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

[TatteredDignity]

If they wanted to fix the plan, they should just release after 3 semesters of grades, not 4. That would strike a balance in that, most judges want to see 3 semesters of grades anyways, so there isn't a huge incentive to hire earlier than that, except for some outliers such as Kozinski. And then many more judges would be willing to stick to the plan and it could actually be effective. Add a ban on exploding offers (with perhaps a 24 hr/48 hr/1 week minimum period to accept or decline) and that's not a terrible system.

Stop it with your logic and reasonableness.

[ndirish2010]

Yep. Welcome to the wonder that is OSCAR (one of the reasons I just sent paper apps everywhere I could).

As bad as OSCAR is, I still prefer it to paper. Paper is so much hassle.

[nevdash]

Yep. Welcome to the wonder that is OSCAR (one of the reasons I just sent paper apps everywhere I could).

As bad as OSCAR is, I still prefer it to paper. Paper is so much hassle.

You mean you don't like paying $100 to send 50 apps when 45 of them probably won't be read at all? Why?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Yep. Welcome to the wonder that is OSCAR (one of the reasons I just sent paper apps everywhere I could).

As bad as OSCAR is, I still prefer it to paper. Paper is so much hassle.

You mean you don't like paying $100 to send 50 apps when 45 of them probably won't be read at all? Why?

That's totally correct. I just think that sending paper apps, someone's at least likely to open the envelope and take a look at it, whereas with OSCAR, they can delete it sight unseen with a click of a mouse. (But my stats were marginal so I needed all the help I could get. And that's not saying other people should use paper, just why I did.)

[Anonymous User]

So with more spots popping up on OSCAR every week, I've got one LOR ready and a couple for which I gave deadlines a month from now. Do I need to wait for all the LOR's, or can I send some papers apps out now with the complete LOR + list of additional references, and complete the applications a month from now? The latter seems kind of haphazard but still the fastest way to get stuff out...

[Anonymous User]

Joining the fray, now that board elections are finished.

School range: T40
Rank: Top 10-15%
LR?: Yes, Comments Editor
Published?: No (though 1 more chance this semester)
Recs: 3 professors, though I also have one from my 1L internship judge (state COA) that I might use
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: District Courts in the southeast
Any other factors: I'm a special snowflake

Please feel free to comment on my competitiveness (or lack thereof), if you like.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone from a Boston area school have any idea of the District of MA judges are sticking to the plan?

[Anonymous User]

So with more spots popping up on OSCAR every week, I've got one LOR ready and a couple for which I gave deadlines a month from now. Do I need to wait for all the LOR's, or can I send some papers apps out now with the complete LOR + list of additional references, and complete the applications a month from now? The latter seems kind of haphazard but still the fastest way to get stuff out...

Send your stuff out now with a list of references. In your cover letter say that your recommendations will be sent separately. Ask your recommenders if they are willing to let you include their phone number or e-mail address in your cover letter, and if so invite the judge to contact them through that contact information (but still say that letters will be sent regardless).

[Anonymous User]

Joining the fray, now that board elections are finished.

School range: T40
Rank: Top 10-15%
LR?: Yes, Comments Editor
Published?: No (though 1 more chance this semester)
Recs: 3 professors, though I also have one from my 1L internship judge (state COA) that I might use
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: District Courts in the southeast
Any other factors: I'm a special snowflake

Please feel free to comment on my competitiveness (or lack thereof), if you like.

Your odds are very, very slim. Sorry to be blunt, but if the past few years are any indication, you need to be well within the top 10%, even at a solidly top 25 school, to get an AIII clerkship. I would still say you should apply -- lightning might strike -- but don't expect any interviews. If you are willing to do magistrate, you'd have a better shot. Happy to answer any questions you might have, and sorry if I disappointed you!

[Anonymous User]

School range: T6
Rank: 35-45%
LR?: Yes (Managing Editor)
Published?: Yes (twice)
Recs: Should be solid with connections to a few of the districts.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: Chicago (Midwest) and Southeast

[ClerkAdvisor]

So with more spots popping up on OSCAR every week, I've got one LOR ready and a couple for which I gave deadlines a month from now. Do I need to wait for all the LOR's, or can I send some papers apps out now with the complete LOR + list of additional references, and complete the applications a month from now? The latter seems kind of haphazard but still the fastest way to get stuff out...

Send your stuff out now with a list of references. In your cover letter say that your recommendations will be sent separately. Ask your recommenders if they are willing to let you include their phone number or e-mail address in your cover letter, and if so invite the judge to contact them through that contact information (but still say that letters will be sent regardless).

I agree with this.

[ClerkAdvisor]

Yep. Welcome to the wonder that is OSCAR (one of the reasons I just sent paper apps everywhere I could).

As bad as OSCAR is, I still prefer it to paper. Paper is so much hassle.

From being on the clerk end, I would recommend paper wherever possible. Plus, for 2Ls, paper is your only option (since OSCAR follows the plan).

[Anonymous User]

School range: T6
Rank: Top 33% (Hoping to crack top 25% this semester. Also transfer, top 10% at old school for 1L)
LR? No, secondary journal (Hoping to get 3L board position)
Published? No
Recs: At least one good professor rec (might be willing to make a call), another one that's ok, hoping to get a partner/associate for a third rec this summer.
2L/3L/Alum: 2L
Where applying: Looking at district courts in flyovers. Honestly don't care about preftige, more interested in clerking somewhere "fun" (read: HI, AK, WY, NM, AZ, CO, etc. Ideally somewhere I can snowboard in the winter.)
Any other factors: V30 SA lined up for this summer.

Thoughts/chances? I'm honestly not "AIII or DIE" about this whole process.

[Anonymous User]

School range: Vandy/UT
Rank: Top 15%ish
LR? Yes, editorial board position
Published? Not able to be published yet
Recs: 2 very good recs, one unknown but probably fairly solid.
2L/3L/Alum: 2L
Where applying: Applying about everywhere except for rural areas (North Dakota, Montana, etc), really want an A3 clerkship and don't care about the prefstige.
Other factors: Strong ties to medium sized metro area "flyover" district, V100 SA in DC.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

[Anonymous User]

School range: MVPB
Rank: Top 10%
LR? Yes w/a normal board position (not executive)
Published? Yes (one)
Recs: One good one, two that are probably average
2L/3L/Alum: 2L
Where applying: Mass-mailing most of the COA; specifically targeting a few places w/nice geography (HI, CO, etc.). Probably gonna skip district courts till OSCAR kicks in.
Other factors: V50 SA

Feel free to comment/chance me--would be much appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

School Range: DCNG
Rank: Top 1%
LR: on Secondary (elections are going on now)
Published: No
Recs: 2 really good ones; 1 good one
2L/3l/Alum: 2L
Where Applying: COA; District Court; I'm thinking about Colorado State Supreme as a way to get into the Colorado market with no ties
Other Factors: Transfer from t4, bad LRW grade, low UGPA, struck out at OCI, a few things on my resume that are pretty impressive

I'd appreciate all thoughts/predictions? I would like to be able to get a job with one of the top litigation boutiques by doing an AIII clerkship (of course, the experience will be pretty damn helpful too). Does the geography of my clerkship make a huge difference for my chances at these boutiques...For example, District of Nevada vs. SDNY? I'm also interested in perhaps gettting AUSA criminal out of my clerkship (I know...long shot for all of this...I'd still like everyone's advice because post-clerk employment stats are really tough to find...all I get is "oh, they will be good." As a final note, what about getting some random district and then using that as a way to get COA next time around? How much of an appreciable boost in prospects would that give me?

Thanks in advance guys! This forum is super helpful.

[Anonymous User]

School range: Vandy/UT
Rank: Top 15%ish
LR? Yes, editorial board position
Published? Not able to be published yet
Recs: 2 very good recs, one unknown but probably fairly solid.
2L/3L/Alum: 2L
Where applying: Applying about everywhere except for rural areas (North Dakota, Montana, etc), really want an A3 clerkship and don't care about the prefstige.
Other factors: Strong ties to medium sized metro area "flyover" district, V100 SA in DC.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

Pull any strings you have in your "flyover" district, which I assume is your hometown. That is where your best shot is. Top 15% at Vandy/UT is good enough to have a fighting chance at district courts excepting the most competitive, and maaaaybe "flyover" COAs, especially if you have strong ties. Push your recommenders to make calls on your behalf, ASAP after you send paper apps out (now).

[ph14]

OP updated.

[Transient2]

In light of all the 2d Cir movement in the OP, any word on J. Leval? Should I interpret his OSCAR to mean that 2Ls can currently apply?

[Anonymous User]

School Range: UT/UCLA
Rank: Top 5%
LR: Yes, on exec board.
Published: Selected for publication but not published yet.
Recs: 3 really good ones (2 from big name faculty 1 from unknown faculty).
2L/3l/Alum: 2L
Where Applying: Some of the "less competitive" feeders (e.g. Jones (5th) vs. Kozinski (9th)) and more competitive Dist. Ct. judges (e.g. M.D.C.A., S.D.N.Y., or D.D.C.)
Other Factors: Army Iraq veteran; V10 SA; HYS undergrad.

Would appreciate thoughts on competitiveness.

[TatteredDignity]

There isn't much here yet, but it may become more useful soon.

http://clerkshipquest.blogspot.com/

[theaccidentalclerk]

more competitive Dist. Ct. judges (e.g. M.D.C.A.,

I've heard that MD Cal hires pretty exclusively from Princeton, Dartmouth and Brown law schools.

[Anonymous User]

more competitive Dist. Ct. judges (e.g. M.D.C.A.,

I've heard that MD Cal hires pretty exclusively from Princeton, Dartmouth and Brown law schools.

Touche. Care to dispense any other wisdom?

[Anonymous User]

Are only circuit courts going early? I'm probably more on the district court / state supreme court boat

School range: MVPB
Rank:25%
LR?: No. Secondary journal.
Published?: Yes.
Recs: 1 mediocre from big name professor, 1 really good one from a lesser known professor, 1 glowing one from 1L employer.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: 5th, 11th, 4th Cir. District Courts.

[ClerkAdvisor]

In light of all the 2d Cir movement in the OP, any word on J. Leval? Should I interpret his OSCAR to mean that 2Ls can currently apply?

There probably isn't much real movement on the 2d Cir. Many, if not most, 2d Circuit judges (especially the NYC judges) started hiring for a year out awhile ago (e.g., they would hire on-plan in the Fall of 2012 for 2014-15 term clerkships). And it looks like the list of judges who have hired match up with those who traditionally hire a year out.