Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor of the Supreme Court of Ohio seeks applications for a judicial extern for the 2016 summer term. All students, including students of color, LGBT students, women, first generation college graduates and “non-traditional” law students, are welcome in chambers.
The externship is expected to run from Monday, May 23 through Friday, July 15, 2016. A mandatory orientation program will be held on May 18, 19 or 20. (The dates are subject to change, pending the court’s docket and administrative calendar.) Students accepted into the program may seek academic credit but are not required to do so.
The successful applicants for this program will have excellent research, analytical, writing and interpersonal skills. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the work involved, the successful applicant must also be mature, responsible, reliable and discrete. A background check is required for this position.
Judicial externs will work with Chief Justice O’Connor’s legal staff on various tasks. The primary focus of the externs’ work will be review and analysis of parties’ arguments for discretionary review of intermediate appellate court decisions. Judicial externs will prepare memoranda that summarize the relevant facts, claims, and law of particular cases, and make recommendations as to the disposition of those discretionary appeals, including a suggestion on whether the Ohio Supreme Court should accept the appeal. (The process is similar to the analysis undertaken on petitions for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.) Research projects may also be assigned to the extern. Student may also work on the justices’ merit opinions.
Externs must attend oral arguments held by the court over the summer session. Externs will also meet weekly with attorneys and judges who participate in the networking and mentoring components of the externship program.
To apply, please submit a resume, law school transcript, and a brief cover letter setting forth your interest in the position. Letters of recommendation are accepted but not required. Please submit applications to:
Pierce J. Reed
Senior Judicial Attorney to Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor*
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Pierce.Reed@sc.ohio.gov
*Lic. MA
Applications may be sent in electronic form. Due to the competitive selection process, early applications are encouraged. All applications must be received no later than Friday, March 11, 2016.