Judges in the Seventh Circuit hire clerks under a variety of procedures. Some utilize OSCAR and some follow the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan. Others do not.
For further information about the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan (pilot program) please refer to the information provided on the Oscar website:
https://oscar.uscourts.gov/federal_law_clerk_hiring_pilot.
Individuals interested in applying for a staff attorney position may do so through OSCAR.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is accepting applications for staff law clerkships that start in August 2026 and last two years.
Applicants may now begin uploading their applications to OSCAR. Applications will be reviewed beginning in mid-June, 2025 in accordance with the Federal Clerkship Hiring Plan. Interviews will begin in July 2025, and we expect to finish extending offers about six weeks later.
Like chambers clerks, staff law clerks conduct legal research and recommend dispositions on a broad spectrum of cases.
In contrast to chambers clerks, they work for all the judges of the court, attend conferences at which three-judge panels deliberate and resolve cases, and assist the judges in resolving substantive motions that address complex questions of procedure or seek preliminary relief.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript or grade sheet, two self-edited writing samples containing fact and case analysis, and two letters of recommendation. We accept applications through OSCAR. OSCAR is the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review at https://oscar.uscourts.gov/.
