Overcoming Financial Issues in Applying for Clerkships S p o n s o r e d b y : O F F I CE O F C A R E E R S E R V I CE S S TU D E N T F I N A N CI A L S E R V I CE S S U P E R O L A W S TU D E N TS A S S O CI A TI O N
Timeline of Clerkship Applications Hiring tends to happen in waves: Applicants may begin submitting applications as soon as 1L spring grades are released. Earliest wave of judges may hire rising 2Ls in late June and early July. Hiring will continue through the summer and fall. Another wave of judges tends to wait until 2L fall grades are released. Positions for the year after graduation can remain available through students’ 3L year. Hiring is unpredictable. It is difficult for students to predict when they will incur costs.
Clerkship Application Expenses Expenses related to the clerkship application process include: Printing paper applications; Mailing hard copy applications; Formal professional attire; Travel to interviews; Lodging; Transportation within interview city; Food throughout interview travel. Expenses can vary greatly depending on a student’s applications, judges’ timelines and hiring policies, holiday pricing of travel and lodging, and other factors. Because of this, it is hard to determine how much the process will cost any one applicant.
Cost of Clerkship Interviews Travel to interviews is typically the largest cost. Costs of Each Interview • Average: $418 .56 • Regional Averages: • EAST: $262.56 • MIDWEST: $555.92 • SOUTH/ SOUTHWEST: $572.86 • WEST: $780.66 On average, students w ill have 2-3 interview s. How ever, the reported range is from 0-10.
Total Costs of Clerkship Applications Students reported total costs of clerkship applications ranging from $10 to $4500. The average reported cost is approximately $1100. The median reported cost is approximately $750.
Planning for Clerkship Application Costs Plan for an average amount of costs Save in advance if possible Reduce living expenses during academic year to save Can save funds from summer employment (depending on how much income you earn) Use existing savings If not able to save in advance, or if costs exceed savings, can request borrowing increase
Caps on Clerkship Expense Appeals $1,200 per academic year and $2,400 total J.D. limit on borrowing increases for clerkship expenses Appeals are generally for reimbursement only SFS strongly recommends that students request increase for total clerkships expenses once per year SFS will consider “advance” borrowing increases on request (e.g. if student not able to cover expenses up-front due to high financial need) and must receive documentation of expenses Expenses incurred in summer will be reimbursed in Fall term
Eligible Clerkship Appeal Expenses Expenses are eligible for borrowing increase only; this borrowing will be LIPP eligible Expenses requiring documentation (receipts) Major travel expenses (airfare, train) Hotel/ lodging expenses Documentation (receipts) not required Local transportation (bus, cab/ ride share, public transport) Meals Printing (cover letters and resumes) and postage
Process to Request Borrowing Increase Student completes online appeal form On form, student will “self certify” amount of expenses not requiring documentation Student also itemizes expenses requiring documentation Student submits documentation (if required) to Student Financial Services to complete appeal Student Financial Services reviews appeal, adjusts student budget for allowed expenses, and notifies student of budget adjustment Student applies for loan to cover amount of expenses Once loan processed, SFS will release funds to student (if current billing balance due allows)
Professional Attire Allowance Up to $500 one-time budget increase toward the cost of professional attire Eligible for borrowing increase only; this borrowing will be LIPP eligible Process Student submits Appeal form No documentation required; student will “self-certify” expenses on Appeal form Otherwise similar to Clerkship expense appeal process
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