Earning your law degree can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities. According to the American Bar Association, nearly 88% of Class of 2025 law school students found full-time employment within 10 months of graduating.
While some graduates go directly into law firms, others gain legal experience through clerkships. Clerkships are highly sought-after roles that involve working closely with judges, courts, or legal teams.
They offer valuable experience within the judicial system, though compensation can be on the modest side. For law school graduates with significant student loan debt, this stage of their legal career may require careful financial planning.
Here’s a closer look at law clerkships, along with tips for managing your student loans while working as a clerk.
What is a law clerkship?
Clerkships are legal positions with a judge, court, or administrative agency. Responsibilities can vary, but they often include legal research, drafting and editing documents, reviewing case materials, and preparing briefings for judges.
Some clerks focus more on organizing and managing case files and documents, while others assist at trials and other courtroom procedures. These positions help you strengthen your legal skills, especially writing, analysis, and attention to detail. They also give you the opportunity to build close professional relationships.
You can find judicial clerkships at federal, state, and municipal courts, as well as specialized courts like the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Tax Court, and the Court of International Trade. Term clerkships usually last one to two years, whereas career clerkships don’t have a set end date.
Types of law clerkships
There are several types of clerkships for law school graduates.
Federal clerkships
Federal clerkships tend to be the most prestigious and competitive positions for new graduates. You often need a strong academic background and outstanding application to be selected for one of these roles.
Federal clerks work with judges in the federal court system, including district courts and appellate courts. Your responsibilities might include conducting legal research, drafting judicial opinions, reviewing case records, and preparing materials for hearings and rulings.
These roles can act as launchpads into successful legal careers, especially since a recommendation from a federal judge can go a long way. Note that federal clerkships usually only go to U.S. citizens; international students typically aren’t eligible.
State clerkships
With state clerkships, you work as a clerk within a state court system. These roles may not be as prestigious as federal clerkships, but they can still provide strong legal training and exposure to court proceedings.
State clerkships tend to be more accessible than federal clerkships, as there are more positions available. Similar to federal clerks, state clerks may work on legal research and writing, reviewing case files, and supporting judges in court.
Specialty clerkships
You can also find clerkships that focus on specialized areas of law, such as tax law. These roles are more limited, so reach out to your law school’s career services office early if you’re interested in a more specialized role.
How much do you make as a legal clerk?
Judicial law clerks earn an average hourly wage of $31.19 and annual salary of $64,880, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, salaries can vary quite a bit depending on where you work.
Some of the highest-paying states for judicial law clerks include:
- New York: $113,720
- Connecticut: $93,550
- North Dakota: $83,730
- Massachusetts: $83,590
- Washington: $78,460
Career clerks also earn a higher salary than term clerks as they gain more years of experience. Many early-career law clerks make modest salaries, though, which can make budgeting and student loan planning challenging during this stage.
Managing student loans during your clerkship
The average law school debt among borrowers is $137,500, which far exceeds the salary of many entry-level clerks. Here are a few ways you can manage your student loans during this time.
Apply for income-driven repayment
Federal student loans are eligible for income-driven repayment plans, which adjust your payments in accordance with your income. These plans also extend your loan terms to 20 or 25 years and can end in loan forgiveness.
An IDR plan may give you a monthly payment you can afford while you’re working as a clerk. Note that student loans borrowed on or after July 1, 2026 will only be eligible for a single income-driven plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan.
Postpone payments through deferment or forbearance
Pausing payments completely is another option. You can request to pause federal student loans through deferment or forbearance, but interest charges continue to accrue on most loan types.
Some private lenders also let you pause payments during this time. College Ave’s law school loans give you the option to fully defer repayment during clerkship.
Consider the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
PSLF will forgive your federal student loans after 10 years of working in public service at an eligible nonprofit or government organization. You’ll also have to make 120 monthly payments on an IDR plan.
If you’re planning to work in a public defender’s office or nonprofit legal organization, PSLF could offer major relief. Make sure to confirm your employer is eligible and keep track of your payment history along the way.
Explore refinancing for better rates
Refinancing your student loans means exchanging one or more of your loans for a new loan with a private lender. If you have strong credit, you could lower your interest rate, which could significantly reduce your borrowing costs.
Just be careful about refinancing federal student loans, because doing so means forfeiting access to federal repayment plans, forgiveness programs, and other borrower protections. If refinancing is right for you, you can check your rates online through prequalification, which won’t impact your credit score.
Create and follow a budget
Following a budget is also key when you’re working as a law clerk and managing living expenses and student loans. Budgeting helps you understand where your money is going, set limits on your spending, and identify areas to cut back.
If your salary is on the low side, you may need to cut costs by living with roommates, taking public transportation, or opting for groceries over dining out. You could also work on building an emergency fund that can help you get by when your clerkship ends and your job hunt begins.
Preparing for a clerkship after law school
Law clerkships can serve as a bridge between law school and full-time legal practice. You’ll gain practical skills and firsthand experience within the judicial system before moving on to take the bar exam and work as an attorney.
There are several types of clerkships, including federal, state, and specialty clerkship opportunities. Your law school’s career services office can help you navigate the opportunities and find your best fit.
You’ll also want to prepare for the potential reality of earning a modest salary while managing significant law school debt. Creating your repayment strategy and budget early on can help you manage your finances while you’re working as a judicial clerk.
