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3L here, missed the boat on clerkships beginning in fall 2013. I would like to apply for clerkships in 2014. When should I start applying for them, since the hiring plan no longer applies? And should they be paper applications or should I be using OSCAR? I see a lot of judges that have 2014 and 2015 postings already up, but it seems very early to be applying for those.

Some judges do in fact start looking at applications now, although I think most of the really early-hiring types will have actually hired already (some judges hire 2 years out). March/April/May is what I usually see suggested for alums. Personally, I prefer paper, because I think it's harder to ignore an application in front of you than on OSCAR (where you can just hit delete!). But some judges will only look at applications submitted through OSCAR. You can always go by the directions listed on OSCAR (and if they take multiple formats, I'd go with paper).

And if I'm willing to go pretty much anywhere, is paper still better? I would have to get a lot of letters (I assume from professors, even though I'll have a year of work by the time I start), and it would be profoundly expensive to send paper applications.

Suck it up, buttercup?

Yeah, that's the dilemma, unfortunately. If you're sticking with openings listed on OSCAR, and the judge says to apply through OSCAR, then go through OSCAR; a lot of judges will specify OSCAR, and many won't take paper apps. I used paper in part because I blanketed my circuit rather than following who had openings listed on OSCAR, and it turned out well for me, because the judge I'm clerking for usually hires on-plan through OSCAR and didn't yet have a listing on OSCAR, but they looked at my application on paper when it showed up, and decided to hire early. Conversely, though, I got notices from a lot of judges that they didn't have openings at all (and a few telling me to re-apply through OSCAR once the position opened up there). So I recommend paper because it worked for me, but I can understand wanting to avoid it and I don't think there's a hard and fast rule at all.

(My sort of messy approach was based on the fact that it's so hard to find out who's actually hiring and when, and who takes early apps and who only hires on-plan, that I kinda said "fuck it" and just sent out a bunch of apps. But I'm not saying that's the best strategy.)

Anonymous User wrote:And if I'm willing to go pretty much anywhere, is paper still better? I would have to get a lot of letters (I assume from professors, even though I'll have a year of work by the time I start), and it would be profoundly expensive to send paper applications.

Suck it up, buttercup?

Shouldn't be all that expensive to send paper applications -- U.S. Mail is fine (~$1.50/app). And, you should try to target your search somewhat (i.e., don't apply to every sitting, focus on judges who you think you would (a) want to work for, (b) would be a good fit, and (c) have a decent shot at ).

-DoubleClerk

Anonymous User wrote:3L here, missed the boat on clerkships beginning in fall 2013. I would like to apply for clerkships in 2014. When should I start applying for them, since the hiring plan no longer applies? And should they be paper applications or should I be using OSCAR? I see a lot of judges that have 2014 and 2015 postings already up, but it seems very early to be applying for those.

My general suggestion would be that unless you affirmatively know that a judge does not want applications, you should send out your paper applications starting sometime in February or March. It's not worth sending out your applications until you have your Fall 3L grades (most of judges are not in a rush at this point, so they have time to wait for grades), but then I would send out paper applications. Most important, start reaching out to current/former clerks who are alums of your school/other connections to talk about their clerkship experience. These guys/gals are often the gatekeepers or catalysts who can get your application looked at.

-DoubleClerk

There are still non-oscar participating judges looking for law clerks. There are some clerkship openings posted here: http://www.uscourts.gov/Careers/SearchJobVacancies.aspx

TIP: Use "view all" and look through the posting. Each court describes the position differently (staff attorney, law clerk, temporary law clerk, etc).

3L here currently jobless and considering applying for a 2014-2015 clerkship. Would a judge look poorly on the fact that I don't have anything lined up for post-graduation? I go to a school that will pay me to do PI work for a year to appease US News so theoretically I could do that for the one year gap.