Judicial Clerkships Blog

Introducing CLWA’s Judicial Clerkships Series

Every year, CLS students and alumnae obtain some of the most coveted judicial clerkships in the country. This isn’t surprising given the impressive history of CLS women in the judiciary: from Constance Baker Motley ‘46, the first Black woman appointed to the federal bench, to Carmel P. Ebb Carmel ("Kim") ‘45, the first woman to hold a judicial clerkship on a U.S. Court of Appeals, to Rochelle Shoretz ‘96, believed to be the first Orthodox Jewish woman to clerk at the Supreme Court (for the late, great Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ‘59). 

Yet, more work is required to effectively cultivate the personal networks among CLS alumnae, faculty, and CLWA members, which are critical to attaining these coveted positions. 

This year, CLWA created its inaugural Judiciary Committee to strengthen the relationship with the Office of Judicial Clerkships and to help CLWA members navigate the clerkship application process. We hope that these efforts will help our community build a meaningful network of CLS women-lawyers excited and knowledgeable about the judiciary and the clerkship process. 

The new CLWA Judiciary Committee is chaired by CLWA Co-President Alexandra Valas ‘23, CLWA Inaugural Judiciary Chair Isabella Masiello ‘22, and 1L Judiciary Representatives Christinne Botvinnik ‘23 and Ashley Fleck ‘23.