Clerks Taking Questions Forum
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Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about clerkship applications and clerkship hiring. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
How do you ask a professor to call a judge on your behalf? Is there sample language floating around on TLS? I looked, but was unable to find anything. This is a very specific judge I am interested in, and the professor knows him/her personally.
- ggocat
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Just ask. If you don't know the professor already, stop by their office and introduce yourself first. Just be normal.Anonymous User wrote:How do you ask a professor to call a judge on your behalf? Is there sample language floating around on TLS? I looked, but was unable to find anything. This is a very specific judge I am interested in, and the professor knows him/her personally.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
A phone call is an opportunity for a professor to recommend you and answer questions about your personality/intellect. If you don't know the professor even superficially, what is he supposed to say in the phone call?ggocat wrote:Just ask. If you don't know the professor already, stop by their office and introduce yourself first. Just be normal.Anonymous User wrote:How do you ask a professor to call a judge on your behalf? Is there sample language floating around on TLS? I looked, but was unable to find anything. This is a very specific judge I am interested in, and the professor knows him/her personally.
- rpupkin
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Agree with this. If a professor has a relationship with a judge, the prof probably isn't going to want to burn his recommendation-capital on a student he doesn't know.wwwcol wrote:A phone call is an opportunity for a professor to recommend you and answer questions about your personality/intellect. If you don't know the professor even superficially, what is he supposed to say in the phone call?ggocat wrote:Just ask. If you don't know the professor already, stop by their office and introduce yourself first. Just be normal.Anonymous User wrote:How do you ask a professor to call a judge on your behalf? Is there sample language floating around on TLS? I looked, but was unable to find anything. This is a very specific judge I am interested in, and the professor knows him/her personally.
OP: If the prof has already agreed to write you a letter of recommendation, then go visit the prof in his office, explaining your interest in clerking for the specific judge. If you're lucky, the prof might offer to make a call for you.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Sorry, should have clarified - the professor wrote me a letter, but I graduated last year. I have a good relationship with the professor, but I wasn't sure if it's inappropriate to ask her or put her on the spot. I am new to the clerkship process and don't really know how the whole professor calling judges thing works. But makes sense, I will just email or call her.rpupkin wrote:Agree with this. If a professor has a relationship with a judge, the prof probably isn't going to want to burn his recommendation-capital on a student he doesn't know.wwwcol wrote:A phone call is an opportunity for a professor to recommend you and answer questions about your personality/intellect. If you don't know the professor even superficially, what is he supposed to say in the phone call?ggocat wrote:Just ask. If you don't know the professor already, stop by their office and introduce yourself first. Just be normal.Anonymous User wrote:How do you ask a professor to call a judge on your behalf? Is there sample language floating around on TLS? I looked, but was unable to find anything. This is a very specific judge I am interested in, and the professor knows him/her personally.
OP: If the prof has already agreed to write you a letter of recommendation, then go visit the prof in his office, explaining your interest in clerking for the specific judge. If you're lucky, the prof might offer to make a call for you.
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- ggocat
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
So, does the prof know that she already wrote you a letter for this particular judge? Or is this the type of situation where your prof wrote a form letter and it was uploaded to OSCAR? If the latter situation, definitely mention to the prof that you applied to a judge who the prof knows personally. In fact, the prof may insist on making the phone call because the tone of the letter might have been different if the prof knew who she was writing to.Anonymous User wrote:Sorry, should have clarified - the professor wrote me a letter, but I graduated last year. I have a good relationship with the professor, but I wasn't sure if it's inappropriate to ask her or put her on the spot. I am new to the clerkship process and don't really know how the whole professor calling judges thing works. But makes sense, I will just email or call her.
If the prof knew that her letter was going to that particular judge already, I think it's a little bit more of a delicate conversation. Sure, still ask the prof if she's comfortable making a phone call on your behalf. But keep in mind that if she wanted to, she would have done it already.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Ah, I see. It's the latter. The professor wrote the letter about a year and a half ago during my last semester of school, but I just sent out my app about a month ago. And then a few days ago when I was going through my apps and doing more research, I discovered that this professor and judge know each other pretty well.ggocat wrote:So, does the prof know that she already wrote you a letter for this particular judge? Or is this the type of situation where your prof wrote a form letter and it was uploaded to OSCAR? If the latter situation, definitely mention to the prof that you applied to a judge who the prof knows personally. In fact, the prof may insist on making the phone call because the tone of the letter might have been different if the prof knew who she was writing to.Anonymous User wrote:Sorry, should have clarified - the professor wrote me a letter, but I graduated last year. I have a good relationship with the professor, but I wasn't sure if it's inappropriate to ask her or put her on the spot. I am new to the clerkship process and don't really know how the whole professor calling judges thing works. But makes sense, I will just email or call her.
If the prof knew that her letter was going to that particular judge already, I think it's a little bit more of a delicate conversation. Sure, still ask the prof if she's comfortable making a phone call on your behalf. But keep in mind that if she wanted to, she would have done it already.
- ggocat
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Yeah, I would just explain the line of events to your prof. Your prof will likely jump at the chance to recommend you over the phone/email, just to give the judge a head's up that she has recommended you for the job. If she doesn't offer, no harm in straight up asking her to phone/email the judge about your app.Anonymous User wrote:Ah, I see. It's the latter. The professor wrote the letter about a year and a half ago during my last semester of school, but I just sent out my app about a month ago. And then a few days ago when I was going through my apps and doing more research, I discovered that this professor and judge know each other pretty well.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Sounds good. Thank you all for the help.ggocat wrote:Yeah, I would just explain the line of events to your prof. Your prof will likely jump at the chance to recommend you over the phone/email, just to give the judge a head's up that she has recommended you for the job. If she doesn't offer, no harm in straight up asking her to phone/email the judge about your app.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
I am applying to clerk.
Last edited by Anonymous User on Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- rpupkin
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
SDNY, EDNY, NDIL, and NDCA are among the six or seven most competitive districts in the country. Given that your paper credentials aren't particularly strong, you're going to have a tough time if you limit your search to judges in those districts.Anonymous User wrote:I am applying to clerk for ideally the 2019 cycle but will be open to 2018 if I get an offer.
I graduated from a T14 with a 3.5 and went to law school at night while I worked at the White House.
I applied to all SDNY, EDNY and NJ (Newark only), as well as Chicago, one San Fran district court judges.
I wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions on other cities/judges I should apply to that I might be competitive for.
I am currently at a top 25 firm.
I suggest applying broadly--apply to judge throughout the country.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
What would you say are the other most competitive districts?rpupkin wrote:SDNY, EDNY, NDIL, and NDCA are among the six or seven most competitive districts in the country. Given that your paper credentials aren't particularly strong, you're going to have a tough time if you limit your search to judges in those districts.Anonymous User wrote:I am applying to clerk for ideally the 2019 cycle but will be open to 2018 if I get an offer.
I graduated from a T14 with a 3.5 and went to law school at night while I worked in government.
I applied to all SDNY, EDNY and NJ (Newark only), as well as Chicago, one San Fran district court judges.
I wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions on other cities/judges I should apply to that I might be competitive for.
I am currently at a top 25 firm.
I suggest applying broadly--apply to judge throughout the country.
- rpupkin
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
In addition to the districts you're applying to, DDC and CD Cal are known for being competitive.Anonymous User wrote:
What would you say are the other most competitive districts?
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Basically, every district in a primary legal market.Anonymous User wrote:What would you say are the other most competitive districts?
- mjb447
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Yeah, most of the districts you're applying to are the ones that get eliminated first when people start discussing where they "might be competitive"; you should apply anywhere you'd consider living for a year if you just want to clerk, especially with a 3.5 from Georgetown (I assume).Anonymous User wrote:I am applying to clerk for ideally the 2019 cycle but will be open to 2018 if I get an offer.
I graduated from a T14 with a 3.5 and went to law school at night while I worked in government.
I applied to all SDNY, EDNY and NJ (Newark only), as well as Chicago, one San Fran district court judges.
I wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions on other cities/judges I should apply to that I might be competitive for.
I am currently at a top 25 firm.
- jrf12886
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
With your grades, you need to apply broadly. I'd suggest applying to any District you would be willing to live in for a year.Anonymous User wrote:I am applying to clerk for ideally the 2019 cycle but will be open to 2018 if I get an offer.
I graduated from a T14 with a 3.5 and went to law school at night while I worked in government.
I applied to all SDNY, EDNY and NJ (Newark only), as well as Chicago, one San Fran district court judges.
I wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions on other cities/judges I should apply to that I might be competitive for.
I am currently at a top 25 firm.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Is anyone else borderline in the red? The clerkship paychecks are tiny and I'm in a very high cost of living area. I have maybe $100-200/month left over after paying rent and expenses.
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- mjb447
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
I'm not, but I'm not surprised that it happens (particularly with people who are used to a biglaw paycheck).Anonymous User wrote:Is anyone else borderline in the red? The clerkship paychecks are tiny and I'm in a very high cost of living area. I have maybe $100-200/month left over after paying rent and expenses.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Not OP, but clerking 18-19 after two years of big law. What can I do now and over this next year to prepare financially? I am saving money and working on budget/spending habits, but that's about it. I am clerking in a flyover so the COL is pretty cheap and am supporting only myself. .mjb447 wrote:I'm not, but I'm not surprised that it happens (particularly with people who are used to a biglaw paycheck).Anonymous User wrote:Is anyone else borderline in the red? The clerkship paychecks are tiny and I'm in a very high cost of living area. I have maybe $100-200/month left over after paying rent and expenses.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
OP here. I think you'll be fine. I'm right out of law school so the paycheck is much smaller than yours will be after 2 years of experience. On that salary I'd have no trouble whatsoever.
I'm just spending a ton on rent because I didn't know anyone in my area so I'm living alone and placed a high priority on living very close to work, and thus in an expensive area.
I'm just spending a ton on rent because I didn't know anyone in my area so I'm living alone and placed a high priority on living very close to work, and thus in an expensive area.
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
I think the biggest thing is to plan ahead and to budget your spending, especially on rent, food, and entertainment as those things you have the most control over. If you want X you get less of Y. You probably won't be saving tons but as long as you can live for the year without being in the red you're fine.Anonymous User wrote:Not OP, but clerking 18-19 after two years of big law. What can I do now and over this next year to prepare financially? I am saving money and working on budget/spending habits, but that's about it. I am clerking in a flyover so the COL is pretty cheap and am supporting only myself. .mjb447 wrote:I'm not, but I'm not surprised that it happens (particularly with people who are used to a biglaw paycheck).Anonymous User wrote:Is anyone else borderline in the red? The clerkship paychecks are tiny and I'm in a very high cost of living area. I have maybe $100-200/month left over after paying rent and expenses.
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- mjb447
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
Yeah, you'll probably be fine - I think the pay tables are more generous overall to people in flyover country, and you'll have money saved up. It sounds like you might be moving as well, which will probably be a financial hit but you'll have freedom to find cheap housing.Anonymous User wrote:Not OP, but clerking 18-19 after two years of big law. What can I do now and over this next year to prepare financially? I am saving money and working on budget/spending habits, but that's about it. I am clerking in a flyover so the COL is pretty cheap and am supporting only myself. .mjb447 wrote:I'm not, but I'm not surprised that it happens (particularly with people who are used to a biglaw paycheck).Anonymous User wrote:Is anyone else borderline in the red? The clerkship paychecks are tiny and I'm in a very high cost of living area. I have maybe $100-200/month left over after paying rent and expenses.
- anon sequitur
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
With two years of experience you should come in at gs13, around $85k in flyover country. You should be fine if you’re single.
- jrf12886
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
If you're in NYC and single, you basically have to either have a roommate or live in (what I consider) a crappy place (either far away from the courts or really small and run-down). It get's easier when you get to JSP-12 and 13. If you have a second income, it should be fine.Anonymous User wrote:Is anyone else borderline in the red? The clerkship paychecks are tiny and I'm in a very high cost of living area. I have maybe $100-200/month left over after paying rent and expenses.
- BulletTooth
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Re: Clerks Taking Questions
I would always ask the professor in person. They're likely going to want some information on the Judge and what you've done outside of school, so it's easier to talk in person than through email.Anonymous User wrote:How do you ask a professor to call a judge on your behalf? Is there sample language floating around on TLS? I looked, but was unable to find anything. This is a very specific judge I am interested in, and the professor knows him/her personally.
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