Scores of University of Virginia School of Law alumni are clerking across the country this term, and the school remains No. 5 nationally in the number of its graduates clerking at the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the 2025 term, two alumni clerk at the Supreme Court, 33 serve in the federal appellate courts, 51 in U.S. District and other federal courts, and 10 more in state appellate and local courts – for a total of 96.
The Law School ranks No. 5 after Harvard, Yale and Stanford universities and the University of Chicago in placing clerks on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the Law School’s Office of Judicial Clerkships census.
Dozens of Class of 2025 graduates gather for a reception hosted by the Law School’s Judicial Clerkships Office in April. (Photo by Mary Wood, UVA School of Law)
Clerkships not only give graduates insight into how judges think and substantive knowledge of varied areas of law, but they typically lead to bonuses for graduates joining large, prestigious law firms directly after. Would-be law professors are generally expected to have completed clerkships, and they offer useful experience for those who want to serve on the bench one day.
The Law School also ranks No. 4 after Chicago, Yale and Stanford in the percentage of graduates from the classes of 2020-24 going directly to federal clerkships after law school, according to American Bar Association data.
At the Supreme Court, Elizabeth Fritz, Class of 2022, is clerking for Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and 2021 graduate Josh Hanley is clerking for Justice Samuel Alito.
