Trial Law Clerk Term: August 24, 2025 - August 22, 2026

Job Description: Our department of seventeen Law Clerks serves the Superior, District, and Family Courts, and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal. Law Clerks are based in Providence County, Kent County, Newport County and Washington County courthouses. Applicants must be willing to work in any of these locations and will receive their assignments during the first week of the term. 

 The Law Clerks do legal research and writing in the areas of civil, criminal, family, administrative, and zoning law. Specific duties include preparing research memoranda, drafting bench memoranda, and writing draft decisions.

Application Materials: Cover letter, addressed to Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell, indicating you are applying for a Trial Court Clerkship;

Resume;

Copy of your official law school transcript; (incomplete, unofficial transcripts may be submitted but must later be supplemented with complete, official transcripts when available)

Two letters of recommendation, including one from a law school professor who can comment on your writing and academic skills; and 

One full-length writing samples, written for a law school course or legal internship, preferably within the last year. A legal brief or memorandum recently prepared as a class assignment or for an internship is preferred, but not required. 

It is preferred, though not required, that all application materials be sent in one mailing, with the exception of letters of recommendation, which may be mailed directly by recommenders. Submissions by email or fax will not be accepted.

Please send all application materials to:

Trial Court Law Clerk Department

c/o Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell

Rhode Island Supreme Court 

Licht Judicial Complex

250 Benefit Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02903

We will notify you by email upon receipt of your application. It is your responsibility thereafter to verify that all materials have been received by the application deadline. Your file will not be considered complete until we have received all the required application materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered.