Strong Clerkship Tradition

USC Gould grads consistently secure prominent federal clerkships 

-By Gilien Silsby

It lasts only a year, but judicial clerking is a career-altering experience that can’t be duplicated at a law firm, public interest group or corporation.

Dean Andrew Guzman highlighted the unique experiences that recent law school graduates will have by working as judicial clerks.

“It’s something you’ll only do one time in your life,” said Gould Dean Andrew Guzman, who clerked for Juan R. Torruella, chief judge of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “It’s tremendous opportunity to see the law in action.”

At the annual Fall Judicial Clerkship Reception held recently, dozens of 1Ls gathered in USC’s Town & Gown to hear why they should consider working as a judicial clerk after graduating from law school.

On hand to persuade them were attorneys from 10 of Los Angeles’ most prominent law firms, each a sponsor of the annual clerkship event. USC Gould grads consistently secure prominent federal clerkships including positions in the 3rd, 5th and 9th Circuits of the U.S. Courts of Appeals.

“While many, many people have said that they wished that they had clerked, I’ve never met a clerk who said they wished they hadn’t,” said master of ceremonies Dave Walsh ’85, a partner at Morrison & Foerster and a member of the law school’s Board of Councilors’ Clerkship Committee.

USC Gould alumnus Matthew Cave ’11 said clerking will prepare students for any legal job.

Sponsoring the event were Paul Hastings; Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP; Simpson Thacher; Morrison Foerster; Gibson Dunn; Irell & Manella LLP; Sidley Austin LLP; Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; Kirkland & Ellis and O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

USC Gould alumnus Matthew Cave ’11, an associate with Simpson Thacher and co-chair of the Clerkship Committee, said clerking will prepare students for any legal job.

“It's a different perspective than anything you can get in law school, and most of what you'll get as a young lawyer out there working in public interest or at a law firm,” said Cave, who clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Alicemarie Huber Stotler. “Then, when you begin to practice, you're going to have such a greater understanding of why you're doing the thing you're doing when you're assigned what seem to be isolated tasks.”

That’s one of the reasons Rowley Rice ’16 pursued a clerkship. Next year, he will clerk for U.S. District Judge James Selna and then for 9th Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta. "I decided to pursue a clerkship because every professor I've had and every attorney I've worked with recommended it. It's the best way to improve your writing and research. Finally, clerking teaches you to think like a judge—there's no more valuable skill for a future attorney," said Rice.

Students mingle with Gould alums

Judicial clerks spend a year writing briefs and analyzing legal arguments for a judge. They learn how to analyze cases like a judge, and get to see some stellar lawyers in action, said Michael E. Bowlus ‘15, who is currently clerking for Judge Carlos T. Bea, a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

“The judge relies on us to aid in the decisional process,” Bowlus said. “We scour the record, research the cases, and help the court reach the right decision. It is important work and an excellent opportunity for a recent law school grad to put legal skills to use.”

Bowlus said that USC Gould prepared him well for the clerkship. “I would not be clerking on the Ninth Circuit without USC. I extensively relied on both the Clerkship Committee and the alumni network when I was researching clerkships. The classroom experience at USC also really helped me succeed as a clerk,” he said.

Lybby Carroll, chair of the Faculty Clerkship Committee and director of Legal Writing & Advocacy, said a judicial clerkship is one of the most rewarding and prestigious post-graduate opportunities available. “A clerkship is a tremendous honor and an impressive asset for any legal career path,” she said.

Carroll said that benefits of clerking include:

- Clerkships are highly valued by law firms and other legal employers.

- Clerkships provide incomparable training to improve your writing, research, and analytical skills.

- Clerkships offer behind-the-scenes exposure to the judicial decision-making process.

- Clerkships afford a unique opportunity to help shape the law.

- Clerks form lifelong mentoring relationships with their judge and fellow clerks.