FEDERAL LAW CLERK HIRING PLAN

Updated October 15, 2024

Participation in the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan pertains to the hiring of law school students with two full years of grades in accordance with the timeline set forth below. Students who attend law school part-time or who seek a dual degree may have a later law school graduation date but meet the requirement of having two full years of grades. The dates set forth below do not apply to law school graduates; judges can accept applications, interview, and hire graduates on their own schedule.

Graduating Class of 2025

For students who entered law school in 2022:

Judges will not accept formal or informal clerkship applications, or seek or accept formal or informal recommendations, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 10, 2024. Judges also will not directly or indirectly contact applicants, or schedule or conduct formal or informal interviews, or make formal or informal offers, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 11, 2024.

A judge who makes a clerkship offer will keep it open for at least 24 hours, during which time the applicant will be free to interview with other judges.

Graduating Class of 2026

For students who entered law school in 2023:

Judges will not accept formal or informal clerkship applications, or seek or accept formal or informal recommendations, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 9, 2025. Judges also will not directly or indirectly contact applicants, or schedule or conduct formal or informal interviews, or make formal or informal offers, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 10, 2025.

A judge who makes a clerkship offer will keep it open for at least 24 hours, during which time the applicant will be free to interview with other judges.

Graduating Class of 2027

For students who entered law school in 2024:

Judges will not accept formal or informal clerkship applications, or seek or accept formal or informal recommendations, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 8, 2026. Judges also will not directly or indirectly contact applicants, or schedule or conduct formal or informal interviews, or make formal or informal offers, before 12:00 pm EDT on June 9, 2026.

A judge who makes a clerkship offer will keep it open for at least 24 hours, during which time the applicant will be free to interview with other judges.

OSCAR Access Dates

Applicants from the graduating classes of 2025 and 2026 gain access to OSCAR to register for an account, upload documents, search for positions, and build applications on the date listed below:

  • Graduating Class of 2025

    Applicants gain access to OSCAR on January 8, 2024 at 8 am EST.
  • Graduating Class of 2026

    Applicants gain access to OSCAR on January 21, 2025 at 8 am EST.
  • Graduating Class of 2027

    Applicants gain access to OSCAR on January 20, 2026 at 8 am EST.