Judge Riko Bishop, Nebraska Court of Appeals, organized a panel of law clerks to discuss the function and duties of appellate clerks to an audience of over 40 law students and instructors at the University of Nebraska College of Law. The panel followed morning arguments of the Nebraska Supreme Court at the college, where panel members discussed everything from office space to the variety of cases seen by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Hearing about the day-to-day responsibilities of law clerks gives students a practical understanding of what to expect if they have an interest in law clerking after college. Insight from the panel is intended to help students prepare for future clerkship opportunities.

Overall, listening to experienced law clerks discuss their job duties provides law students with a realistic and practical understanding of the profession, helping them prepare for their future roles in the legal field.

Law Clerk Nathan Erickson quoted a Nebraska lawyer who served as his mentor during law school.  The lawyer told Erickson, “You have your whole life to practice law -- taking a year or two to [serve as a judicial] law clerk will make you a better lawyer.”

Photo: Panelists for Nebraska College of Law include incoming clerk to Judge Bishop, Delaney Baumgartner; Chelsey Borchardt, law clerk to Justice Cassel; Claudia Brock, law clerk to Judge Moore, Logan Chitty, law clerk to Justice Funke; and, Nathan Erickson, law clerk to Justice Freudenberg.