If you’re a law student who’s interested in a clerkship, but you’ve missed the boat on landing a coveted position with a federal judge, worry not — there are still plenty of options for you at the state level. It’s not only the strength of your application that matters for securing a state clerkship. Attending a law school with high placement rates for state and local clerkships can be very helpful too, as it reflects past graduates’ reputation with judges, and the law school’s pull within the local community. If you prefer to work close to home, which law schools have the greatest influence when it comes to state clerkships?
The latest Princeton Review law school rankings are out, and today, we’ll focus on yet another valuable ranking for those who are trying to get a local job within the judiciary: The law schools that are the best for state clerkships.
Which law schools do you think came out on top of this list?
First, we’ll begin with the methodology Princeton Review used to determine which law schools are the best for getting state clerkships. This ranking was based on school-reported data, specifically, the percent of 2024 JD graduates who were employed in state and local judicial clerkships.
According to Princeton Review, these are the law schools that are the best for obtaining state clerkships:
- Seton Hall University School of Law
- Rutgers School of Law
- Widener University Delaware Law School
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- University of Hawaii Willian S. Richardson School of Law
- Vermont Law and Graduate School – Law Program
- University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN)
- University of Minnesota Law School
- University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
- University of Colorado School of Law
Way to go New Jersey for coming out on top, with two schools in first and second place! We also see two Minnesota law schools on this list, repping their home states with pride. Congratulations on filling out these important positions within the state court systems.
Did your law school make the cut? If it did, do you think it was ranked fairly? If it didn’t make the list for being best for state clerkships, do you agree with that assessment? Please email us or text us (646-820-8477) your thoughts.
Best Law Schools 2025 [Princeton Review]
Best for State and Local Clerkships 2025 [Princeton Review]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post The Law Schools That Are The Best For State Clerkships (2025) appeared first on Above the Law.
