By Andrew Cohen
A scan around the lecture hall revealed Berkeley Law students in rapt attention, leaning in — literally — to the nuggets shared by U.S District Judge Karin Immergut ’87 and Justice Kelli Evans. Once again, the school’s Judges-in-Residence program provided valuable insights and practical tips for aspiring judicial clerks and those interested in becoming a judge themselves.
Each year, two judges spend two days at the law school meeting with students in varied settings. In addition to the crowded lunchtime moderated by Director of Judicial Clerkships Anna Han, Evans (a justice on the California Supreme Court) and Immergut (a federal district court judge in Oregon) visited classrooms, held office hours, and spoke with student affinity groups.
They also shared some common sentiments: the need for being thorough in their chambers, respectful in their courtrooms, impartial in their decision-making, and collaborative with their clerks.
“I want people to leave my courtroom — even if I ruled against them and sentenced them — feeling that I read the materials, paid attention to the lawyers’ arguments, and listened to the defendants and their families,” Immergut said. “I still wordsmith every opinion to make sure it’s respectful and understandable for non-lawyers.”
Evans described a powerful sense of humility that comes with the enormous consequences of a judge’s work, noting that her court’s decisions impact 40 million Californians. Previously an Alameda County Superior Court judge, she greatly appreciated the responsibility in that role too.
“I enjoyed the trial court immensely, including interacting directly with self-represented litigants and attorneys,” Evans said. “That’s not the case now, but I get to engage with six other deeply committed justices with varied backgrounds and perspectives and I think the diversity of our bench makes for better decisions.”
Both judges cautioned law students against trying to brand themselves, urging them to focus instead on pursuing their passions and developing close relationships with classmates.
“Be open-minded in how you pursue law school, don’t pigeonhole yourself into a line of course work, and take advantage of what Berkeley Law has to offer,” Immergut said. “Don’t be driven too much by what you think your future self is going to be because honestly you have no idea.”
Character over resumé
The judges acknowledged how competitive judicial clerkships can be. Both said they look at grades, but Evans said they aren’t disqualifying — unlike sloppy cover letters or an unchecked ego.
“You can be the smartest person, but if you’re a jerk or difficult to work with, you’re not going to get hired,” she said. “The law is about people, how we organize our relationships with one another. As a law student, make sure you’re also paying attention to your social emotional intelligence, communication, and people skills — those things will get you very far in your career.”
Clerks review motions, research pleadings, provide neutral recommendations about which party has the best arguments based on the law and the facts — and gain tremendously useful insights. Both judges have an open-door policy and work very closely with their clerks.
“It’s a behind-the-curtain view of our justice system that very few people get,” Evans said. “I think it makes you a better attorney no matter what type of law you decide to practice. I don’t know anyone who says they regret doing a clerkship.
“I will say to be a successful and happy clerk, you do have to be open-minded and thick-skinned — willing and open to accept criticism, questions, and not have pride of authorship.”
Immergut explained trying to model behavior exemplary for both the parties and her clerks. At the start of her career, both in private practice and as an assistant U.S. attorney, she described encountering judges whose behavior often seemed arbitrary and condescending.
“There was a period when it felt like some judges could be mean, disrespectful, and dismissive. That’s not the judge I wanted to be,” she said. “I respected judges who used a balanced, measured approach, who made people feel heard and truly listened to them rather than shutting off their arguments or jumping to conclusions.”
Meaningful advice
Among the smaller gatherings they attended, Evans visited with Berkeley Law’s Queer Caucus — and the first openly LGBTQ woman to serve on California’s highest court made a strong impression.
“It was an inspiring and powerful moment for our community,” says Queer Caucus co-leader Keerthi Yalamanchili ’26. “Having direct access to someone like Justice Evans is invaluable. It not only affirms the presence of LGBTQ+ people in the legal profession’s highest echelons, but also provides a living example of how authenticity and excellence can coexist in law. Her openness with us was empowering and encouraged Berkeley Law students to reflect on our own experiences and potential for impact.”
For Immergut, making an impact in law school can occur by modeling different behavior than what she often sees in America’s increasingly polarized landscape.
“I’m concerned about our country’s inability to engage in civil discourse on differing views. Focus on that as a law student — how can you as a community discuss tough topics civilly?” she said. “Use this time to listen to other viewpoints, as that will make you more effective in your career. If you want to be a judge, you have to keep an open mind about different viewpoints.”
Immergut clearly enjoyed her return to Berkeley Law, especially sharing with students that “my clerks from Berkeley Law have been fantastic — it’s clear you really learn critical thinking here.”
In closing, Evans said there’s no single pathway to a clerkship, judgeship, or any form of career success.
“If something doesn’t float your boat, don’t do it,” she advised. “Stay flexible, stay open, and have fun. Find people doing things that interest you and reach out to them. And if things feel stressful remember: You’re in an elite law school and more privileged than 99.9% of the world.”