Law students get face time with Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera ’84 at the annual Judicial Reception.
Ranked 6th nationally in judicial clerkships, Maryland Carey Law sends more than 30% of its new graduates into highly competitive positions clerking for judges.
“Students hear from me all the time about the value of clerkships,” says Dean Donald B. Tobin, who himself clerked for the Hon. Francis Murnaghan Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. “These prestigious opportunities enable graduates to sharpen their legal skills and cultivate relationships that will benefit them throughout their careers.”
That’s because clerking provides unparalleled access to the judicial process from inside the judges’ chambers. Working either “at the elbow” of a single judge or for a pool of judges for a one- or two-year post-graduate stint, judicial clerks provide research and writing to help prepare judges for their cases, and attend oral arguments, hearings, and conferences. Just as important, judicial clerks have the opportunity to build relationships with judges, many of whom become steadfast mentors to their clerks.
“I take, and I know my colleagues take, the mentoring responsibility really seriously,” says the Hon. Douglas Nazarian, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. “I view the clerks I hire each year as being part of an extended network and extended family.”
Xheni Llaguri ’15, an attorney advisor for the Department of Justice, clerked for the Hon. Alexander Wright, Jr., Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, and the Hon. Charles B. Day, United States District Court for the District of Maryland. She says one of the most important gains from clerking is the “invaluable guidance and mentoring you receive from your judge.”
“You will grow as an attorney as you rise to meet the judge's expectations and leave the clerkship more detail oriented, a stronger writer, and overall a better attorney,” adds Llaguri.
Early-career attorneys who have clerked are particularly attractive to employers because the work helped them hone their research and writing skills and become court insiders, having networked intensively with judges, attorneys and court staffers.
Amber Hendrick ’13 is a litigation associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP in its Columbia, South Carolina, office. Prior to joining the firm, she clerked for the Hon. Kendra Y. Ausby on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, the Hon. Margaret B. Seymour on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the Hon. J. Michelle Childs on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
“When I began searching for post-clerkship employment, I found that a lot of the employment opportunities for which I was applying looked very favorably on candidates with clerkship experience,” says Hendrick. “My clerkship experience, especially with judges that our attorneys frequently appear before, made me an attractive candidate for the job I now have and has made me more marketable both within the firm and with firm clients.”
Maryland Carey Law’s success at placing students in these coveted positions can be attributed to the high caliber of students attending the law school and an extensive support system for those looking to secure a clerkship.
On the Career Development Office staff is a dedicated director of judicial clerkships who provides resources and one-on-one counseling to help students identify positions and navigate the application process.
“I will be forever grateful for all the help I received from professors and the Career Development Office at Maryland Carey Law for helping me during the clerkship search and application process,” says Hendrick. “Throughout the process, I was able to turn to multiple people within the law school for advice, resume and cover letter help, letters of recommendation, and interview preparation.”
Maryland Carey Law also provides opportunities for students to network with members of the judiciary at events such as the annual Judicial Reception, which this year drew more than 50 judges, including four chief judges. Additionally, members of the judiciary regularly visit the law school to speak on panels and judge advocacy team competitions. Each year, the law school hosts the Maryland Court of Special Appeals as judges hear real cases in the law school’s ceremonial courtroom and answer students’ questions afterwards. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit also hears arguments at the law school.
In addition, supportive Maryland Carey Law faculty, whose recommendations are vital to attaining a clerkship, participate in panels and one-on-one advice sessions geared toward preparing students to pursue clerkships.
Moreover, Maryland Carey Law’s advantageous location in downtown Baltimore offers convenient access to federal, state, and city courts both on foot and by public transportation. The school’s location is particularly helpful when students take advantage of opportunities for judicial internships, which are also highly encouraged as a pathway toward clerkships and for which students can earn course credit through the school’s Asper Judicial Fellowship program.
Proximity to Washington, DC and nearby states with a diversity of opportunities also benefits students seeking clerkships.