Judicial Law Clerk how-to

How to Write a Bench Memo

Bench memos prepare the judge.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Bench memos prepare the judge. In short: summarize; state; summarize, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Summarize facts.

  2. State the issues.

  3. Summarize each side.

  4. Analyze the law.

  5. Recommend an outcome.

  6. List questions for argument.

Safety reminders for judicial law clerks

  • Keep case information confidential
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Follow judicial ethics
  • Don’t discuss pending cases

Bench memo · Opinion · Chambers · Docket · Record · Oral argument: see the full judicial law clerk glossary.

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