Summer Law Clerk Program

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to the 2024 Summer Law Clerk Cohort in the Mayor's Press Briefing Room at City Hall; July 2024.

The program provides law students with the opportunity to work on intellectually challenging legal matters, expand knowledge of the legal field, participate in networking events, and engage with the legal community at behind-the-scenes tours of City Departments, meet and greets with City Officials and members of the State and Federal Judiciary.

  • Law students clerk full time during the summer months
  • Division Selection: Law Clerk's may indicate preference of DOL Practice Area Divisions by ranking first, second, and third choice
  • Flexible Learning Benefit: Following the first half of the program, Law Clerk's may elect to stay within their Division, or clerk with a new Division for the remainder of the program
  • Applicants must be able to provide proof of Chicago residency at the start of program

HOW TO APPLY

The application period for 2025 is now open, please see below how to apply.

  1. Submit your application via email: summerlawclerk@cityofchicago.org
  2. Include a single PDF attachment with the following documents in this order:
    • Cover Letter
      • Indicate if you will be eligible for 711 licensing by the summer.
      • Rank up to 3 Divisions you'd prefer to be placed in from the list below.  *Note: You cannot list the same Division more than once.
    • Resume
    • Transcript
      • Unofficial or official copies are acceptable.
    • Writing Sample
      • Maximum of 5 pages.
  3. Please note: Incomplete applications will delay the processing of your submission.

Litigation Practice Areas

  • Affirmative Litigation
  • Appeals
  • Aviation, Environmental, Regulatory & Contracts
  • Collections, Ownership & Administrative Litigation
  • Constitutional & Commercial Litigation
  • Employment Litigation
  • Federal Civil Rights Litigation
  • Labor
  • Legal Information & Prosecutions
  • Mass Torts & Complex Litigation
  • Public Safety Reform
  • Revenue Litigation
  • Risk Management & Compliance
  • Torts

Prosecution Practice Areas

  • Building & License Enforcement
  • Legal Information & Prosecutions

Transactional Practice Areas

  • Aviation, Environmental, Regulatory & Contracts
  • Finance & Economic Development Real Estate & Land Use

    * Some of the Divisions are placed in more than 1 Practice Area. However, the Division can only be listed once when ranking your preferences.