Law Clerk Resume Example

A law clerk resume must showcase legal research, writing samples, and court exposure so ATS systems and judges' chambers see readiness for high-volume drafting under deadline.

Build My Law Clerk Resume Check My ATS Score

Law Clerk Resume Sample

A complete, recruiter-approved example you can use as a starting point. Open it in the builder to edit every line.

Law Clerk resume example rendered in the Pure ATS template — Built with the Pure ATS template

REID CALLAHAN

Judicial Law Clerk

New York, NY · r.callahan@email.com · (555) 447-9012

Summary

Recent law graduate and judicial law clerk with strong legal research and writing background. Drafted 25+ bench memoranda and case summaries for federal district court judges, with a note published in the law review on data privacy litigation.

Experience

Judicial Law Clerk · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

2024 - Present

Draft bench memoranda and proposed opinions for 25+ civil and criminal motions, briefing the presiding judge on case law and procedural posture
Conduct legal research on complex federal jurisdiction and evidentiary issues, cited directly in 4 published opinions
Review and cite-check draft orders for compliance with Bluebook and court formatting rules
Manage a civil docket of 120+ active matters, tracking filing deadlines in CM/ECF

Legal Intern · Legal Services NYC

2022 - 2023

Researched and drafted memoranda on tenant rights and housing law for 30+ pro bono client matters
Assisted attorneys in trial preparation for 3 housing court hearings, including exhibit organization and witness outlines
Interviewed 45 intake clients and prepared eligibility summaries used by supervising attorneys

Legal Research Assistant · New York University School of Law

2021 - 2022

Supported 2 faculty with Westlaw research for a casebook chapter on privacy torts
Verified and Bluebooked 400+ citations in draft law review articles before publication
Summarized 60+ appellate decisions into a searchable case digest used by faculty researchers

Education

J.D. — New York University School of Law · 2024

Skills

Legal Research, Bench Memoranda, Legal Writing, Westlaw, LexisNexis, Bluebook Citation, Case Analysis, Docket Management, Motion Review, Moot Court

Certifications

Admitted to the New York State Bar, Appellate Division First Department

Admitted to practice, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Admitted to practice, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Key Achievements

Notes Editor, NYU Law Review, shepherding 8 student notes through editing and publication

Semifinalist, Marden Moot Court Competition, NYU School of Law

Use This Example in the Builder

Must-Have Keywords for Law Clerk Resumes

These are the keywords ATS systems and recruiters search for. Include them naturally in your Skills, Summary, and Experience sections.

Legal ResearchBench MemorandaLegal WritingWestlawLexisNexisCase AnalysisDocket ManagementMotion ReviewCitation CheckingJudicial OpinionsMoot CourtLaw Review

The Right Resume Structure for Law Clerk Roles

ATS systems parse your resume top to bottom. The order of your sections matters — here is the order that works best for Law Clerk applications:

1Contact Information
2Professional Summary
3Education
4Legal Experience
5Publications & Honors
6Skills

ATS Optimization Tips for Law Clerk Resumes

Lead with class rank, law review, or moot court honors if you're a recent graduate — clerkship hiring weighs academic credentials heavily.
Quantify research output: "Drafted 20+ bench memoranda" shows volume and reliability under deadline pressure.
Name the specific courts or chambers you've supported, without confidential case details, to show relevant venue experience.
Mention citation-checking and Bluebook proficiency explicitly — chambers and firms filter for this exact skill.
Include any published note or comment from law review with the title, since publications are strong ATS and human differentiators.
Highlight writing competition placements or CALI awards — these are concrete proof points beyond GPA.
Keep the resume to one page and lead with education above experience if you're within 1-2 years of graduation.

Ready to Build Your Law Clerk Resume?

Start from this pre-filled Law Clerk example — it already has the right keywords, format, and structure. Edit every line in the builder.

Start Building Free Browse All Examples

Related Resume Examples

Associate Attorney

Litigation Attorney

Paralegal

Legal Assistant