours, during which time the applicant will be free to interview with other judges.

Graduating Class of 2024

For students who entered law school in 2021: 

Judges will not accept formal or informal clerkship applications, or seek or accept formal or informal recommendations, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 12, 2023. Judges also will not directly or indirectly contact applicants, or schedule or conduct formal or informal interviews, or make formal or informal offers, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 13, 2023.

A judge who makes a clerkship offer will keep it open for at least 24 hours, during which time the applicant will be free to interview with other judges.

Graduating Class of 2025

For students who entered law school in 2022:

Judges will not accept formal or informal clerkship applications, or seek or accept formal or informal recommendations, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 10, 2024. Judges also will not directly or indirectly contact applicants, or schedule or conduct formal or informal interviews, or make formal or informal offers, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 11, 2024.

A judge who makes a clerkship offer will keep it open for at least 24 hours, during which time the applicant will be free to interview with other judges.

OSCAR Access Dates

Applicants from the graduating classes of 2023 and 2024 gain access to OSCAR to register for an account, upload documents, search for positions, and build applications on the dates listed below:

  • Graduating Class of 2023

    Applicants gain access to OSCAR on February 2, 2022 at 8 am EST.
  • Graduating Class of 2024

    Applicants gain access to OSCAR on January 9, 2023 at 8 am EST.