The purpose of the program is to attract diverse students who demonstrate not only a devotion to public service and the public good, but also exceptional leadership potential.
The Office of the Attorney General is the largest law firm in the State of Maryland, with varied, complex legal work and a distinguished history of successful advocacy. Our 600 attorneys act as legal advisors and litigators for the agencies, boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of Maryland State Government. Our work ranges from advising the Maryland Legislature on the constitutionality of proposed legislation to representing State agencies and officials in State and federal courts including the Maryland Court of Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. From protecting the Chesapeake Bay against polluters to keeping Maryland families safe from violence and unscrupulous business practices, our office is committed to serving the citizens of Maryland.
In keeping with our commitment to provide superior legal representation, the Office of the Attorney General strives to recruit and retain a professional staff that possesses a broad array of diverse talent, background, and experience. To further those efforts and to provide enhanced opportunities within the office for law students, the Office of the Attorney General has created the Thurgood Marshall Clerkship Program. A native son of Maryland, Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American member of the U.S. Supreme Court. He served on the Court from 1967 until he retired in 1991. Earlier in his career, Marshall served as a lawyer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and helped win the 1954 landmark desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Throughout his life, Marshall used the law to promote civil rights and social justice.
Each year, the Thurgood Marshall Clerkship Program provides first and second year law students the opportunity to serve an 10-week clerkship over the summer at the downtown Baltimore location of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. In addition to an application, resume and current law school transcript, each applicant must submit responses to essay prompts found on the Program Application.
Additional consideration given to:
Semifinalists are invited for an interview before final selections are made. Each student will receive a stipend of no less than $8,000.00 for the summer clerkship.
Applicants may direct questions about applying to thurgoodmarshall@oag.state.md.us.
For more information please see:
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING: The Office of the Attorney General views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving professional excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible, and are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting individuals who have historically been underrepresented in the practice of law and professional careers.