JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP HANDBOOK - Cornell University Law School

The Honorable XXX
United States Court of Appeals
U.S. Courthouse, 123 Main Street
Omaha, NE 55555
Dear Judge XXX:
Example:
123 Main Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
September 1, 2011
I am writing to apply for a clerkship in your chambers for the 2012-13 term. I am
currently a third-year student at Cornell where I have been named a John M. Olin Student
Scholar in Law and Economics. In addition, I am a member of the Cornell Journal of Law and
Public Policy.
Prior to law school, my academic and work background was focused on economics. I
graduated with honors from Stanford University with an A.B. in Economics and worked on
several occasions for government agencies (or firms consulting to the government) studying
the interrelationship between economics and public policy.
I entered law school with the express intent of pursuing this interest in public policy
and economics. As a result, I joined the Journal of Law and Public Policy despite an
invitation (based on grades) from the International Law Journal. After graduation (and
hopefully, a clerkship), I plan to return to the Federal Government as an attorney. Although
I do not subscribe to a “Posnerian” view of law and economics, I do feel that economic
principles should play a role in determining law and public policy.
I have enclosed two writing samples, both from my work last summer at the
Commerce Department, Office of the General Counsel. Of the two samples enclosed, one is
of a more academic nature in that it analyzes the constitutional requirements for inclusion
of illegal aliens in the decennial census. Two letters of recommendation (one from Prof.
Peter Martin of Cornell, the other from James White, Commerce Department Chief Counsel
for Economic Affairs) will be sent to your Denver office shortly. Should you require
additional information, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Enclosures
Sincerely,
Signature
First and last name