At a reception hosted by the law school, students had the unique opportunity to meet and network with judges and judicial law clerks from South Carolina’s federal and state courts. Held in the Perrin Family Lobby, the event provided an informal setting for students to learn about the judiciary and explore clerkship opportunities after graduation. For many students, it was more than networking; the occasion gave them a chance to understand what judicial law clerks do and what it takes to secure these coveted positions.
“Law clerks really are the judge’s right-hand person,” said Alyssa Smith (‘03), associate director of Career & Professional Development (C&PD) and Judicial Clerkships. “Judges rely on law clerks to help them make sure nothing is missed. It’s a fantastic opportunity for mentorship and growth between law school and entering the legal profession. Law clerks gain insight into how judges think, and they see lawyering in action.”
A judicial clerkship offers far more than a line on a résumé. Law clerks serve as trusted aides, working closely with attorneys, conducting legal research, and drafting detailed memoranda. These roles foster relationships with judges that often last well beyond the clerkship and strengthen legal skills while shaping successful careers.
“Speaking with judges and law clerks helped clarify the different paths to securing a clerkship,” said 2L Walker Clark, who is applying for federal clerkships and considering state court positions. “It also made the process feel much more approachable and encouraging. Opportunities like this are invaluable for building relationships and getting to know judges not just as professionals, but as people who truly care about mentoring the next generation of lawyers.”
Co-hosted with the Young Lawyers Division of the South Carolina Bar, the event drew nearly 250 attendees from across the state. Whether or not conversations between students and judges lead to judicial clerkships, the reception helped students build professional relationships that can influence their careers for years to come. As Smith, who served as a career law clerk for nearly 20 years, noted, “Before they were judges, they were practicing attorneys, many in areas students might want to pursue."
The opportunities to serve as a law clerk in the South Carolina judiciary are as diverse as they are rewarding. South Carolina offers clerkship opportunities at every level of the judiciary, from federal courts to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals to circuit courts and family court, a distinction that not all states share.
In 2023, former Chief Justice Donald Beatty (‘79) expanded judicial clerkship opportunities by launching the state’s family court law clerk program. Today, eight of the state’s 16 judicial circuits employ family court clerks, creating even more pathways for graduates to gain courtroom experience.
The judicial reception is part of C&PD’s broader initiative to demystify the judicial clerkship process and prepare students for success. This fall, C&PD hosted a three-part educational series titled “Court Is in Session,” which explored clerkship opportunities with judges in the federal, appellate, and circuit courts. The office also hosted “Coffee & Clerkships” with the Young Lawyers Division, where students gathered informally to learn from current and former judicial law clerks.
“What I really appreciated about this series is that it highlights how every court, judge, and clerkship is unique,” Clark said. “As with most areas of the law, it is valuable to hear as many perspectives as possible, learn from others’ experiences, and then form your own approach based on what aligns with your goals and strengths.”
Students who attended the events made new professional contacts and learned about opportunities they may not have considered before. Smith hopes to make the judicial reception an annual tradition, continuing to provide students with opportunities to connect, learn, and envision their future in the judiciary.
In addition to C&PD's networking events and educational offerings, the law school offers the Judicial Scholars Program, which provides one or two first-year students with a nine-week paid internship with the state’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Circuit Court. Judicial Externships, led by Stephanie Nye, give upper-level students the opportunity to spend a semester working directly in chambers for academic credit. Additionally, the Judicial Observation Experience (JOE), organized by Sharon Williams, places first- and second-year students with judges at all levels for two weeks during the summer.
Typically, 20-25 percent of graduates consistently accept judicial clerkships, a statistic reflected in the Rice School of Law’s No. 9 national ranking for state and local clerkships by The Princeton Review. This achievement underscores the strength of the alumni network and C&PD’s commitment to preparing students for practice.