New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Albany) Certificates of Clerkships

Chronological by year and court term, then alphabetical by name of clerk.

Records concerning law clerkships include certificates stating that a student began a clerkship and setting the term of the clerkship, affidavits of clerkship applicants, certificates attesting to the clerk's moral character, reports of examiners on whether individual candidates passed, and related documents.

This series contains documents relating to clerkships served by persons who eventually would seek admission to practice as attorneys in the Supreme Court of Judicature. A typical file includes the following documents: certificate of attorney of the Supreme Court stating that a student commenced his clerkship on a certain date; certificate by a Supreme Court justice setting the term of clerkship, and reducing it up to four years for time spent in classical studies; affidavit of applicant for clerkship, describing the course of study he offers in place of up to four years of clerkship, with allowance of time by a justice; certificate of instructor stating length of time the applicant was a student; and certificate of attorney of the Supreme Court stating that the applicant has served his clerkship for a certain term of years and attesting to his good moral character. The affidavit describing the course of study often lists subjects taken or textbooks read.

Occasionally there are found appointments of examiners; certificates of examiners stating names of individuals who have been found qualified to be admitted to practice as attorneys or counsellors; reports of examiners on whether individual candidates passed; and calculations of fees and of months spent in classical studies. On the dorso of each document is the name of the clerk and the date of filing, which is soon after the examination.

The rules regarding clerkship and admission to practice as an attorney in the Supreme Court of Judicature were adopted by the court in the October term, 1797, and amended in 1803.

J1104Series J1104, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Utica) Certificates of Clerkships, contains the bulk of the Utica certificates

J2104Series J2104, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva) Certificates of Clerkships, contains most of the Geneva certificates

J0126Series J0126, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Utica) Motions, contains related records

J0130Series J0130, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Albany) General and Special Term Minute Books, contains lists of attorneys and counselors admitted to practice in the Supreme Court (not indexed to clerk's name)

The Court of Appeals placed these records on deposit at the Historical Documents Collection, Queens College, from 1973-1982.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.