Clerkship


Summer 2026 Law Clerkship – McCurdy, Wotila & Porteous

Join a collaborative, high-level litigation and transactional practice in Northern Michigan. Our paid summer clerkship  (32 hours/week) is open to rising 2Ls.

 

First-year clerks rotate across all practice areas—including litigation, probate, municipal, and real estate—and shadow attorneys in court, client meetings, and firm strategy sessions. Returning clerks may handle supervised indigent criminal defense cases.

 

In-office work is strongly encouraged (remote up to 2 days/week with approval).

 

McCurdy, Wotila & Porteous Summer Law Clerkship

✅ Firm Culture

  • Excellence Meets Balance: We pride ourselves on having some of Michigan’s top legal minds, while embracing the benefits of rural living. Cadillac offers the unique ability to do meaningful work without sacrificing quality of life.
  • Family-Oriented and Flexible: No one here misses family events or children’s activities. We’ve built a supportive, collaborative workplace that values both professional achievement and personal fulfillment.
  • Collaborative, Not Competitive: Our attorneys regularly consult and co-counsel to maximize each other’s strengths. Clerks are invited into this collaborative culture from day one.
  • Loyalty and Longevity: In an age of job-hopping, our firm has low turnover and lasting relationships—including with clerks who have gone on to become owners.

✅ Clerkship Experience

  • Real Work from the Start: Clerks research, draft pleadings, write memos, attend client interviews, and may assist with court filings and strategy.
  • Unique Litigation Opportunity: After completing Evidence and a full year of law school, clerks may represent indigent clients in criminal matters under supervision via the Wexford/Missaukee Public Defender's Office.
  • Structured Exploration: First-year clerks rotate through all practice areas and attend in-depth presentations from each attorney, learning the practical realities of legal specialties.
  • Tailored Second Summer: Returning clerks choose their preferred areas and work directly with attorneys in those fields—deepening their skills and experience.

✅ Career Development

  • 360° Feedback: Clerks receive detailed markups and face-to-face feedback from supervising attorneys, with optional written evaluations and a formal 360-degree end-of-summer survey.
  • Two-Year Development Model:
      - Year One: The clerk gets to know the firm.
      - Year Two: The firm gets to know the clerk.
      - Final hiring decisions are based on this full two-year relationship.
  • Clear Path to Ownership: Associates are hired with the expectation that they can become owner in 3–5 years if that’s their desired path.

✅ Client & Case Exposure

  • Wide-Ranging Client Base: Clerks work with individuals, municipalities, businesses, and nonprofits in a variety of general practice areas.
  • Substantive, High-Stakes Matters: Clerks are regularly exposed to sensitive and complex cases, not just routine or clerical tasks.
  • Front-Row Access: Opportunities include attending and supporting depositions, mediations, hearings, and trials.

✅ Work Environment

  • Office Locations: Our main office is newly renovated and located just a block from Lake Cadillac. Clerks primarily work here but may rotate into our Reed City office based on assignments.
  • Why In-Office Matters: In-person work fosters community, provides better access to attorneys, encourages collaboration, and enhances learning through shared experience and conversation.
  • Grounded in Independence: Clerks are expected to manage their own tasks, including scheduling and mailings, to build respect for staff roles and prepare for future leadership.

✅ Reputation & Recognition

  • Respected Across Michigan: Our firm has served the region for over 50 years and is recognized for excellence in both litigation and transactional law.
  • Super Lawyers & AV-Rated Attorneys:
      - Roger Wotila – AV Preeminent rating and Super Lawyers in Personal Injury Litigation.
      - Nathan R. Piwowarski – Super Lawyers in Estate Planning & Probate; ACTEC credentialed.
      - Patrick Cherry – Rising Star in Criminal Defense and Estate & Trust Litigation; holds multiple leadership positions in Michigan legal organizations.

✅ Compensation & Flexibility

  • Paid, Professional Work: Pay is commensurate with level of education and designed to fit a law student’s schedule while providing meaningful experience.
  • No Billing Quotas: Clerks are not responsible for billable hour requirements, freeing them to focus on learning and engagement.
  • Hybrid Work Options: Up to two days per week may be remote, though full in-office work is strongly encouraged for maximum benefit.

 

 

 

Apply with cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample to patrick@mwplegal.com. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.