Finding Legal Help
You are not required to hire an attorney, but legal matters can be complicated. Consider talking to an attorney to go over your options. See the Finding Legal Help page for information about free and low cost ways to get legal help.
Como encontrar ayuda legal
Usted no está obligado a contratar un abogado, pero los asuntos legales pueden ser complicados. Considere la posibilidad de hablar con un abogado para hablar de sus opciones. Para información sobre cómo obtener ayuda legal vea nuestra página Como encontrar ayuda legal.
Appellate Court Clerkships
Law Clerks at the Utah Appellate Courts
Clerkships at the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah Court of Appeals are full-time positions generally for at least one year. The appellate judges hire their own clerks. Please see the information provided below for the details on applying for a clerkship in each chamber. The Law Clerk must have a JD degree, or equivalent, from an accredited law school before beginning employment and must agree to a criminal background check. Hiring decisions will take into account information learned from the background check, and such information may be grounds to rescind an offer or terminate employment, in the sole discretion of the hiring judge. The current salary for law clerks is:
Clerk Level
Hourly Rate
Approximate Yearly Rate
Clerk Level
Hourly Rate
Approximate Yearly Rate
Clerk Level
Hourly Rate
Approximate Yearly Rate
Clerk Level
Hourly Rate
Approximate Yearly Rate
Due to recent budget reductions as a result of the public health crisis from COVID-19, career advancements (series promotions) will not be provided for FY21.
Return to TopUtah Supreme Court Clerkships
Please email applications to the individual justice's chambers email address according to the following instructions:
Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant
Chief Justice Durrant is currently accepting applications for law clerk positions beginning August 2022. Applications containing all of the materials listed can be mailed following the instructions on the Supreme Court Clerkship website or emailed to joshc@utcourts.gov.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample (preferably 10-15 pages), and two or three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters may be sent separately. Applications containing all of the materials listed must be emailed to durrantchambers@utcourts.gov.
Justice John A. Pearce
Clerkship positions are filled through July 2022. Justice Pearce is not accepting further applications for clerkships in August 2022-2023. Justice Pearce will be accepting applications for law clerk positions beginning August 2023 and ending August 2024 starting in October 2021.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample, and two or three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation may be sent separately. Applications containing all of the materials listed must be emailed to pearcechambers@utcourts.gov.
Justice Thomas R. Lee
Justice Lee has filled all his clerkship positions through the 2023-2024 term. He accepts applications for later terms on a rolling basis from applicants who have at least 2 semesters of grades.
He also accepts applications for internship positions on a rolling basis from students with at least 1 semester of grades.
Application requirements: resume, law school transcript, writing sample, and two or three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation may be sent separately. Applications containing all of the materials listed must be emailed to leechambers@utcourts.gov.
Justice Deno G. Himonas
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: resume, law school transcript, writing sample (10-15 pages), and two or three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation may be sent separately. Applications containing all of the materials listed must be emailed to himonaschambers@utcourts.gov.
Justice Paige Petersen
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample (preferably 10-15 pages), and two or three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters may be sent separately. Applications containing all of the materials listed must be emailed to petersenchambers@utcourts.gov.
Utah Court of Appeals Clerkships
Please email applications with the individual judge's name in the subject line to courtofappeals@utcourts.gov, according to the following instructions:
Judge Gregory K. Orme
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: resume, law school transcript, unedited writing sample, and three letters of recommendation.
Application deadline: Applications from law students are accepted during the second semester of second year for the two positions to be filled following their graduation. Law school graduates may apply during the same period.
Judge Michele M. Christiansen Forster
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: resume, law school transcript, and unedited writing sample.
Judge Kate Appleby
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, 2-3 letters of recommendation, and unedited writing sample.
Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Preference will be given to applications received by June 1 for positions starting in August of the following year and January of the year after that.
Judge David N. Mortensen
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample (preferably 10-15 pages), and two or three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters may be sent separately.
Judge Jill M. Pohlman
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, unedited writing sample, and references. Letters of recommendation are optional and may be sent separately.
Judge Ryan M. Harris
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, unedited writing sample, and two or three letters of recommendation (which may be sent separately). It is preferred that applicants send two versions of their cover letter and resume, one of which, to be used for initial review purposes, should have the applicant's name and law school redacted.
Judge Diana Hagen
No clerkships are presently available.
Application requirements: cover letter, resume, law school transcript, unedited writing sample no longer than 10-15 pages, and references. Letters of recommendation are optional and may be sent separately.
The Utah State Courts mission is to provide the people an open, fair, efficient, and independent system for the advancement of justice under the law.
