Alumni Spotlight: Tara Stuckey ’07

U.S. Supreme Court Clerk

Only a select few enter the hallowed chambers of the Supreme Court of the United States to clerk for a justice. Notre Dame Law School alumna Tara Stuckey made the cut, and begins work for Justice Samuel Alito in July.

“I was thrilled when I got the call,” says Stuckey, an associate at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. “I’ve always loved research and writing, so to me the Supreme Court clerkship is a dream job.”

This is the second year in a row that a Notre Dame Law School alum will clerk for a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Currently, Stuckey’s classmate Brian Morrissey serves as a clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas.

An impressive number of NDLS alums have achieved the coveted and prestigious SCOTUS clerkship post—six over the past ten years.
“Notre Dame has been very successful in placing students in Court of Appeals and Supreme Court clerkships,” says Stuckey, who previously clerked for the Honorable Jeffrey S. Sutton on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. “This speaks volumes about the caliber of the legal education that students receive at Notre Dame Law School. Our professors are incredible, and they go above and beyond to help Notre Dame Law students achieve these positions. Their guidance and recommendations go a long way.”

Notre Dame’s clerkship placement rate translates to success in the legal job market, as well. “Legal employers highly value clerkship experience,” Stuckey says. “A clerkship provides a unique insight into how cases are decided, and it hones your research, writing and analytical skills to make you a better lawyer.”

At Jones Day, Stuckey focuses her practice on legal analysis, briefing, and strategy in complex trial and appellate litigation. She has practiced before district courts, federal appellate courts, and the United States Supreme Court, and she recently argued before the Ninth Circuit. Stuckey also maintains an active pro bono practice in immigration, criminal, and constitutional law matters. She graduated summa cum laude from NDLS, and served as executive managing editor of the Notre Dame Law Review.