JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP HANDBOOK - Cornell University Law School

vary somewhat due to locality adjustments), and money certainly goes a lot farther in non‐
major urban areas. According to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts,
most recent law school graduates with academic excellence qualify for an appointment at
least at grade JSP‐11, step 1 (annual base salary of $50,287). One year of post‐graduate
legal experience and bar membership qualifies the appointee for grade JSP‐12, step 1,
appointment with an annual base salary of $60,274. If an appointee has two years of post‐
graduate work experience, plus bar membership, he or she qualifies for appointment at JSP‐
13, step 1, with an annual base salary of $71,674. If an appointee has three years of post‐
graduate work experience (with at least two years as a judicial law clerk, staff attorney, pro
se law clerk, death penalty law clerk, or bankruptcy appellate panel law clerk, in the federal
judiciary, plus bar membership, he or she qualifies for appointment at JSP‐14, step 1, with
an annual base salary of $84,697. Incoming law clerks who have prior federal experience
may be eligible to match their highest previous rate of federal pay within the grade for
which they qualify. See https://oscar.symplicity.com/drupal/content/qualifications‐salary‐
and‐benefits. Specific information about salary can be made available prior to accepting an
offer from the employing court's personnel representative.
State court clerkship salaries vary. For instance, New York Court of Appeals clerkships pay
more than $76,000 the first year and approximately $80,000 the second year. New Jersey
Supreme Court clerkships pay $57,000.
Generally do not assume that you cannot afford to interview for or accept judicial
clerkships. Contact the Financial Aid Office for information about Cornell=s interview loan
fund and about student loan deferral options.
CITIZENSHIP ISSUES
Under a provision in the appropriations bill passed in December 2009, appropriated funds
may not be used to pay compensation to noncitizen employees with duty stations in the
continental United States, unless they qualify under one of the following exceptions:
Lawful permanent residents who are seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. §
1324b(a)(3)(B);
Persons admitted as refugees or granted asylum who have filed a declaration of
intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
or
Persons who owe "allegiance to the United States" (e.g., nationals of American
Samoa, Swains Island, and Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other
requirements described in 8 U.S.C. § 1408).
In addition to the appropriations act restriction, all noncitizens must be eligible for
employment under U.S. immigration law. Law clerk applicants may be required to provide
citizenship information and proof of eligibility to work in the United States as part of the
clerkship application. If you are unsure if you are eligible to work in the United States,
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