The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is one of the most prestigious places for law clerks to work. Every year, top law graduates compete for these highly sought-after positions, which can set them up for major career success. As of early 2025, the hiring process for Supreme Court clerks is nearly complete, with most justices finalizing their selections. This article provides key updates on clerk hiring, law school rankings, and feeder judges.
SCOTUS Clerk Hiring Status
As of February 2025, all Supreme Court justices have likely completed their hiring for the October Term (OT) 2025. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson were among the last to finalize their selections. Although most names have been confirmed, some remain unreported. The search for missing clerk names continues, and legal insiders are eager to fill in the gaps.
Top Law Schools Producing SCOTUS Clerks
Based on known hires, these law schools have produced the most future Supreme Court clerks:
- University of Chicago – 12 clerks
- Harvard University – 9 clerks
- Yale University – 8 clerks
- Stanford University – 6 clerks
- University of Michigan – 2 clerks
- Notre Dame University – 2 clerks
- University of Virginia (UVA) – 2 clerks
- Columbia University – 1 clerk
- Georgetown University – 1 clerk
- George Washington University (GW) – 1 clerk
- New York University (NYU) – 1 clerk
- University of Pennsylvania – 1 clerk
These rankings may change slightly once the full class of OT 2025 clerks is confirmed.
Leading Feeder Judges
Feeder judges play a crucial role in placing clerks at the Supreme Court. These judges, mostly from the U.S. Courts of Appeals, have multiple clerks who go on to work at SCOTUS. Here are the top feeder judges based on known OT 2025 hires:
- Gregory Katsas – 6 clerks
- Neomi Rao – 6 clerks
- Amul Thapar – 6 clerks
- Stephanos Bibas – 4 clerks
- William Pryor – 4 clerks
- Sri Srinivasan – 4 clerks
- Vince Chhabria – 4 clerks
- Dabney Friedrich – 2 clerks
- Furman, Boasberg, and Kovner – 2 clerks each
These judges consistently place their clerks in high-profile SCOTUS positions, reinforcing their influence in the legal world.
Notable Changes and Updates
- The 2025 Bristow Fellows, a prestigious group of attorneys working in the U.S. Solicitor General’s office, have received an exemption from the Department of Justice (DOJ) hiring freeze.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has started hiring earlier than in previous years, advising applicants for OT 2026 to submit materials in the fall of 2025.
- Yale Law School faced criticism for blocking student funds from being used to subscribe to a centralized clerkship database. Fortunately, private donors have stepped in to fund subscriptions at several top schools.
The Supreme Court clerk hiring process is nearly complete, with top law schools and feeder judges continuing to shape the future of the legal profession. These clerkships remain one of the most prestigious stepping stones in a lawyer’s career, often leading to high-profile positions in academia, government, or private practice. As new hires are confirmed, the rankings of law schools and judges may shift slightly, but the influence of these institutions remains strong.
Visit Home