MSU Law Student Secures Clerkship on Michigan Supreme Court

MSU Law student Sarah Peterson set her sights on a clerkship in her first year of law school. She achieved that goal, earning a two-year clerkship with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra following graduation in 2024.

“I am excited to further my research and writing skills as a clerk for the Michigan Supreme Court,” said Ms. Peterson, a 3L and Notes Editor, Michigan State Law Review. “As a law student, I have met many professors and attorneys who clerked and they shared how wonderful their experiences were. They encouraged me to clerk to gain experience in the judiciary that will help me in private practice.”

Ms. Peterson has pursued numerous opportunities to work with the judiciary. She has externed for Judge David McKeague, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; Chief Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, United States District Court for the Western District Court of Michigan; and Judge Kathleen M. McCarthy, Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan.

She credited the support of Professors Jeremy Francis and Philip Pucillo and Career Services Advisor Kristina Bilowus for assisting her every step of the way though the clerkship applications process. Ms. Peterson is Research Assistant to Professor Francis. She also pointed to the encouragement and guidance of attorneys at Jones Day in Detroit for their help in navigating the process while a Summer Associate this past summer.

“Sarah’s intense focus and drive have made her a stellar law student,” said Professor Francis. “I have enjoyed watching her grow into the kind of lawyer we need in our legal profession. The court will be lucky to have her.”

Ms. Bilowus shared that “Sarah has been a motivated and very-hard working student from the start. Her skill, interest, and dedication to securing the clerkship has been an extremely rewarding journey.”