Law Student

Some law school students preparing to graduate may be interested in knowing if a job as a federal judicial clerk will pay enough to cover their law school student loans. Law school graduates can expect to be paid at least at grade JSP-11, step 1.

This amounts to an annual base salary of about $46,000 for many students, but the exact rate depends on your locality. Also, a law clerk who has been licensed to practice law for more than a year qualifies for at least one step increase. For more information about judicial clerk salaries, visit the section titled “Qualifications, Salary and Benefits” at the bottom of this page: Federal Law Clerk Employment Information.

You can learn more about judicial clerkships at our Judicial Clerkship Sites section.