Judges say ‘fit’ and ability outweigh politics in law clerk hiring

By Karen Sloan Oct 12 (Reuters) — Despite a perception among US law students that politics plays a key role in judicial clerk hiring, judges themselves say political ideology is not a top factor, according to a new study on how judges pick their clerks. Instead, judges say they seek to identify law students and recent law graduates who can meet their demands while getting along with everyone and ideally forming lifelong relationships. Judicial clerkships are highly sought-after one-year positions working under the mentorship of a judge, often helping to research and draft opinions. Clerkships can significantly boost a newly minted lawyer's pedigree, opening doors to prestigious jobs in law firms, law schools and government. According to the new study titled What Judges Want, based on interviews with 194 federal and state judges, clerkship hiring appears less like a “political animal at work” and more akin to “putting together a jazz quintet.” “The quintet needs players with skill, who can get along while being stuck in a small room, and who will come back for the reunions,” the study reads. The study by Vanderbilt law professor Tracey George, University of Virginia law professor Mi