Judicial Externships

The court welcomes students from law schools around the San Francisco Bay Area and the country who choose to complement their law school coursework with judicial externships.

Fall & Winter/Spring Externships

Law school credit is earned for successful completion of fall and spring externships.  Hiring takes place in March and April for fall externships and in September and October for spring externships.  There are no deadlines for applying or for hiring; extern hiring continues until all positions are filled.  The requirements of individual law schools as well as Justices’ chambers vary, so careful planning is advised.

Summer Externships

Law school credit is generally not awarded for summer externships.  While the court does not compensate summer externs, funding is available through some law schools.

    How to Apply

    The online application will ask you for:

    1. Contact Information;
    2. The session for which you wish to apply;
    3. The Justice for whom you would like to work; and.
    4. Supporting documents that will need to be uploaded via the online application. Mail and email submissions are no longer accepted unless requested by chambers. Note: You will want to review individual Justices’ specific requirements below for applicant qualifications and application materials.  Specifics are also noted in the online application. Materials include:
      • Cover Letter;
      • Resume;
      • School Transcript;
      • Writing Sample; and,
      • Optional References.

    Tips for Navigating the Online Application

    • You will want to have all of your materials ready prior to beginning the application.
    • Do not use your browser's back or forward buttons to navigate the site; instead use the site's built-in buttons
    • Be sure to use the latest version of your preferred browser
    • If you encounter any issues while submitting your application, please email 1DC-ComputerSupport@jud.ca.gov
    Apply for a Judicial Externship

    Applicant Requirements

    Qualifications and application materials by Justice and Division

    Division One

    Justice's Name Deadline Required Documents

    Justice Kathleen Banke

    Considers those who have finished one or two years of law school

    		 No set deadline for applications, but preferably by end of February for summer externships and beginning of June for fall externships
    • cover letter
    • resume
    • transcript
    • writing sample
    • references optional

    Division Three

    Justices Name Deadline Required Documents

    Presiding Justice Alison Tucher

    Considers those who have finished one or two years of law school

    No set deadline for applications, but earlier better than later
    • cover letter
    • resume
    • transcript (or informal printout from school website)
    • writing sample

    Justice Carin Fujisaki

    Prefers students who have completed two years of law school

    No set deadline for applications, but earlier better than later
    • cover letter
    • resume
    • transcript
    • writing sample
    • references are desirable but optional

    Division Four

    Justice's Name Deadline Required Documents

    Presiding Justice Tracie L. Brown

    Considers those who have finished one or two years of law school

    No set deadline for applications, but earlier better than later 
    • cover letter
    • resume
    • transcript (or informal printout from school website)
    • writing sample
    • references

    Justice Jon B. Streeter

    Considers those who have finished one or two years of law school

    Submit summer term applications by March 1; fall term applications by July 1; spring term applications by November 1
    • cover letter
    • resume
    • transcript (or informal printout from school website)
    • writing sample
    • references

    Division Five

    Justice's Name Deadilne Required Documents

    Justice Danny Y. Chou

    Considers those who have finished one or two years of law school

    No set deadline for applications, but earlier better than later
    • cover letter
    • resume
    • transcript (or informal printout from school website)
    • writing sample
    • references

    Acknowledgements

    The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, gratefully acknowledges the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, whose help made this Judicial Externship Online Submission page possible.