From Clerkships to Careers
Emily Johnson JD/MIP '06 is the most recent Franklin Pierce Law Center graduate to clerk at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). The CAFC exercises exclusive nationwide jurisdiction in select matters, including patents, trademarks, international trade, government contracts and veterans’ benefits. Appeals to the Court come from all federal district courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of International Trade and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Seven other graduates have served as judicial law clerks to the court, gaining experience that launched extraordinary careers. Their comments about their Pierce Law preparation and their clerkship experiences are below.
Learn more about clerkships through the Career Services Office's Legal Career Tool Kit.
"The flexibility that I found at Pierce Law was of tremendous help in preparing for my somewhat unusual legal career. I was able to become involved in intellectual property law and take challenging abstract courses from my first year in law school, and had the opportunity to extern at the Court for a semester during my third year. I have no idea if such flexibility is the norm at other law schools, but it certainly is at Pierce Law, and made my experience there quite enjoyable."
—George Blundall JD '91
Career Law Clerk to the Honorable Pauline Newman (retired)
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Washington, DC
"I am rarely at a loss for words, but find them inadequate to express the significance of my experience as a Federal Circuit law clerk. It was truly life altering, personally and professionally, particularly so since I was privileged to clerk for as esteemed a jurist as The Honorable Pauline Newman.This extraordinary opportunity clearly set the stage for the rewarding career that has followed." read more >>
—Steven McCann JD '91
Senior Vice President (retired)
Intellectual Property and Licensing
NXP Semiconductors
Eindhoven,The Netherlands
"Like every other former law clerk that I have ever spoken with, I can easily rate my experience at the Court as clerk to The Honorable Pauline Newman as the best job I ever had. Not only do you get to personally know and work with the judges who are deciding the cutting-edge issues of the day, you get to witness the very best attorneys in the field from all around the country practicing before you. It's an incredible learning experience that cannot be duplicated in either the academic or private sector."
—Ronald Hermenau JD '91
Senior Counsel, Patents
Amgen Inc.
South San Francisco, CA
"My clerkship experience with The Honorable Arthur J. Gajarsa has been, by far, the most rewarding experience in my legal career. It has also been the most enjoyable. Aside from invaluable insight into the inner workings of the judicial process that employers covet, you can also establish invaluable personal relationships with co-clerks and judges.These relationships are what I value most from my clerkship experience."
—Robert Scheffel JD '99
Partner
Wiley Rein LLP
Washington, DC
"Serving as clerk to The Honorable Pauline Newman has unquestionably been the best job I've ever had.The people who I met and worked with, and those who joined the Court family after me are irreplaceable in my life. It's not easy to obtain a clerkship, and the work is not easy-none of the simple cases come to the court. But it is an experience that cannot be matched, and is a superb preparation for the challenges of a lifetime legal career."
—Jennifer A.Tegfeldt JD '85
Director-Business Initiatives & Strategy
Genzyme Corporation
Cambridge, MA
"My clerkship with The Honorable Howard T. Markey was a great learning experience, led to meeting many colleagues that I continue to work with, and opened the door to many opportunities in the profession. I'd have to say that it was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my professional career."
—Bruce B. Brunda JD '77
Founding Partner
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
Aliso Viejo, CA
"I loved clerking for The Honorable Giles Sutherland Rich. I have ongoing professional advantages as a member of the ex-clerk fraternity and enjoy lasting friendships with several ex-clerks. I think clerking at the Federal Circuit is by far the best way to start a career in IP law."
—James Calkins, JD/MIP '98
Managing Member
Paterus Law Group, PLLC
Washington, DC
