A better judiciary makes a better society.
The Legal Accountability Project’s mission is to ensure that law clerks have positive clerkship experiences, while extending support and resources to those who do not. Through advocacy, thought leadership, and innovative legal technology, LAP increases transparency, diversity, and accountability in judicial clerkships, the judiciary, and the legal profession generally. LAP’s key values - transparency, accountability, diversity, and empowerment - infuse all aspects of our work.
1. Transparency - By democratizing information about judges, LAP vastly increases the breadth and candor of information about judges as managers and clerkship experiences that is available to students considering clerkships, as well as to clerkship directors and deans advising students on the application process. Everyone who wants to clerk should feel empowered to make the career decision that’s best for them. Knowledge is power.
2. Accountability - No judge is above the law. Judges who mistreat their clerks commit abuses of power. LAP raises the bar on workplace civility in the judiciary by holding judges accountable for their workplace conduct.
3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Judicial chambers are notoriously homogenous. When we consider who rises to and through the profession - including to the judiciary - diversifying the legal profession starts with diversifying clerkship hires. Yet historically marginalized groups - including female, non-white, LGBTQ+, disabled, and first-generation students - disproportionately lack access to information channels and formal networks that help some of their peers obtain clerkships. LAP’s Centralized Clerkships Database increases diversity and equity in the clerkship pipeline and legal profession generally.
4. Empowerment - LAP aims to empower everyone to bring their full selves to work, including to a judicial chambers. This starts with encouraging law students to demand increased transparency and equity in the clerkship application process at their schools. It also entails inspiring law clerks who experienced mistreatment to share their experiences. LAP is changing the conversation around clerkships from one of silence and fear to one of open and honest dialogue about the full range of clerkship experiences.
LAP’s work is transforming the clerkship application process - and the legal profession - for the next generation of attorneys. Transparency, accountability, diversity, equity, and empowerment benefit law students, law schools, law clerks, judges - and everyone who engages with the court system.