What was it like clerking for Justice Alito?
Clerking for the Supreme Court was a very fulfilling experience because you learn so much every day, whether from the briefs, the other clerks in the building, or the Justices. It was a once-in- a-lifetime privilege to clerk for Justice Alito, in particular. He combines a ferocious intellect and a singular capacity for quickly identifying the pressure points in a case with remarkable kindness and humility.
What made you decide to join S&C in Washington, D.C.?
I chose S&C because I wanted to work at a firm that prides itself on investing in their associates. I also wanted to work with talented lawyers who had track records of solving tough legal problems in consequential matters for their clients. The D.C. office was attractive because of my interest in administrative law and regulatory affairs.
How has clerking helped prepare you for your work at S&C?
My clerkships helped me become a better writer by training me how to think more clearly. After clerking, I also have a keener understanding of how judges decide cases and the types of arguments they are more likely to find persuasive. For those reasons and others, clerkships can be valuable training for private practice.
Rishabh Bhandari’s clerkships:
- Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., United States Supreme Court, 2023–2024
- Judge Gregory G. Katsas, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2022–2023
- Judge Amul Thapar, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2021–2022
