Supreme Court Clerkships: How Clerks Are Hired, Feeder Judges and Bonuses
Short answer: Each Justice hires four law clerks (Supreme Court Historical Society), about 36 one-year slots per term (CNN, Sept. 14, 2026). Justices generally hire candidates who have already finished or secured a federal appellate clerkship (Yale CDO guide), and today's clerks arrive with more than two prior clerkships on average (Reuters, June 16, 2026). Firms have offered signing bonuses of up to $700,000 (CNN).
Fast facts
- Slots: four clerks per Justice; retired Justices may hire one (Yale CDO guide).
- Term: one year, usually starting in July, before the October term opens (Yale CDO guide).
- Hiring rules: the federal Best Practices and hiring plan do not cover the Justices (OSCAR Best Practices).
- Timing: Justices' schedules vary; some hire one year ahead, some two (Yale CDO guide).
- Justice Jackson: considers only applicants who have completed a state or federal appellate clerkship by January of the target term, per the Yale guide (Yale CDO guide).
- Top grades, law review, and strong professor relationships.
- A court of appeals clerkship, often with a feeder judge. Some candidates also do a district clerkship first (Yale CDO guide).
- An application to the Justices during or after the appellate clerkship, with the appellate judge's letter.
- Interviews with the Justice and often current clerks (Yale CDO guide).
CNN reported that six former clerks of D.C. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas will clerk for Justices in 2026-27 (CNN). It also cited studies finding that Justices habitually turn to ideologically compatible lower-court judges for clerks (CNN). TLS feeder-judge threads: Feeder Judge Ratings OT 2016 - 2020 (and a bit beyond), (Updated) Feeder Judge Rankings, Which judges are the feeder judges?, Who are the up and coming liberal feeder judges?, Best conservative judges to clerk for?, What it takes to get feeder or competitive clerkships.
Application packet
- Cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample, list of recommenders and at least three letters; four letters are common when one is from an appellate judge (Yale CDO guide).
- Applications are mailed in hard copy to each Justice, and security screening slows delivery (Yale CDO guide).
- Academic writing samples are common; about 10 pages is a baseline and 25 to 30 is the high end (Yale CDO guide).
- Unsuccessful applicants can reapply with a new packet the next season (Yale CDO guide).
White & Case lists a $400,000 bonus for Supreme Court clerks on its site (White & Case), and press reports put the market at up to $500,000 (Reuters) to $700,000 (CNN). Former clerks also go into government, academia and the bench. CNN reported that 60% of President Trump's second-term appellate appointees are former Supreme Court clerks (CNN). See What do most SCOTUS clerks end up doing? and the clerkship bonus guide.
Discuss on TLS
- What do most SCOTUS clerks end up doing?
- Path to SCOTUS clerkship?
- SCOTUS Clerkship Movement?
- Supreme Court clerk salary (clerk salary)
- Profs for Clerkships/SCOTUS at YLS?
Q: How many Supreme Court clerks are there?
Four per Justice (Supreme Court Historical Society), or about 36 per term (CNN), plus clerks for retired Justices (Yale CDO guide).
Q: Can I clerk at the Supreme Court right out of law school?
It is now very rare; Justices generally look for a prior appellate clerkship (Yale CDO guide).
Q: How big is the Supreme Court clerk bonus?
Reported at up to $700,000 in September 2026 (CNN).
Related guides
Last verified: September 26, 2026, against the official court pages and dated news sources linked in this guide. Hiring status changes often, so confirm on the court or chambers page before you apply. Spot an error? Reply in the linked discussion thread or PM a moderator.
