Following our enlightening initial discussion, we continue this week with the second segment of our interview with Aliza Shatzman, the former law clerk turned advocate for judicial accountability, and founder of the noteworthy non-profit organization, the Legal Accountability Project. Her insights into the experiences of law clerks point towards the ongoing necessity for the evolution of the legal profession to be not only right, but fair. This is particularly riveting as it pertains to vulnerable early-stage attorneys, who may find themselves confronting workplace power imbalances and lack of experience.
The aim of LAP touches the vast expanse of arenas where legal leaders reside, with a strong emphasis on judicial clerkships. By augmenting transparency, fostering diversity, and holding the legal profession accountable, LAP is striving towards the creation of a safe work environment for the next generation of attorneys, clerks in particular.
LAP’s Centralized Clerkships Database breaks down the barriers of information about judges and clerkships. Aspirants should be in a position to know who they would be clerking for in a way they presently cannot, therefore, LAP serves to level the information playing field among law school students. This step is also a promising remedy to the issue of skewed representation within law clerks, as they are majorly white, male, and significantly contribute to a persistent lack of diversity in the legal profession at large.
Law firms that are heavily inclined towards hiring ex-clerks should support LAP’s efforts. By helping to publicize LAP’s post-clerkship survey through their in-house attorneys and encouraging them to share their experiences, law firms can contribute enormously to LAP’s mission to bring transparency to what has previously been a secretive process. The combination of firm donations with active participation in LAP’s efforts sends a potent message to the legal community that transparency and equality must be at the forefront of all professional considerations.
LAP also plans to launch an employment attorney consortium next year to aid distressed law clerks, besides encouraging law clerks to report issues without fear of reprisal, as judges should be held accountable for their actions. Law firms can assist in reducing this fear with a refocused approach to hiring,
It is disappointing to report that the federal judiciary has shown a reluctance towards implementing necessary reforms. The proposed reforms include passing the Judiciary Accountability Act (JAA), which would extend the scope of the Title VII protections to judiciary employees, including law clerks and federal public defenders.
At this point, it is encouraging to see individual federal judges’ support for LAP’s efforts. If the same momentum continues, LAP aims to bring long-sought-after change via legislative advocacy and the Clerkships Database to help law clerks avoid problematic situations in their workplaces. This is a critical step if the judiciary leadership continues to resist change.
Feel free to direct any questions or comments to me at gkroub@kskiplaw.com or on Twitter: @gkroub.