2014-2015 Clerkship Application Thread - OP Updated 04/19/13 Forum

[Myself]

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[Anonymous User]

Oh, btw, for future reference, I think it's a little unnecessary and repetitive and needless work to write out who your recommenders are in the CL. For example, I would just say at the end of my CL, "I have included my resume and additional application materials" I don't think you need to write, "I have included my resume, transcript, two writing samples, letters of recommendation from Profs Smith, Jones, and Brown, and cash money."

I mean, the judge is going to see who your recommenders are anyway when they read your LORs. Unless you have some nationally famous professor like Laurence Tribe or Ronald Dworkin, whom you want the judge to recognize write away, then I don't think you need to also mention your prof's name in the LOR.

I think there are circumstances where this is good advice, but in many other situations it's a good idea to put the professors' names and phone numbers right on the cover letter. This is because the CLs will often arrive so much earlier than the recommendations. It allows a judge an easy reference and if they want to call to learn more about the applicant before receiving the letter (which does happen) they can. It's not as a means of impressing but as a means of facilitating contact with the recommenders.

Ah okay, I understand that now. I thought all application packages usually included LORs. My bad.

No worries! Historically with on-plan applications sent with the school's coordination, that's been how it works. But given the free-for-all nature of early applying, both this year and likely in coming years, gets a little more flexible.

[Anonymous User]

Amen, brotha. I'm packing it in.

I think that we haven't figured out if the new plan has created a slow burn hiring timeline that is going to extend over the summer months or if so much of it happened either off plan or up front. Alums and hyper competitive districts all seem to have moved early or at the very start of the plan. The silence everywhere else for the most part might indicate a slow burn with some judges not in a rush to hire considering the applicant pool size and their summer vacations, etc. The one constant about this version of the Plan is what seems to be the elimination of the critical mass period that occurred under the prior incarnation where judges had a week to review applications and then move on candidates before things slowed to a trickle.

[Anonymous User]

Amen, brotha. I'm packing it in.

I think that we haven't figured out if the new plan has created a slow burn hiring timeline that is going to extend over the summer months or if so much of it happened either off plan or up front. Alums and hyper competitive districts all seem to have moved early or at the very start of the plan. The silence everywhere else for the most part might indicate a slow burn with some judges not in a rush to hire considering the applicant pool size and summer vacations, etc.

That's what I'm seeing, the competitive stuff is largely done, which I'm fine with. However, the vast majority of my apps are to flyover D.Ct.'s and my school/GPA should make me at least competitive for most of those (looking at school data).

Now I don't know if I applied too late, if something is weird or unattractive with my apps, or if this is just the nature of clerkship applications with such high competition.

It does make all of this seem like a roll of the dice when I realize how many hundreds of applications get sent to each judge, and the fact that I don't have an clerk-alumnus professor beating-down doors.

[Anonymous User]

Doty - DMN has made calls
Hayes - WDLA is full

[A. Nony Mouse]

I think there are circumstances where this is good advice, but in many other situations it's a good idea to put the professors' names and phone numbers right on the cover letter. This is because the CLs will often arrive so much earlier than the recommendations. It allows a judge an easy reference and if they want to call to learn more about the applicant before receiving the letter (which does happen) they can. It's not as a means of impressing but as a means of facilitating contact with the recommenders.

Ah okay, I understand that now. I thought all application packages usually included LORs. My bad.

Yeah, the other thing is that when you're applying locally/in-state, the judges you're applying to might actually know your profs, so putting their names in your letter [when the letters aren't included] can be helpful (because the judge might think, "Oh, my friend Prof. X recommends this kid! Will take a look at the application."). (At least, this can be the case in smaller markets. May be less relevant for huge ones with many law schools.)

[Anonymous User]

I got a call in the last 48 hours from a *.D. Cal. judge. Was previously down in the dumps much like the posters of the last page or so (had three early calls in SDNY/EDNY but no offers yet).

I've heard that EDNY is generally moving slower than SDNY. Given the competitiveness there, I'd imagine many other district courts are moving slower still, unless they want to snap up the cream of the crop before bigger districts come calling (looking at you, N.D. Ill.).

In other words, don't lose hope. We're in uncharted territory. I just got bucked up, so there's a chance you will, too.

[Anonymous User]

Johnston (SDWV) is full per OSCAR

[Anonymous User]

In the past 48 hours I got a call from a d. ct. located in the 5/6/7 region for an interview. Don't give up hope yet, it seems that everyone is right that judges outside of the hyper-competitive regions are on the whole taking their time this year.

[Anonymous User]

Just got a clerkship in my home district. Yay living with mom and dad!

[brassmonkey7]

In the past 48 hours I got a call from a d. ct. located in the 5/6/7 region for an interview. Don't give up hope yet, it seems that everyone is right that judges outside of the hyper-competitive regions are on the whole taking their time this year.

Hey Anon, if you don't mind... would be you open to pming me the judge or even just the district? I got a feeler letter from a judge in one of these districts in response to my off-plan app and I'm curious if that judge has made calls. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Sending out SSC apps...now.

[Anonymous User]

Ramos (SDNY) is done through 15-16.
Nathan (SDNY) is done through 14-15, but still has two spots for 15-16.

[Anonymous User]

Updates?

[Anonymous User]

Jesus, how many SDNYs are hiring for 15 now? Via paper?

[Anonymous User]

Castel has hired at least one for 15-16 term.

[Anonymous User]

Furman is not only hiring for 2015, but he's hired. He's totally full for 2014 and 2015. Same for Forrest.

[Anonymous User]

Poster above, if you happen to be the lucky one clerking for Castel in '15 would you mind sharing when you interviewed and when you heard back? You can approximate a little if that makes you more comfortable. I interviewed and haven't heard anything back yet so I have been pretty anxious.

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Chasanow (DMd) is done per OSCAR
Leonard (EDVa) also done per email.

This is like lambs led to slaughter.

[Anonymous User]

Poster above, if you happen to be the lucky one clerking for Castel in '15 would you mind sharing when you interviewed and when you heard back? You can approximate a little if that makes you more comfortable. I interviewed and haven't heard anything back yet so I have been pretty anxious.

Thanks!

Wasn't me, but I believe the interview was last week and offer was yesterday.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the update! Would you mind saying what school the clerk is from and whether they are a rising 3L/alum?

[Anonymous User]

Seems like a lot of people applied on plan and have heard nothing yet. Am I just being foolishly optimistic regarding the silence for my own applications, or could a lot of judges who are used to following the plan potentially be waiting until August to attend to hiring like they did in the past few years?

[Anonymous User]

Seems like a lot of people applied on plan and have heard nothing yet. Am I just being foolishly optimistic regarding the silence for my own applications, or could a lot of judges who are used to following the plan potentially be waiting until August to attend to hiring like they did in the past few years?

There's a significant amount of hiring going on as demonstrated by the uptick in filled positions on OSCAR and via email over the last two days. Maybe some judges are holding out, but most seem to moving along and filling.

[Anonymous User]

Tauro (D. Mass.) is full.

[Anonymous User]

Tauro (D. Mass.) is full.

Any D. Mass still open?