This year, 15 Drake University Law School graduates are serving as judicial clerks, gaining firsthand experience with the judicial process by working closely with judges and strengthening their legal research and writing skills. These positions allow graduates to apply what they learned in the classroom to real-world legal issues.
Delaney Buisker, one of this years’ clerks, shares her experience in this role, including her day-to-day responsibilities, how her legal education prepared them for the role, and how the experience is shaping her legal career.
What is your role as a judicial clerk, and what does your day-to-day work look like?
As a law clerk for Iowa’s Second Judicial District, I support 17 district court judges in 22 counties across Iowa. My day-to-day varies widely, which I love. I draft orders for cases as assigned, but I also observe hearings/trials. This often leads to preparing research memos for judges as needed.
How does the clerkship align with your classwork at Drake Law? What skills did you learn or improve upon?
My clerkship is an extension of what I learned at Drake Law. Drake gave me the skills to efficiently research and adapt my writing to fit judicial style without sacrificing comprehensive legal analysis. But even now, I am always taking lessons from every motion, brief, and transcript I read.
How has the clerkship influenced your career so far? What are your plans for the future?
Because of clerking, I will step into practice knowing I can think, write, and prioritize like a judge. This perspective allows me to better serve clients, which is my exact intention for my legal career. I hope to be a public defender, and/or privately represent clients in juvenile and criminal matters.