There is a clerkship I really want, but I only have experience with legal intern applications that I only slightly improved from college internship apps. Should I use special resume paper? What type of envelope should I use when personally delivering? Do I just write my name on the envelope front? Are there cover letter and writing samples that I can refer to? I really want to class up my application.
Thanks!
Clerkship Application Tips
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A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 26836
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Re: Clerkship Application Tips
Fancy paper is not necessary (I did use resume paper for my CL and resume, but it isn't necessary. Don't use it for your WS. Though no one will likely care if you do).
Don't personally deliver, unless you've been specifically directed to by the judge/someone in chambers - it's unusual and you may well end up handing it to an admin person at the court - you probably wouldn't get let in to chambers without an appointment. Just mail it (I usually used priority mail to get delivery confirmation, but especially if it's in your same city plain first class works too. But not registered or certified or FedEx or anything).
(If you have been directed to hand deliver I don't think you need to write anything on the envelope, they'll probably just throw it out, anyway.)
There are quite a lot of cover letter samples on the web if you google - you'll get various LS CSOs posting guides online. Go with short and sweet, the bare minimum: student at X school; applying for clerkship in term x; have included [whatever's in the envelope], including LORs from [whoever] [or that the letters are coming under separate cover]; availability for interview [which should be whenever, unless you know you're going to be in that location on a specific date/range of dates]. If you have a connection to the area or the judge, mention that. I did usually add just a sentence or two highlighting stuff that's not evident on my resume, but plenty of people don't even do that and don't think applicants should. Basically, though, if something is on your resume it's not worth putting in the cover letter - they'll see it, they can read. (I've posted about this before, I know.)
WS: ideally no more than 10-12 pages, your best writing, ideally a practice type document (not a paper), unless you know the judge prefers something else. An exception is that more COA judges are often known to like LR notes. Just write a few sentences on a cover sheet to explain when you wrote it and why (class/internship/whatever).
Don't personally deliver, unless you've been specifically directed to by the judge/someone in chambers - it's unusual and you may well end up handing it to an admin person at the court - you probably wouldn't get let in to chambers without an appointment. Just mail it (I usually used priority mail to get delivery confirmation, but especially if it's in your same city plain first class works too. But not registered or certified or FedEx or anything).
(If you have been directed to hand deliver I don't think you need to write anything on the envelope, they'll probably just throw it out, anyway.)
There are quite a lot of cover letter samples on the web if you google - you'll get various LS CSOs posting guides online. Go with short and sweet, the bare minimum: student at X school; applying for clerkship in term x; have included [whatever's in the envelope], including LORs from [whoever] [or that the letters are coming under separate cover]; availability for interview [which should be whenever, unless you know you're going to be in that location on a specific date/range of dates]. If you have a connection to the area or the judge, mention that. I did usually add just a sentence or two highlighting stuff that's not evident on my resume, but plenty of people don't even do that and don't think applicants should. Basically, though, if something is on your resume it's not worth putting in the cover letter - they'll see it, they can read. (I've posted about this before, I know.)
WS: ideally no more than 10-12 pages, your best writing, ideally a practice type document (not a paper), unless you know the judge prefers something else. An exception is that more COA judges are often known to like LR notes. Just write a few sentences on a cover sheet to explain when you wrote it and why (class/internship/whatever).
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