Student Law Clerk

Summary Of Duties And Responsibilities

Supplemental Information

The Illinois Attorney General's Office provides excellent opportunities for law students to improve their skills and knowledge in a wide range of subject areas, including consumer protection, government representation, civil rights, environmental enforcement, antitrust, complex civil litigation, civil and criminal appeals, and criminal law enforcement.

• Working closely with attorneys in the Chicago, Springfield, or the regional offices, law clerks investigate facts, review documents, research legal issues, and draft legal memoranda, correspondence, and pleadings.

Advanced students who qualify for a 711 license are encouraged to obtain such a license so that they may appear in court under the supervision of an Assistant Attorney General.

Application Instructions

To apply, please complete the online application and attach the following: resume, cover letter, writing sample (litigation-type sample is preferred), and law school transcript.

Session Information

This position is not eligible for benefits.
01 Please identify what law clerk session you are seeking to join.
Spring
Fall
Summer

Current Year In Law School

02 Please state your current year in law school.
1L - First Year
2L - Second Year
3L - Third Year

Anticipated Law Graduation Year

03 What is your anticipated law graduation year?

Previous Service With The Office

04 Have you previously worked in our office?
Yes
No

If Previously Worked In The Office

05 If you have previously worked in our office, please identify the Bureau or Division.
06 Please state your dates of prior service with our office.

Anticipated Hours Per Week

07 What is your earliest potential start date?
08 When is your latest potential end date?
09 During the fall and spring semesters, law clerks must work at least 12 hours per week for at least 10 consecutive weeks.
During the summer semester, we expect law clerks to work at least 16 hours per week for at least 10 consecutive weeks.
Many law clerks choose to work longer hours for a greater number of weeks, and some preference may be given to law clerks that are able to work a greater number of weeks or hours per week.
Paid law clerks are limited to a maximum of twenty (20) hours per week.

Academic Credit

10 If invited to serve as a student law clerk, will you seek academic credit for your service?
Yes
No

External Financial Assistance

11 If you are seeking academic credit, what is the minimum number of weekly hours that you will need to receive such credit?
12 Some law schools and organizations provide stipends to students in public interest internships.
Will you be receiving any external financial assistance?
Yes
No

External Financial Assistance Source

13 If you will be receiving external financial assistance, please identify the source.

Preferred Assignment Location

14 Please identify where you would like to be assigned.
Chicago
Springfield
Belleville/Swansea
Carbondale
Quincy
Rockford
Urbana

Context For Desired Assignment

15 If you would like to provide more context for your location preferences, please explain.
16 Please indicate your areas of interest.
Although we will do our best to honor your preferences, we cannot make any guarantees.
Please note that, if you have an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 license and are placed in a litigation department, you may have the opportunity to appear in court (Please select no more than three).

• Antitrust (Chicago)
• Child Welfare Litigation (Chicago)
• Civil Appeals (Chicago)
• Civil Rights (Chicago)
• Consumer Fraud (Chicago)
• Consumer Fraud (Springfield)
• Conviction Integrity (Chicago)
• Criminal Appeals (Chicago)
• Criminal Enforcement (Chicago)
• Disability Rights (Chicago)
• Environmental Enforcement (Chicago)
• Environmental Enforcement (Springfield)
• Government Defense Litigation - General Law (Springfield)
• Government Defense Litigation - General Law (Chicago)
• Healthcare Fraud (Chicago)
• Public Access (Chicago)
• Public Access (Springfield)
• Policy (Chicago)
• Public Utility (Chicago)
• Revenue Litigation (Chicago)
• Workers Compensation Litigation (Chicago)
• Workplace Rights (Chicago)

Background Check

17 Please identify your preferred order of placements, i.e., please rank your potential assignments.
18 Please provide context regarding your desired placement (including types of skills or experience that you would like to develop).

Background Check Authorization

19 Background check. Like other law-enforcement offices, we must check the background of every person who seeks a position in our office, whether compensated or uncompensated. Therefore, we ask you to complete the background check authorization and return it with this application form.
Have you ever pled guilty to or been convicted of any criminal offense, other than a minor traffic violation?
(If you answer "yes," please attached a signed, detailed explanation.)
Yes
No