2016-2017 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[808Law]

At what point should I start worrying that I don't have a clerkship for 2016?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know why a clerkship posting that has expired would be updated as of today on OSCAR? (No noticeable changes)

Edit: Didn't intend to post as anonymous.

[Anonymous User]

At what point should I start worrying that I don't have a clerkship for 2016?

Are you looking for circuit? district?

I'm mostly familiar only with the latter but it seems like there is a lot of hiring still to be done. Just perusing OSCAR postings, it seems like maybe 30-40% of judges are going to hire between now and August. Many of them will not hire until spring grades come out, so there's definitely still lots of opportunity out there.

[Anonymous User]

At what point should I start worrying that I don't have a clerkship for 2016?

I'm in the same boat too

[808Law]

At what point should I start worrying that I don't have a clerkship for 2016?

Are you looking for circuit? district?

I'm mostly familiar only with the latter but it seems like there is a lot of hiring still to be done. Just perusing OSCAR postings, it seems like maybe 30-40% of judges are going to hire between now and August. Many of them will not hire until spring grades come out, so there's definitely still lots of opportunity out there.

I've applied mostly to district courts, but I've thrown a few COA applications out there. I have had a few interviews, but I haven't heard anything yet. Starting to worry...

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know why a clerkship posting that has expired would be updated as of today on OSCAR? (No noticeable changes)

Edit: Didn't intend to post as anonymous.

Speaking from experience, some judges do this as a way to alert potential applicants that a position is still open. I'm more surprised that it would happen to an expired position, as I'm used to seeing it with a position that hasn't expired but has just been sitting there for a few months, but I'd imagine it's a similar case.

By the way (again speaking from experience), I wouldn't take an update like this as a definitive sign that anyone who has already interviewed is out of luck. Some judges like to interview a certain number of candidates before making any offers, and sometimes schedules prohibit that from taking place over a short time period. It's hard to know what's going on in chambers unless you're there.

In short, if you want to clerk for the judge who updated a posting, and you haven't applied, do so ASAP. If you've already applied (or already interviewed), don't count yourself out just yet.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to how many COAs are roughly still at play for 16-17?

[Anonymous User]

Same anon as above. I ask because I just recently got all my material together to send a new batch out and it seems like my options are now quite limited-- at least from how it looks on Oscar.

[Anonymous User]

Had my interview about three weeks ago. The wait is killing me. Is it a bad idea to call chambers and ask when I should expect a decision?

[Anonymous User]

Had my interview about three weeks ago. The wait is killing me. Is it a bad idea to call chambers and ask when I should expect a decision?

I personally wouldn't. I've waited over five weeks and haven't heard back from one yet.

[Emma.]

Had my interview about three weeks ago. The wait is killing me. Is it a bad idea to call chambers and ask when I should expect a decision?

Bad idea unless you have a specific reason you need a decision (like you've been offered another position and need to make a decision on that position in the next few days).

[Anonymous User]

Finally got that rejection letter 5 weeks later. Oh the sting.

[Anonymous User]

ugh to waiting 5 weeks for a ding, not great. i had an interview 1-2 weeks ago and was told i'd know in another 1-2 weeks but i of course check the mail anxiously every day and do a small jump for joy when there's not a rejection letter in there because it means i still have a nonzero chance.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, I'm 0/2 so far - one judge sent a ding letter right after I left the interview, judging on how quick it got to me; this judge took 5 weeks. I appreciate the quick ding now, to say the least.

[Anonymous User]

At this point im just hoping all the good candidates will be taken so the late judges will look at my apps.......

[Anonymous User]

T10, got a long-shot COA (2/5/9) after a flyover district, so feeling good.

Major advice: if you're willing to apply really broadly in round one, you're going to have a leg up in round two.

[jd20132013]

2/5/9???


Ok

[TatteredDignity]

Major advice: if you're willing to apply really broadly in round one, you're going to have a leg up in round two.

Explain.

[Emma.]

Major advice: if you're willing to apply really broadly in round one, you're going to have a leg up in round two.

Explain.

Seems pretty self explanatory. A district court clerkship, even in a less prestigious district, is going to give you a significant advantage if you decide to apply for a second clerkship.

[Anonymous User]

Major advice: if you're willing to apply really broadly in round one, you're going to have a leg up in round two.

Explain.

Seems pretty self explanatory. A district court clerkship, even in a less prestigious district, is going to give you a significant advantage if you decide to apply for a second clerkship.

OP here: that's all I meant. I am positive this is true for district court then COA. It might even be possible for COA -> district; for instance, home-state COA if you can't quite crack SDNY or DDC first. Obviously everyone isn't in a situation where they can uproot for a couple years at random, but if it's COA or bust (which in my case it was), then this is a viable way to do it.

[TatteredDignity]

Thanks, make sense. When I read your post in conjunction with the post right before yours, I conflated them and thought you were talking about two rounds in the same cycle.

[Anonymous User]

OP here: that's all I meant. I am positive this is true for district court then COA. It might even be possible for COA -> district; for instance, home-state COA if you can't quite crack SDNY or DDC first. Obviously everyone isn't in a situation where they can uproot for a couple years at random, but if it's COA or bust (which in my case it was), then this is a viable way to do it.

Why was it COA or bust? Just because that is what you wanted or the type of job you want requires it?

[Anonymous User]

Had my interview today. Now the wait begins...

.... aaaaand a ding, of course. Adding insult to injury, position still appears to be available, per OSCAR.

[Anonymous User]

Just recently got a clerkship after striking out on my first three interviews. Very excited as this judge was clearly a much better fit than any of my first three interviews. Exactly what I was looking for in terms of the judge's work style, writing style, and general atmosphere in chambers.

Had my interview today. Now the wait begins...

.... aaaaand a ding, of course. Adding insult to injury, position still appears to be available, per OSCAR.

Sorry about the ding, man. Not sure how the availability of the position in OSCAR adds insult to injury, though. The judge may have decided that none of the candidates fit his hiring goals, or he simply may not have had the chance to update OSCAR. In any case, keep your head up - something will come along.

[Anonymous User]

Just recently got a clerkship after striking out on my first three interviews. Very excited as this judge was clearly a much better fit than any of my first three interviews. Exactly what I was looking for in terms of the judge's work style, writing style, and general atmosphere in chambers.

Congrats!

Sorry about the ding, man. Not sure how the availability of the position in OSCAR adds insult to injury, though. The judge may have decided that none of the candidates fit his hiring goals, or he simply may not have had the chance to update OSCAR. In any case, keep your head up - something will come along.

Eh, with my mediocre grades that was my first and probably my last opportunity. It's hardly the end of the world but it still stings.