Seton Hall Law Ranks Number One for State and Local Clerkships

Seton Hall University School of Law is ranked as the best law school in the nation for securing a state or local clerkship after graduation, according to the Princeton Review. Rankings are based on school-reported data, including the percentage of J.D. graduates from the 2023 class who were employed in state and local clerkships.

Placing students in state and local clerkships is an ongoing priority of Seton Hall Law. The relationship with the law school and the local judiciary is strong. In addition to supporting the clerkship pipeline, Seton Hall hosts an annual judges reception, judicial guest lecturers in class and for special events, and on-campus recruiting to help place judicial clerks, post-clerkship. Newly appointed New Jersey Associate Supreme Court Justice, Michael Noriega, J.D.’02 greeted students at Orientation and welcomed them to law school and the legal profession. The first-year Lawyering class also had a conversation with the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court at the end of the year to discuss the benefits of clerking after graduation.

To prioritize Seton Hall students receiving a post-graduate clerkship, the Office of Career Services is actively participating in a task force led by the New Jersey Judiciary focused on streamlining the application process for students while increasing the number of applications that the judges receive. Many employers have expressed a strong preference for hiring first-year associates who have first completed a judicial clerkship because of the unique and valuable training experience it provides.

When asked about the benefits of clerking, Assistant Dean Pirone-Palumbo of the Career Services Office said, “We are so proud to be ranked number one in the country for placement in state clerkships. A clerkship provides an excellent experience for our graduates who are beginning their legal careers. Not only does it provide a new attorney with the opportunity to hone their legal research, writing, and analytical skills, but it also provides them with a mentor in their judge, a behind-the-scenes look at how a case is adjudicated, and the chance to observe and network with attorneys who appear in the courtroom.” Clerkship applications open at the end of a student’s second year, and the Office of Career Services assists students to secure interviews and offers by hosting mock interviews and reviewing important application documents like resumes and cover letters. Professors assist students seeking clerkship by providing recommendations and reaching out to judges who are interested in hiring from Seton Hall.

The Office of Career Services also encourages students to obtain a judicial internship throughout their legal education. Dean Pirone explains, “at Seton Hall Law, we appreciate our continued partnership with the Judiciary in launching our students into the legal profession with the skills and experience necessary to become successful attorneys.” Over 96% of Seton Hall students are employed after a clerkship, and 65.5% of those obtain jobs at law firms (numbers based on class of 2022 data).