Many Cornell Law School graduates clerk in federal or state courts either directly after graduation or after one or more years of practice. Our typical JD class size is approximately 200 students, and 20-24% of recent classes have obtained at least one clerkship within six years after graduation. For example, as of May 20, 2022, the following percentage of each class had clerked or secured a clerkship:

In the most recent six years, an average of 54 graduates, including both new graduates and alumni, have started a new judicial clerkship each year. Data on the number of Cornell Law School graduates starting new clerkships in each calendar year, based on self-reporting, is below.

 201620172018201920202021
U.S. Supreme Court   1  
U.S. Circuit9815171315
U.S. District142725342715
U.S. Magistrate422652
Other Federal1438261
State Supreme Court414461
State Appellate271342
State Trial253117
Foreign111 1 
Total405459686343

1 “Other Federal” includes courts such as International Trade, Tax, Bankruptcy, and Federal Claims, and administrative agencies.

Last updated: December 12, 2022