Sample Letter To Judge Written By An Extern Applicant printable pdf download

[Your LETTERHEAD]

[Date]

The Honorable ___________

[Address]

Dear [Judge/Justice] ____________;

I am writing to express my interest in working with you as an unpaid judicial extern during the

[summer/fall/spring] semester as part of the Judicial Extern Clinic at the Southern Illinois University

School of Law. For the reasons given below, I am confident that the externship would be productive and

beneficial for both of us.

I am very interested in an externship under your supervision because ____________.

[Personalize the letter by explaining the reason you are interested in this particular judge/court.]*

As you will see from the attached resume, I would bring a number of relevant skills and

motivation to the externship. [Explain/highlight skills]**

I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you or a member of your staff about possibility

of working with you during the [summer/fall/spring semester] and what steps I should take to secure

the position. I will follow up this letter with a phone call to your chambers within the next 10 days.

Alternatively, you may contact me at your convenience at ________________ or by email at

___________ .

Respectfully yours,

[Signature]

[Typed Name]

[Attach copy of resume]

________________________________

*Identify reasons why this particular judge, the type of court, or the location interests you. For example,

you might be interested in practicing in that particular location and would welcome the opportunity to

learn more about the judges and lawyers in the area. Alternatively, you might be interested in working

with a trial court judge because you are planning to become a litigator after you graduate. These are just

two examples; what you ultimately want to do with this paragraph is demonstrate some special interest

in this particular externship placement – i.e., something that shows initiative and interest.

** Highlight something from your past experience, academic record, or personal character that

demonstrates your work ethic and/or abilities. For 1Ls, this is a great place to highlight the high-quality

legal education you’re receiving at SIU, with a strong focus on practical skills. You may wish to note, for

example, that we have a nationally ranked Lawyering Skills program and we are one of the few law

schools in the country with a Writing Across the Curriculum program.

Sample Letter To Judge Written By An Extern Applicant