2015-2016 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Arbiter213]

He's already interviewing for the remaining spots? How do you have such detailed info?

Possible they're UChicago students- they send an email to the entire student body when people land interviews, and with who (or something like that).

I'd be surprised if UChicago students were getting told something as detailed as the judge "paused" his hiring "while the dean search process unfolded."

I misunderstood the level of detail in question.

[Anonymous User]

Did you happen to get contacted by his chambers recently?

Well, maybe more anonymous than expected! I was contacted from his chambers last week. It seemed somewhat personalized (i.e. didn't look like a mass message.) Maybe it was a generic email after all?

Interview invitation?

Nope! I was basically asked if I was still available (I had applied last semester) and to update my app.

I've had this happen before and that's usually followed by an interview invitation a day or two later after my response.

This time, however, nada. So maybe it was just a generic email to anyone that applied early?

Any other movement from Wallace?

[gags12]

Did anyone apply to the new Chancellor, Bouchard? And if so, has anyone heard anything back?

[Anonymous User]

Bouchard hasn't been approved by the legislature yet...that would be a bit premature at this point

[gags12]

Bouchard hasn't been approved by the legislature yet...that would be a bit premature at this point

Granted, but there won't be a ton of time between confirmation by the legislature and when he begins. As a result, if he wants to have clerks when he starts, you would think he would need to start the process very soon.

[Anonymous User]

Bouchard hasn't been approved by the legislature yet...that would be a bit premature at this point

Granted, but there won't be a ton of time between confirmation by the legislature and when he begins. As a result, if he wants to have clerks when he starts, you would think he would need to start the process very soon.

I'm clerking for a judge who had ~5 weeks to get everything up and running post-confirmation. The judge had us clerks interviewed and hired within a week of confirmation.

[Anonymous User]

I suppose. Where would you send the application? To Bouchard's law firm?

[Rowinguy2009]

Did anyone else get a rejection email from Judge Thrash in the ND of Georgia? I never interviewed with him, but got one just now. Was just wondering if the rejection email meant I had been on some kind of shortlist (although, clearly not short enough) or if it was just an email everyone got.

[Anonymous User]

Hey is there any way to see who used to clerk for a judge? Applying to a judge in C.D. Cal, but I'm from UT. I know he/she hasnt hired from us before, but was wondering if s/he has hired from similar schools out of state (Vandy or maybe gtown or GW or something)

[ph14]

Hey is there any way to see who used to clerk for a judge? Applying to a judge in C.D. Cal, but I'm from UT. I know he/she hasnt hired from us before, but was wondering if s/he has hired from similar schools out of state (Vandy or maybe gtown or GW or something)

Google "Judge ABC & XYZ law school." A lot of firm bios list clerkships and schools (though some you have to click a plus sign or something so I'm not sure if that will show up on a search).

[bk1]

Hey is there any way to see who used to clerk for a judge? Applying to a judge in C.D. Cal, but I'm from UT. I know he/she hasnt hired from us before, but was wondering if s/he has hired from similar schools out of state (Vandy or maybe gtown or GW or something)

Google (since it indexes firm bios which usually have clerkships listed) and LinkedIn are your best bets. Using C.D. Cal's chief judge as an example:

LinkedIn search for "judge george h. king" nets 4 clerks and 1 extern.
Google search for "'judge george h. king' clerk" nets 1 clerk on the first page of results and 1 clerk on the second page and probably more if you keep going further (there's a lot of filler in the Google results so you're gonna have to scan through a bunch of pages since they may be buried).

You can also try other search terms of course but I found that appending judge and searching for a name both with and without the middle initial was the best bet.

[hoos89]

Did anyone else get a rejection email from Judge Thrash in the ND of Georgia? I never interviewed with him, but got one just now. Was just wondering if the rejection email meant I had been on some kind of shortlist (although, clearly not short enough) or if it was just an email everyone got.

I doubt it.

[Anonymous User]

anon UT poster...thanks guys good idea. Somehow it slipped my mind that like 90% of fed clerks are probably at big firms

[Anonymous User]

Did anyone else get a rejection email from Judge Thrash in the ND of Georgia? I never interviewed with him, but got one just now. Was just wondering if the rejection email meant I had been on some kind of shortlist (although, clearly not short enough) or if it was just an email everyone got.

I got one too (on 4/11) and my app was submitted on 4/7, so I doubt there was any sort of short list. My guess is that he just blasted the rejection to everyone who applied on OSCAR before marking the position "filled."

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any information on CDCA judges that are good/should be avoided for various reasons?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any information on CDCA judges that are good/should be avoided for various reasons?

Stephen Wilson is crazy. Like actually nuts.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any information on CDCA judges that are good/should be avoided for various reasons?

There are a few landmines in CDCA. Although I hesitate to name names, there seems to be something of a consensus regarding Judge Real, who has a poor reputation among both lawyers and judges. He could be the nicest judge in the world to clerk for, but "incompetent" is the kindest adjective I've heard used to describe him.

[Anonymous User]

There are a few landmines in CDCA. Although I hesitate to name names

I second this. There are a few judges who work people notoriously hard.

[Anonymous User]

There are a few landmines in CDCA. Although I hesitate to name names, there seems to be something of a consensus regarding Judge Real, who has a poor reputation among both lawyers and judges. He could be the nicest judge in the world to clerk for, but "incompetent" is the kindest adjective I've heard used to describe him.

I have heard that clerking for Real could actually hurt your resume.

[Jchance]

.

[Danger Zone]

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but how are magistrate clerkships looked at by employers? Particularly curious about firms and USAO. Is it a big step down, but better than not clerking for a fed judge at all?

[Doorkeeper]

Random question for those who have applied already: I know the standard is 3 recommendations, but are there any circuit judges that want 4 letters of recommendation? Alternatively, are there any times when adding a 4th recommendation might be beneficial? I had a fourth professor spontaneously tell me that he wants to write a letter for me, but I don't know if I'd have any need for it.

[Emma.]

Random question for those who have applied already: I know the standard is 3 recommendations, but are there any circuit judges that want 4 letters of recommendation? Alternatively, are there any times when adding a 4th recommendation might be beneficial? I had a fourth professor spontaneously tell me that he wants to write a letter for me, but I don't know if I'd have any need for it.

In my chambers it wouldn't hurt you, but unless that 4th letter is a real standout, it isn't going to help you either. Maybe ask the prof to make calls for you instead? At this late in the game, you'll need all the help you can get.

[Anonymous User]

Random question for those who have applied already: I know the standard is 3 recommendations, but are there any circuit judges that want 4 letters of recommendation? Alternatively, are there any times when adding a 4th recommendation might be beneficial? I had a fourth professor spontaneously tell me that he wants to write a letter for me, but I don't know if I'd have any need for it.

Would the fourth letter be added to an application you've already submitted? Or are you still preparing your initial application? If it's the latter, and if you have reason to think that this fourth letter will be better than one you already have, I suggest replacing the weakest of your existing letters with the new one.

In my chambers (non-feeder COA), I find that it's very unusual to have three excellent letters. Usually, one or two are helpful in that they go into a lot of individualistic detail about the applicant. But it seems like there's always at least one rec that looks like it was prepared using a professor's letter-of-rec template; the professor just mentions the student's fine exam performance and the student's thoughtful contributions during class discussion. These letters are largely useless, even if the professor is well-known and prestigious.

[Doorkeeper]

Would the fourth letter be added to an application you've already submitted? Or are you still preparing your initial application? If it's the latter, and if you have reason to think that this fourth letter will be better than one you already have, I suggest replacing the weakest of your existing letters with the new one.

In my chambers (non-feeder COA), I find that it's very unusual to have three excellent letters. Usually, one or two are helpful in that they go into a lot of individualistic detail about the applicant. But it seems like there's always at least one rec that looks like it was prepared using a professor's letter-of-rec template; the professor just mentions the student's fine exam performance and the student's thoughtful contributions during class discussion. These letters are largely useless, even if the professor is well-known and prestigious.

Thanks for this. It would be for the initial application. I can definitely say that none of my letters will be as you describe the unhelpful letters, as I've taken multiple classes with all recommenders and have done supervised writing or research work with most of them. With this being said, I wonder the value of another letter saying similar qualities as the other three letters, as they would all be from professors.