Federal Clerkship Cover Letter

A federal clerkship cover letter carries more weight than most legal application documents. Federal judges read dozens of letters for every position, and they are evaluating not just your credentials but also your ability to write clearly under constraint. Whether you are applying to a district court, a circuit court of appeals, or a specialty court through the OSCAR application system, your letter needs to be precise, substantive, and directly responsive to what that judge values. For a broader introduction to clerkship applications, see our clerkship cover letter and judicial clerkship cover letter guides. If you are preparing your first professional legal letter, how to write a cover letter covers the foundational structure.

What judges look for in a federal clerkship cover letter

Federal judges screen clerkship applicants for a narrow set of qualities. Generic enthusiasm does not register. A letter that speaks directly to these criteria moves forward:

• Analytical writing ability — Your letter is itself a writing sample. Sentence structure, precision of language, and logical organization all signal whether you can draft orders and opinions.
• Academic distinction in relevant coursework — Federal clerks are expected to handle complex statutory and constitutional questions. Mention strong grades or class rank in evidence, administrative law, constitutional law, or federal courts.
• Commitment to public service — Many federal judges prefer applicants who view the clerkship as a contribution to the judiciary, not just a credential. A brief, sincere statement of purpose carries real weight.
• Familiarity with the judge's work — Referencing a specific opinion or area of the judge's docket demonstrates that you researched the position rather than mass-applying.
• Writing sample quality — Federal clerkship applications typically require one or two legal writing samples. Mention the sample you are including and explain why it represents your analytical range.
• Attention to application requirements — OSCAR profiles, submission deadlines, and document formatting vary by judge. Demonstrating awareness of these details in your letter signals professionalism.

How to write a federal clerkship cover letter that gets interviews

1. Address the specific judge and court

Never submit a generic letter. Open by naming the judge and court explicitly, and make clear from the first line that you understand what kind of work that chambers handles. A letter addressed to "The Honorable [Judge's Name]" with a reference to their circuit or district immediately signals professionalism. If you are applying across both district and appellate levels, write separate letters for each. Judges notice when a cover letter appears to have been copied unchanged from another application.

2. Lead with your strongest academic and writing credential

Federal clerkship competitions are heavily credential-driven at the screening stage. In your opening paragraph, name your law school, your class rank or GPA if competitive, and your most relevant experience, such as law review membership, moot court, or a judicial externship. This gives the hiring clerk or judge enough information to continue reading. If you are also applying to state-level positions, our judicial clerkship cover letter guide addresses how to adapt this framing for different courts.

3. Connect your skills to the judge's specific docket

Federal judges in district courts handle a mix of civil, criminal, and administrative matters. Circuit judges focus on appellate review of legal questions. Specialty courts, such as the Court of International Trade or the Court of Federal Claims, require subject matter knowledge. Identify two or three of the judge's opinions or areas of focus and explain how your coursework, clinic work, or research connects to that subject matter. This section is where most applicants fail because they describe themselves in general terms instead of speaking to the judge's actual work.

4. Close with a direct and professional statement

Avoid filler phrases. State clearly that you have submitted your application through OSCAR, that your writing samples and transcript are attached, and that you welcome the opportunity to discuss your application. Keep the closing paragraph to three sentences. See our law clerk cover letter guide for additional language options if you are applying to both federal and state law clerk positions simultaneously. For general application strategy, the internship cover letter guide addresses how to frame academic and research experience when you have limited professional history.

Federal clerkship cover letter example

Replace the judge's name, court, case references, and your own academic credentials before submitting through OSCAR.

Subject: Application for the Federal clerkship position

The Honorable [Judge's Full Name] United States District Court for the [District Name] [Courthouse Address] [Your Name] [Your Law School] [Email Address] | [Phone Number] [Date] Dear Judge [Last Name], I am writing to apply for a federal law clerk position in your chambers for the term beginning [Year]. I am a third-year student at [Law School Name], where I rank in the top [X]% of my class and serve as a Notes Editor on the [Law Review Name]. Your opinions in [Case Name] and [Case Name] drew my attention to your chambers, and I believe my background in federal civil procedure and administrative law would allow me to contribute meaningfully to your docket. My strongest preparation for this position comes from my work on the law review and a judicial externship I completed last summer with the Honorable [Name] of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the [District]. During that externship, I drafted bench memoranda on standing, jurisdictional questions, and statutory interpretation in [subject area] matters. I also researched and outlined a draft order addressing a first-impression question under [statute or topic]. That experience gave me a direct understanding of the analytical demands clerks face and confirmed that federal court work is where I want to start my legal career. I am enclosing two writing samples. The first is a law review note on [topic], which demonstrates my ability to analyze a circuit split and develop a structured legal argument across a long-form document. The second is an edited version of a bench memorandum from my externship, included with the court's permission, which reflects the style of writing I understand your chambers requires. My transcript, letters of recommendation from [Professor Name] and [Professor Name], and OSCAR application are complete. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you or your current clerks about my application. Respectfully submitted, [Full Name]

Before you send your application

Federal clerkship applications have less margin for error than most legal positions. Run through this checklist before submitting:

• Verify that your OSCAR profile is fully complete — A missing document or an incomplete profile can disqualify you before a judge ever reads your letter.
• Confirm the judge's correct title and court name — "United States District Court" and "United States Court of Appeals" are not interchangeable, and errors in the header reflect poorly on your attention to detail.
• Review your writing samples for citation format and procedural accuracy — Bluebook errors in a writing sample submitted to a federal judge are difficult to recover from.
• Check that your letter is no longer than one page — Federal judges and their current clerks read quickly. A letter that runs to a second page without strong cause will lose readers.
• Confirm application deadlines and interview protocols for each judge — Some judges conduct interviews within days of receiving applications. Others batch them by term. Know which situation you are in before you submit.

FAQ

How long should a federal clerkship cover letter be?

One page is the standard. Federal judges read for clarity and economy. A letter that fills three-quarters of a page with substantive, targeted content is preferable to a full page that includes any padding or repetition. Treat the space constraint as an early test of the writing precision you will need in the role.

Do I need to explain my judicial philosophy in the cover letter?

You do not need to write a thesis on judicial philosophy, but you should signal that you understand the judge's interpretive approach. If the judge is known for textualist analysis or has written extensively on administrative deference, a sentence or two that reflects awareness of that framework tells the reader that you are prepared to work in that environment. Avoid performative declarations that are not backed by your academic record or writing samples.

Should I apply through OSCAR and also send a direct application?

Follow the judge's stated preference. Most federal judges now use OSCAR exclusively. Sending unsolicited materials outside of OSCAR when it is not requested can be seen as a failure to follow instructions, which is not a quality clerks can afford. If a judge's profile does not specify, check with your law school's clerkship coordinator before sending anything directly. Our clerkship cover letter guide covers general application logistics.

What writing samples work best for federal court applications?

A law review note or seminar paper that demonstrates your ability to analyze a legal question from multiple angles is the strongest option for most applicants. If you have a bench memorandum or draft opinion from an externship and have cleared it for submission, that can be valuable because it shows familiarity with the document types clerks actually produce. Avoid short writing samples under ten pages unless the judge specifically requests a shorter submission. See our judicial clerkship cover letter guide for more on sample selection.

Can I apply to federal clerkships if my grades are not top of class?

Yes, but you will need to compensate with other strong signals. A compelling personal connection to the judge's subject matter, an outstanding writing sample, strong recommendation letters from professors who know your analytical work well, or relevant experience such as a federal agency internship can all offset a class rank that is not in the top tier. Be direct in your cover letter about what makes your application competitive rather than relying on grades to carry the case. For framing strategies when credentials are not your strongest asset, the internship cover letter guide offers transferable advice.