Clerkships are one of the most formative experiences an aspiring appellate lawyer can have, but they're also difficult to access without the right guidance and community behind you.

TAP Alum Juliana Chang, Judicial Law Clerk for the U.S. District Courts, will clerk for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during the 2026-2027 Supreme Court term.

Appellate court decisions affect every aspect of our lives—from voting rights to housing discrimination to healthcare access. These courts review disputes that came from trial courts, but the legal principles they establish ripple far beyond individual cases.

Appellate decisions shape civil liberties at scale. When the Supreme Court rules on voting rights, reproductive healthcare, or housing discrimination, that interpretation determines how those constitutional protections apply to millions of people.

Appellate courts don't just resolve individual disputes—they set the precedent that shapes how the law gets interpreted and applied going forward.

Sometimes, a single unexpected moment can change the course of your career.

Transformation begins with your presence in spaces that need to change. Sarah Lahlou-Amine, shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and TAP volunteer, reminds us that showing up authentically in legal spaces creates ripples that benefit everyone, not just those who look like you.

Behind every successful appellate advocate is someone who extended a hand.

We're proud to reshare the story of Ashwin Phatak, Principal Deputy Solicitor General at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia and TAP volunteer, in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Diverse lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds and educational institutions strengthen our legal system.

Aspiring appellate lawyers without insider connections often assume the path into appellate law isn't meant for them, so they stay quiet about their goals and self-select out before anyone even has the chance to support them.

TAP Alum Darryl E. Williams, Jr., current Supreme Court and Appellate associate at Hogan Lovells, will clerk for Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson during the 2026-2027 Supreme Court term. He's only the second Howard Law graduate to clerk at the Supreme Court—the first since the 1980s.

For Samantha Maltais, a judicial law clerk and TAP alumna, the stakes of appellate law have never been abstract. As a Native attorney, she understands deeply how a single ruling can bind entire tribal communities — shaping their past, their present, and their future.

This month, we recognize Arab American Heritage Month — honoring the generations of Arab Americans who have shaped American culture, communities, and institutions, and who continue to do so.

When appellate decisions are made without the perspectives of people who've lived their consequences, something essential is missing from the law itself.

Law students frequently approach clerkships with a singular focus on prestige, often at the expense of finding positions that genuinely advance their career objectives. The truth is that the "best" clerkship isn't necessarily the most highly ranked.

Law students often wonder how their unique backgrounds "fit" into the appellate world. What many don't realize: chambers actively need clerks with different lived experiences to strengthen judicial decision-making.

A state court clerkship can be a powerful stepping stone towards diverse, high-level legal careers. As we continue to demystify common myths around state court clerkships, we tackle Myth #3: "A state court clerkship won’t help if you aspire to work in Big Law or the federal bench."

State court clerkships involve deeply engaging work on critical legal questions. Today in our series debunking state court clerkship myths, we’re addressing another common myth about state court clerkships:

State supreme & appellate court clerkships carry enormous influence and prestige. Last week, we shared resources that explain the influence and impact the state courts have on issues affecting people’s rights.

Clerkships offer unmatched training for appellate advocates, from offering experience on a breadth of legal issues to understanding how judges weigh complex arguments.

Clerkships are valuable, but they come with real challenges that can disproportionately affect students without financial cushions or built-in support systems.

When it comes to judicial clerkships, there are certain skills that most judges look for: strong research skills, demonstrated writing ability, and attention to detail among other things.

The clerkship application process is full of unwritten rules: when to apply, how to choose judges, what actually goes into a strong cover letter, how to prepare for interviews, and more.

Federal clerkships are where nearly all appellate careers begin. These prestigious positions provide the training, credentials, and connections that open doors to appellate practice and eventually judicial leadership.

This Women's History Month, we're highlighting insights from Alejandra Á., a partner at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick PLLC, on what meaningful mentorship actually requires.

This Women's History Month, we're sharing insights from Alejandra Ávila, a partner at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, and Frederick, PLLC, on why diverse teams strengthen appellate practice.

In appellate practice, where competition is fierce and pathways aren't always visible, mentorship can make the difference between navigating the field alone and having advocates who actively invest in your success.

This Women's History Month, we're highlighting Alejandra Ávila, a partner at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, and Frederick, PLLC, whose experience reflects a reality many women of color in professional spaces navigate: serving as primary caregivers to family members while managing demanding careers.

When talented lawyers encounter barriers unrelated to their legal skills, the profession loses essential perspectives.

Jillian Williams, an associate at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, speaks to the reality of navigating appellate spaces while often being "one of the only" individuals who look like them, and the toll that can take.

In honor of Black History Month, we're sharing insights from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP associate Jillian Williams, on why diverse teams strengthen legal work.

Imposter syndrome can be particularly acute in appellate practice, where the work can feel intimidating and the barriers to entry remain high.

In honor of Black History Month, we're highlighting Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP associate Jillian Williams, who shared what it means to navigate appellate practice as a Black professional.

Bar admission opens doors to legal positions that serve as traditional pathways into appellate practice. When graduates from underrepresented backgrounds face barriers to securing these roles, the gap affects not just their first jobs but their entire trajectory toward appellate careers.

Career paths into appellate practice often run through private practice, clerkships, and government offices—often overlooking those in public interest roles. When the pathway to appellate careers privileges certain sectors over others, talented lawyers with essential perspectives get left behind.

This employment gap among law school graduates can compound over time. When lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds face barriers to securing their first positions, those early obstacles narrow the pool of diverse professionals who eventually pursue appellate practice and judicial leadership.

One of the most common barriers to clerkships isn't what's on your transcript—it's the decision not to apply at all. Students from underrepresented backgrounds often talk themselves out of opportunities before judges ever see their applications.

The American Constitution Society and TAP recently hosted a panel designed to demystify judicial clerkships for law students of color and first-generation law students.

The professional background for judges can shape how they approach cases. Former prosecutors may weigh different factors in their decisions than former public defenders, bringing distinct perspectives to questions of criminal justice, sentencing, and constitutional protections.

Federal clerkships are where nearly all appellate careers begin. These prestigious positions provide the training, credentials, and connections that open doors to appellate practice and eventually judicial leadership.

Courts derive their legitimacy from the trust of the people they serve. When entire communities see themselves completely excluded from their state's highest court, that trust can erode and raise fundamental questions about equal justice.

Appellate careers often depend on networks and mentorship. When talented lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds lack access to these connections, even the most qualified candidates can find themselves on the outside.

State supreme courts often provide the final word on cases affecting families, workers, and communities across the country. When these benches don't reflect the people they serve, critical perspectives are missing from decisions that shape daily life.

Transforming who sits on our appellate benches isn't just about fairness—it's about the quality and legitimacy of our legal system itself.

Join ACS and @theappellateproj.bsky.social for a panel discussion designed for law students of color and first-generation law students that will demystify judicial clerkships and highlight them as an attainable pathway. Register here: getinvolved.acslaw.org/component/ev...

Aspiring appellate leaders, especially those who are first-generation or from underrepresented backgrounds, often face gaps in obtaining:

Too often, access to appellate law can depend on who you know rather than what you can do, leaving talented law students and early career lawyers with appellate aspirations on the outside looking in.

TAP is searching for our next legal intern for a paid, remote position! This isn't your traditional legal internship. This is a hands-on opportunity in a start-up nonprofit environment to use your legal research skills in non-traditional ways.

Demystifying the appellate field is crucial to providing a new generation of appellate leaders access to these elite legal spaces. Without access to mentorship, community, and insider knowledge, appellate law can feel opaque and impenetrable to those on the outside.