Two Drake Law School students, Ankit Pal and Payton Rochford, were among a select group chosen to attend the highly competitive Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference, hosted by The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together distinguished jurists and future judicial law clerks from around the country to examine the art of writing a well-reasoned judicial opinion.
The conference is designed for law students who will soon serve as clerks in federal circuit courts, federal district courts, or state appellate courts. Through direct engagement with sitting judges, participants gain invaluable insight into the judicial decision-making process and the art of crafting precise legal opinions.
Reflecting on the experience, Payton Rochford emphasized the importance of clarity in legal writing:
“I learned about many different writing styles and preferences, but above all, I think the main takeaway was to write in a manner that is as clear and concise as you can make it. I hope to incorporate elements from several of these different styles to further develop my writing skills.”
Ankit Pal highlighted the factors that strengthened his application for the conference:
“The biggest thing that made me stand out as an applicant for this conference was my desire to learn and improve my writing process in anticipation of a successful clerkship. My prior experience as a Teaching Assistant for legal research and writing, along with my internships at the Polk County Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, provided me with meaningful exposure to legal writing. Additionally, serving on Drake’s national moot court team helped refine my analytical and advocacy skills. These experiences demonstrated my commitment to legal writing and my ability to analyze cases from both trial and appellate perspectives.”
Pal also underscored how the conference will enhance his upcoming clerkship with Judge Chicchelly on the Iowa Court of Appeals:
“This conference has reinforced the importance of precision, clarity, judicial tone, and sound legal reasoning—skills that are essential for my upcoming clerkship. Understanding how judges approach opinion writing and decision-making will help me contribute meaningfully to chambers from day one. More broadly, the skills I’ve gained will serve me well in any legal role that requires strong analytical writing throughout my career.”
Rochford encouraged future law clerks to take advantage of this opportunity:
“This is a great experience that can help you meet a lot of interesting and intelligent people. I would highly recommend all future clerks apply.”
We are proud of Ankit and Payton for their dedication to legal writing and their impressive representation of the school at the conference. Their experience exemplifies the strong commitment to legal excellence that defines Drake Law students and future clerks.