I know, it's been a while since I posted--and even longer since I posted about law school, which is ostensibly the focus of my life and (by extension) this blog. So here's a little update to make up for that.

I have officially begun my summer clerkship with Justice Jill Parrish of the Utah Supreme Court. Probably the main thing to state from the outset is that this actually limits my blogging for a little while. Specifically, I can't talk about what I'm working on, share conversations from inside the Justice's chambers, say anything that might directly or inadvertently undermine public confidence in the judiciary, et cetera. Even my political expressions are slightly curtailed. This is all to prevent disadvantaging the petitioners (e.g. impacting settlement negotiations) or otherwise hampering the integrity of the judicial process.

What I can say, however, is that so far I'm really glad to have this opportunity. It does mean getting up at 5:30am, catching an hour long express bus to Salt Lake City, and (in short) being away from my family for 12 hours a day. This week is oral arguments; we (all the full-time and summer clerks) spend the morning listening to petitioners make their cases in 20-minute increments. After lunch, we spend some time with our individual Justices discussing the cases and our particular assignments. In between, I read memos and records and whatever else needs to be read for the work I have to do.

Oh! One particular that I can mention from today (because it is a matter of public record) is that one of the petitioners didn't show up for arguments. It was only the second no-show that anyone could remember in the last five years or so. Kind of a unique (and bizarre) experience... Hint for future lawyers: don't miss your appointment with the Supreme Court!

Starting next week things will focus in a little more on particular assignments, and I know that (for me at least) real work has scarcely even begun. But I wanted to make it a point to share my initial impression of clerking. It was really amazing to find myself sitting down with a justice of the Utah Supreme Court and discussing the ins and outs of specific cases to be decided. There was definitely some sense of inadequacy, but also the sense of discovery at seeing the system function. It functions much as you might expect, though perhaps a good deal more entertaining (in a geeky, lawyer sort of way), at least at times.

Well, this is turning into a bit of a travelogue, so let me wrap up. I've been wanting to try a judicial clerkship for a while, and so far it has been even more interesting than I imagined. Of course the more grueling research and writing is forthcoming, but life's not all sugar and sunshine. If you are a law student and can manage it, I'd definitely recommend you give clerking a go. Even if the work doesn't appeal to you, the chance to work semi-closely with a judge should not be passed up.

In other news, note the "3L" tag on this post. No, I don't have grades yet, but I figure what's done is done. I've entered the final 12 months of law school!