There are currently an estimated 14,000 judicial law clerks in the United States. The judicial law clerk job market is expected to grow by 5.7% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are judicial law clerks?

CareerExplorer rates judicial law clerks with a F employability rating, meaning this career should provide poor employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 4,200 judicial law clerks. That number is based on 800 additional judicial law clerks, and the retirement of 3,400 existing judicial law clerks.

Are judicial law clerks in demand?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects minimal demand and employment growth for judicial law clerks through 2022. Jobs in this sector have always been few in number, with robust competition for each position among law students. Following the 2008 economic recession, federal judges began to receive applications for term clerk and career clerk positions from lawyers with substantial experience. This led to increased hiring of seasoned lawyers in these roles because they have more to offer judges than law students or recent graduates. These trends indicate that the already-intense competition for judicial law clerk jobs will increase. Newly graduated candidates typically enhance their employability by involving themselves in law-related extracurricular activities and by finishing at the top of their academic class. Turnover in this popular field is low. Advancement depends on experience, skill in handling assigned responsibilities, additional education, and test performance. Some law clerks become chief deputy clerks or advance from city or county courts to state or federal courts.

What’s the supply of judicial law clerks?

The judicial law clerk industry is concentrated in Pennsylvania, Georgia, New York

Judicial Law Clerk job market by state

State Name Employed Judicial Law Clerks
Pennsylvania 1,060
Georgia 720
New York 710
Washington 580
Texas 560
New Jersey 540
Minnesota 430
Arizona 410
Ohio 380
Illinois 280
Connecticut 220
Michigan 220
South Carolina 160
Louisiana 150
West Virginia 150
Tennessee 150
Nevada 130
Missouri 120
Idaho 90
Virginia 90
Mississippi 80
Montana 80
Arkansas 70
Kentucky 60
Indiana 50
Oregon 40
Oklahoma 40
Nebraska 40
North Dakota 40