Fixing the Clerkship System

The program will discuss the reality of clerkships. Clerkships are typically described in the rosiest of terms—fostering a lifelong mentor/mentee relationship between judge and clerk, and affording only professional and personal benefits. Our program will discuss how former clerks are typically unwilling to speak openly about the potential downsides to clerking and how clerks do not always have the resources to report mistreatment.

We’ve invited Aliza Shatzman and Matt Goodman to speak at the event. They are currently doing a tour of law schools to discuss fixing the clerkship system, and want to make sure that as many law schools as possible receive the information. Aliza and Matt co-founded the The Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit aimed at ensuring that law clerks have positive clerkship experiences, while extending support and resources to those who do not. Aliza will share her personal experience with gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by a former DC Superior Court judge. She will also discuss the scope of the problem of judicial misconduct and propose solutions, including The Legal Accountability Project’s resources and the Judicial Accountability Act.