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Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships

3rd Edition
Debra M. Strauss
ISBN: 9781636593593
Subject: Academic Success
Format: Print - Softbound
Page Count: 408
Copyright: 2023 | Status: In Stock
Other Formats Available
Available in the Study Aids Collection Your school may already provide your students with access to this title through a school-wide subscription.

Author Debra M. Strauss, J.D. explains all aspects of clerkships in this newly revised edition. The book provides updated information and resources as your go-to source on judicial clerkships, focusing on what clerkships are, what kind of work clerks do, why you should apply, how to find and apply for the type of clerkship that would be right for you, how to give a strong interview, and why clerkships give you stellar credentials that prospective employers will actively seek out.

Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships, Third Edition is filled with nuts and bolts advice on all elements of the application process, including building a successful application, interviewing, etiquette of offers and acceptances, and special strategies designed to help you in your quest for the perfect clerkship. To further lay the groundwork for a positive experience, this title also features an exclusive section on how to prepare for your clerkship. The third edition adds current developments such as remote interviews and the virtual clerkship experience; recent data on women and minorities in clerkships; new Supreme Court feeder judges along with statistical analysis on the trends; and extra resources for further reading. As an entrée into the world of the courts, this is an indispensable handbook for every law student, lawyer, judge, and potential judicial clerk!

A must-have resource for colleges, law schools, courthouses, and legal organizations!


Imprint: West Academic Publishing
Series: Academic and Career Success Series
Publication Date: 02/01/2023

Debra M. Strauss

CasebookPlus™

This title is available in our CasebookPlus format. CasebookPlus provides support beyond your classroom lectures and materials by offering additional digital resources to you and your students. Anchored by faculty-authored formative self-assessments keyed to our most popular casebooks, CasebookPlus allows students to test their understanding of core concepts as they are learning them in class – on their own, outside of the classroom, with no extra work on your part. CasebookPlus combines three important elements:

  • A new print or digital casebook
  • Access to a downloadable eBook with the ability to highlight and add notes
  • 12-month access to a digital Learning Library complete with:
Multiple-choice self-assessment questions, including:
  • Chapter questions keyed to the casebook
  • Black Letter Law questions (available in select subjects)
  • Subject area review questions for end of semester use
Essay and short answer questions with sample answers and expert commentary, in 1L and select upper-level subjects

Leading digital study aids, an outline starter, and audio lectures in select subjects

Students can still utilize CasebookPlus digital resources if they’ve purchased a used book or are renting their text by purchasing the Learning Library at westacademic.com.

With CasebookPlus, you can customize your students’ learning experience and monitor their performance. The quiz editor allows you to create your own custom quiz set, suppress specific quiz questions or quiz sets, and time-release quiz questions. Additionally, the flexible, customized reporting capability helps you evaluate your students’ understanding of the material and can also help your school demonstrate compliance with the new ABA Assessment and Learning Outcomes standards.

  • Updated information throughout this most recent edition
  • The latest developments on the timing, policies, and procedures of clerkship applications in Chapters 2 and 7
  • New section on the Virtual Clerkship experience in Chapter 3, including material on virtual hearings, remote conferences, current trends, how the pandemic has affected clerking, and predictions for the future
  • New section on Remote Interviews in Chapter 8, including adaptive strategies and tips
  • Updated salary and financial information, including clerkship bonuses, in Chapter 9
  • Expanded section on preparing for your clerkship in Chapter 10
  • New and exclusive Supreme Court feeder judges lists in Chapter 11, with statistical analysis on the trends and a pie chart of U.S. Supreme Court clerkship feeder patterns
  • Updated comprehensive list and description of new and expanded resources, in print and online, in Chapter 13
  • A special focus on Minorities and Women in Clerkships and the Courts in Chapter 14, presenting recent data and trends, diversity inclusion initiatives, and additional dedicated resources
  • A new end-notes section for additional current resources corresponding to each chapter — “Appendix G. Going Above and Beyond… Resources for Further Reading!”

Learn more about this series.