Students secure judicial internships nationwide
This summer, more than 60 students are interning with judges across the country and at all levels of the federal and state court systems. While the majority of our internships are in the federal and state courts of Georgia, there are students at the Southern District of Texas; Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; the US District Court of Puerto Rico; the US Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia; the US District Court, Southern District of Ohio; the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia; and the trial level courts in California, New York, and Louisiana.
These internships are largely funded by the Emory Law Summer Stipend, which is in its second programmatic year. The Summer Stipend program is for first- and second-year juris doctor students who accept summer volunteer jobs at legal public sector and public interest organizations. This year, approximately 100 students will receive a stipend.
“The stipends are awarded to students who have accepted positions that clearly reflect their career goals,” says Natasha Patel, assistant dean for career development. “The intent is to defray living expenses for students who have accepted pro bono summer jobs at a nonprofit or government agency, including the judiciary.”
To qualify for the $3,500 award, the position must last a minimum of six weeks, working 35 hours per week. Students will receive 80% of funding at the start of their internship, and the balance upon completion. Students may only receive one stipend per summer, and it cannot be combined with an Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC) summer grant or other public interest fellowship.
The educational value of judicial internships is emphasized to the students in their 1L Professional Development class, which equips them with the tools to secure these opportunities. Patel says, “One of the best experiences for a law student to deepen their understanding of the rule of law is to see the law interpreted, analyzed, and adjudicated first-hand in our courts.”
Darrow says of her summer position, “I got my judicial internship by applying through Symplicity. I was particularly interested in interning in Judge Grimberg’s chambers due to the fact that he is an Emory Law alumnus.”
It is amazing to see the impact that Emory Law alums have on the legal field, and the chance to learn more about the judicial process from such a distinguished member of the Emory Law community made me particularly excited about this opportunity.
Kramer adds, “I was lucky to attend a panel on federal clerkships last fall where Judge Grimberg was one of the speakers. That was my first time seeing a federal judge in person, and I remember being struck not just by how sharp he was, but by how down-to-earth and thoughtful he seemed. He talked about what he looks for in clerks and how he approaches judging, and it really stuck with me. I found out afterward that my Contracts TA had interned in his chambers the previous summer, which made the opportunity feel even more real and accessible. I hadn’t planned on applying for a judicial internship that quickly, but as soon as I got home, I started working on my application — it was due in just a couple of days.
From the beginning, it’s been clear how connected Judge Grimberg is to Emory Law. He’s brought in a number of students and alumni as clerks and interns, and it’s honestly really encouraging to see someone who came from the same school build such an impressive career. It made me feel like, if I keep working hard, those kinds of doors could open for me too. I’m really excited to be part of his chambers this summer and to learn from him and the fantastic team there.”
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