Redefining Clerkships: A Call for Accountability (with President and Founder Aliza Shatzman)

On this episode of So Much To Say, Megan & Jen are joined by Aliza Shatzman, who talks about the long-standing issues clerks have faced and how The Legal Accountability Project is working to solve these problems.

Aliza Shatzman is the President and Founder of The Legal Accountability Project, which works to ensure positive clerkship experiences and support those who face challenges.

Aliza graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2019, aspiring to be a homicide prosecutor. She clerked in D.C. Superior Court for trial experience and insight into judicial decision-making.

Law schools promote clerkships as prestigious, mentorship-driven opportunities. However, Aliza encountered the stark reality: a power imbalance that silences clerks, lack of workplace protections, and judges’ lasting influence over careers.

Her experience of gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation derailed her aspirations. She later testified before Congress, exposing how federal judges are exempt from Title VII, leaving clerks without legal recourse.