Massachusetts Judicial Clerkship Contact Information

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/supremejudicialcourt/)

On September 1, 2008, the Supreme Judicial Court will begin accepting applications for
clerkships for the court year that begins Monday, August 31, 2009. Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and no later than October 31, 2008. The Justices will interview and may make offers on a rolling basis beginning on September 1; favorable action on early submitted applications may foreclose consideration of those received later. For law clerks who graduate in 2009 the salary will be $57,814.86.

Each candidate must submit: (1) a current résumé; (2) an official law school transcript (an unofficial transcript may be sent with résumé); (3) a writing sample not to exceed ten pages and not edited by another; and (4) two letters of recommendation from law school faculty members. The candidate should arrange to have the law school send an official transcript directly to the Court's Hiring Coordinator. Letters of recommendation may be sent after the candidate's initial submission of materials, but the candidate may not be considered until the letters are received.

After applying, additional law school grades should be sent to the Hiring Coordinator promptly, and the law school advised to transmit to the Hiring Coordinator an updated official transcript. The candidate also should advise the Hiring Coordinator of any other significant developments bearing on his or her application. All materials should be sent to Anne Walker, Hiring Coordinator, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Suite 2200, Boston, MA 02108.
Candidates may indicate a preference to apply as a law clerk for a specific Justice or Justices. If the candidate would like to apply to a particular Justice, the letters of recommendation may be addressed to that particular Justice.

List of Judges Link: http://www.mass.gov/courts/sjc/justices/index.html

Employment Opportunities Link: http://www.mass.gov/courts/sjc/employment.html

Massachusetts Appeals Court (http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/appealscourt/index.html)
The Massachusetts Appeals Court expects to hire approximately thirty law clerks for the 2009-2010 court year (September 1, 2009, through August 31, 2010). The current annual salary is $49,155. The Appeals Court is a court of general appellate jurisdiction, with a large caseload in both criminal and civil matters. Created in 1972, it currently comprises a Chief Justice and twenty-four associate justices. From time to time, retired appellate justices also serve. The Chief Justice has two law clerks; the other justices have one. There is a centralized application process. Persons interested in law clerkships should apply by sending a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, and two or more letters of recommendation (letters from employers are recommended). Include your e-mail address. The Trial Court application form and writing samples are not essential with the initial application.

pplication materials should be sent to:
Frank Mockler
Managing Attorney
Massachusetts Appeals Court
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square, Suite 3500
Boston, MA 02108-1767
frank.mockler@appct.state.ma.us

It is not necessary to apply separately to each justice. One packet of materials should be postmarked or submitted between August 15 and September 30, 2008. (Letters of recommendation, addressed to Frank Mockler, can be and often are sent under separate cover.) Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis in September and October, and final selections are usually made in November. Applicants should demonstrate superior academic achievement, an ability to work professionally and independently, and an interest in legal research and writing.
Address: John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108

Telephone: 617-725-8106

Fax: 617-523-2845

List of Judges Link: http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/appealscourt/justices.html

Employment Opportunities Link: http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/appealscourt/lawclerk_hiring.html

Massachusetts Superior Court (http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/superiorcourt/index.html)

Interested candidates should submit the following:

1. Cover Letter. Cover letters should be addressed to Linda Layne, Manager of Legal Research Services or Romeo Camba, Assistant Manager of Legal Research Services. Please note in your cover letter whether you wish to be considered for an Eastern Massachusetts clerkship or a Western Massachusetts clerkship.
2. Résumé.
3. Law School Transcript/Academic Record. The transcript should cover the applicant's first two years (three years for evening students) in law school and bear the registrar's raised seal.
4. Two Writing Samples. The writing samples should demonstrate the candidate's ability to analyze legal problems and apply legal principles to factual settings. W riting samples should not be lengthy; five to seven pages are sufficient. They must be solely the work of the candidate and may not be edited by another.
5. Two Recommendations. Two personal letters of recommendation which evaluate the applicant's organizational skills, character, and legal research and writing abilities are required. A letter addressed "To Whom It May Concern" will be accepted only if it is dated after January 1, 2008 and assesses the candidate's legal skills. Letters of endorsement from a law school Judicial Clerkship Committee are welcome, but do not substitute for one of the two required letters of recommendation.
6. Self-addressed Stamped Envelope. Please submit a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like our office to acknowledge the completion of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all materials are either postmarked or received by September 19, 2008. Only applications received by September 12, 2008 will be acknowledged as received.
7. Trial Court Application. You can obtain a trial court application at any Massachusetts state courthouse. You may also download the tria l court application from the internet at
   http://trialcourtweb.jud.state.ma.us/admin/hr/application.pdf.
   Applications will be accepted from June 1, 2008 through September 19, 2008. In order for your materials to be considered, your application must be received or postmarked by September 19, 2008. You are not required to send all materials in one package. Applications and inquiries should be addressed as follows:
   Linda M. Layne (if your last name begins with A-L) or
   Romeo Camba (if your last name begins with M-Z)
   Superior Court Administrative Office
   Suffolk County Courthouse, 13th Floor
   3 Pemberton Square
   Boston, Massachusetts 02108

The Committee will interview only those applicants considered most qualified. Interviews are conducted in the fall, and hiring decisions are usually made by the end of November. Applicants attending out-of-state law schools who wish to schedule an earlier (summer) initial interview should indicate this in their cover letter.

List of Judges Link: http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/superiorcourt/index.html#judges

Employment Opportunities: http://www.mass.gov/courts/sclawclerks/2009-2010prospectus.pdf