McThenia offered that men should be, and remain, consciously aware or you will discriminate. Male professors and men in the profession needed to learn that somethings are sexist, particularly with language. That s why the reasonable man standard is now the reasonable person standard. Recognizing these little things will go a long way in creating a more respectful profession. Law clerks have a wide range of duties, depending upon the needs of the particular judge they work for, ranging from research and writing on pending legal issues to drafting judicial opinions.
Some clerks help manage dockets, or serve as a liaison between the judge and attorneys.
As part of her duties, she verifies and condenses attorneys case briefs into shorter bench briefs that summarize the critical issues of a case. Judge Michael hears an average of twenty cases a week, and Goodwin s duties also include helping to draft the official written opinions for those decisions. One of the benefits of being a law clerk, she says, is being part of a nationwide network of law clerks, a situation that offers a feeling of camaraderie and mutual support, as well as access to information on the goings-on in other courts. The research and analysis required of clerks often has a significant influence on the way in which courts hand down opinions. It s kind of scary, he says, referring to the impact his discussions of the cases with Goodwin can have.