By Andrew Cohen
Even by the Bristow Fellowship’s demanding standards, Daniel Yablon’s application stood out.
A 2019 Berkeley Law graduate, Yablon achieved all kinds of student accolades: First in his graduating class. Winner of the McBaine Honors Moot Court Competition. American Jurisprudence Awards for best exam in his section in 11 classes. Senior articles and essays editor at the California Law Review.
But to hear Yablon tell it, Berkeley Law’s faculty and staff are largely responsible for him being one of just five lawyers selected to the coveted one-year fellowship with the Office of the Solicitor General in Washington, D.C. Awarded annually by the U.S. Department of Justice, it is one of the nation’s most coveted positions for recent law school graduates.
“Berkeley Law provided me with a wealth of opportunities to explore my interest in appellate public-law litigation, through both course offerings and career services geared toward students hoping to pursue careers in public interest,” he says. “I’m very grateful for professors and staff at the Career Development Office who have continued to support my career long since graduation.”
Starting in mid-July, Yablon and four other Bristow Fellows will draft briefs for cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, oppose certiorari filed against the government in the court, and prepare recommendations to the Solicitor General regarding authorization of government appeals in lower courts.
They will also work on special projects, and help the Solicitor General and other staff lawyers prepare Supreme Court oral arguments.
The Office of the Solicitor General carries a significant and important workload with a relatively small legal staff. As a result, it typically hires only attorneys with strong academic records and a relevant legal background, such as a federal judicial clerkship at the appellate level or notable appellate litigation experience.
Yablon is currently clerking for U.S. District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Tatel. He previously clerked for U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge and Berkeley Law lecturer William Fletcher, and for U.S. District Court Judge Alison Nathan in the Southern District of New York.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from a team of lawyers who are not only at the top of their craft, but also deeply committed to public service,” Yablon says.