The 1L Application Process
Students interested in a 1L opportunity need only to submit the 1L application. The program is intended to lead to a 2L summer opportunity, so applicants should apply only if they are prepared to commit to returning for their 2L summer if extended an offer.
Students interested exclusively in a 2L summer position should apply directly through our 2L recruitment process.
International 1L Opportunities
We also offer a limited number of 1L law clerk positions in our London and Frankfurt offices. During the 10-week program, clerks gain firsthand experience working with our Capital Markets team in two of the world's leading financial centers while developing a global perspective on our practice and clients.
Our London and Frankfurt 1L programs are designed as a direct pathway to a 2L position in one of our US offices, offering students a unique opportunity to combine an international experience with a US summer experience during their 2L summer.
For those interested in the Frankfurt or London 1L opportunity a personal statement is also required.
1L Hiring by US Office
- New York: 2-3 1L Law Clerks
- Washington, DC: 1-2 1L Law Clerks
- Houston: 5-8 1L Law Clerks
Our New York and Washington, DC, offices recruit 1Ls solely through our Chris Morvillo Scholarship. Houston hires both 1L scholarship and non-scholarship recipients.
Application Timeline
- Our application portal opens on November 1.
- Once you have completed an interview, we aim provide you with an update within one week.
Your Resume
- Limit your resume to 1–2 pages. Carefully proofread for grammar and spelling errors, and ensure formatting is professional, consistent, and easy to read.
- Make sure that you have an updated phone number and email listed so we can contact you throughout the process.
Your Law School Transcript
- 1Ls can formally apply before receiving fall grades, however only complete applications, which include full first semester grades will be eligible for offer consideration.
- Incoming summer clerks will also be asked to provide spring semester grades once available.
Your Interview
- Selected candidates will be asked to participate in an initial 20–30 minute virtual screening interview with a senior attorney, typically a member of the Hiring Team.
- If selected, the "callback" round will be approximately two hours and will also be conducted virtually. You will meet with two partners and/or counsel and two associates for 30 minutes each.
- Every callback schedule is customized based on the practice areas selected when applying, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the teams that best match your interests.
Houston
In Houston, summer law clerks will have the opportunity to work across all of our departments, which include Corporate Transactions & Advisory, Project Finance & Development, Structured Finance, Debt Finance, Capital Markets, and Disputes. At the end of their 2L summer, they will receive an offer for the Transactional Pool or Disputes group.
New York
In New York, 2Ls will receive offers to join either our Transactional Pool or Disputes group. The Transactional Pool includes our Capital Markets, Debt Finance, Funds & Asset Management, Private Equity, Corporate Transactions & Advisory, Project Development & Finance, Restructuring & Insolvency, Structured Finance, and Real Estate groups. Our Disputes group provides summer law clerks with opportunities to work on arbitration, investigations, and litigation matters.
Washington, DC
Our DC office recruits directly into the following core practice areas: Antitrust & Trade, Disputes, and Project Development & Finance. This gives our summers an opportunity to integrate and work closely with attorneys in their primary area of interest.
Get to know Clifford Chance before recruiting begins! Catch us on campus, join our networking events, and visit our traveling Clifford Chance coffee carts to get a better sense of what makes CC so special.
Save the Date! Our annual Home for the Holidays event is held each January in New York, Washington, DC, and Houston. Designed for candidates who will be in one of these cities during winter break, the event offers an opportunity to meet a broad cross-section of our attorneys and learn more about our programs and the Clifford Chance culture.