2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[A. Nony Mouse]

Are part-time paid clerkships a thing? Not sure if I'm ready for full-time work.

Extremely extremely rare. I knew a judge who split one clerkship into two part time ones, but they were career clerks who had worked for him previously. For a new grad I would say no.

[jbagelboy]

Are part-time paid clerkships a thing? Not sure if I'm ready for full-time work.

Extremely extremely rare. I knew a judge who split one clerkship into two part time ones, but they were career clerks who had worked for him previously. For a new grad I would say no.

there are full time unpaid clerkships with federal judges, though, that tend to have lower standards for hiring. Not low enough for Manali unfortunately.

I think there are state trial court judges that will hire part time clerks.

[wwwcol]

Are part-time paid clerkships a thing? Not sure if I'm ready for full-time work.

Extremely extremely rare. I knew a judge who split one clerkship into two part time ones, but they were career clerks who had worked for him previously. For a new grad I would say no.

there are full time unpaid clerkships with federal judges, though, that tend to have lower standards for hiring. Not low enough for Manali unfortunately.

I think there are state trial court judges that will hire part time clerks.

I lol'd hard

[Manali]

Should all recommendations be from professors? Or should I mix in recs from work supervisors who can speak to my research and writing ability?

Also, is 10 pages fine for a writing sample?

[stretchedtoothin]

.

[Manali]

Should all recommendations be from professors? Or should I mix in recs from work supervisors who can speak to my research and writing ability?

Also, is 10 pages fine for a writing sample?

-sure, but look at the specific judge's instructions listed on OSCAR (if available)

-sure, but look at the specific judge's instructions listed on OSCAR (if available)

I'm talking about state court clerkships.

[stretchedtoothin]

Should all recommendations be from professors? Or should I mix in recs from work supervisors who can speak to my research and writing ability?

Also, is 10 pages fine for a writing sample?

I'm talking about state court clerkships.

-sure, but look at the specific judge's instructions listed on the state court's and/or the judge's website (if available)

-sure, but look at the specific judge's instructions listed on the state court's and/or the judge's website (if available)

[Anonymous User]

Can someone "Chance me"?

2L. 3.9 gpa. Between top 5-10% at UCLA/UT/Vandy and on LR.

Ties to the midwest.

Summering V20

2-4 years of work experience pre law school.

Obviously, "apply and see what happens," but curious if anyone has thoughts on chances. No specific connection to any judge.

Also curious (and I'm sure this varies) about how long it usually takes for a judge to ask for an interview after applying? Sorry if some of this has been discussed -- just trying to manage expectations. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous User]

From what I can see on oscar and have heard from former interns (not clerks), S.D. Cal. doesn't hire for '17 till this summer. That's what the court webpage seems to indicate, but anyone know if that sounds right?

[Manali]

Do you have to disclose on unofficial transcripts that you received disability accommodations in classes? (i.e. extra time on exams, note takers, ability to record classes, etc.) It may be disclosed on my official transcript, but I am not sure because I have not seen it yet.

[Anonymous User]

From what I can see on oscar and have heard from former interns (not clerks), S.D. Cal. doesn't hire for '17 till this summer. That's what the court webpage seems to indicate, but anyone know if that sounds right?

Sounds right. It's a pretty small district. Have you checked out the judges' oscar pages? That might tell you.

[deuceindc]

From what I can see on oscar and have heard from former interns (not clerks), S.D. Cal. doesn't hire for '17 till this summer. That's what the court webpage seems to indicate, but anyone know if that sounds right?

Sounds right. It's a pretty small district. Have you checked out the judges' oscar pages? That might tell you.

Anecdotally, I've found that app openings vary from year to year. To wit: a District Court judge who's very high on my list opened his 2016 apps in April 2015, but his 2017 apps opened in January 2016.

OP: If you're gunning for a specific district, I'd recommend setting a daily email alert in OSCAR.

[Anonymous User]

has Raggi (2nd) interviewed and/or hired yet?

[lowdmouse]

From what I can see on oscar and have heard from former interns (not clerks), S.D. Cal. doesn't hire for '17 till this summer. That's what the court webpage seems to indicate, but anyone know if that sounds right?

Sounds right. It's a pretty small district. Have you checked out the judges' oscar pages? That might tell you.

Anecdotally, I've found that app openings vary from year to year. To wit: a District Court judge who's very high on my list opened his 2016 apps in April 2015, but his 2017 apps opened in January 2016.

OP: If you're gunning for a specific district, I'd recommend setting a daily email alert in OSCAR.

Or if the district is small enough, have your clerkship office reach out to see if/when judges open. It's not unheard of for judges to start hiring before they even update their OSCAR status to open. If a judge is very high on your list, there are lots of reasons not to rely on what OSCAR says they did last year.

[Anonymous User]

In looking at the senior judges on 3rd circuit, do Barry and Greenberg still hire clerks for 2017 or not anymore?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Judge Selna -- CDCA?

[Manali]

If the judge gives you the option of Oscar, paper app, or email, which should I choose? I'm thinking paper since that's harder to ignore than an electronic submission.

[deuceindc]

If the judge gives you the option of Oscar, paper app, or email, which should I choose? I'm thinking paper since that's harder to ignore than an electronic submission.

Yep, paper is TCR, for that reason and because printing + mailing things takes marginally more effort, which makes you look more interested.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Lucero (10th Circuit) is hiring and/or has hired? Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Lucero (10th Circuit) is hiring and/or has hired? Thanks!

I know he has hired at least one.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Lucero (10th Circuit) is hiring and/or has hired? Thanks!

I know he has hired at least one.

Lucero is full.

[Anonymous User]

If the judge gives you the option of Oscar, paper app, or email, which should I choose? I'm thinking paper since that's harder to ignore than an electronic submission.

Yep, paper is TCR, for that reason and because printing + mailing things takes marginally more effort, which makes you look more interested.

I get the argument for paper, but Oscar would have been the right answer in my old chambers. Paper apps are hard to pass around (we'd e-mail apps to the judge if we thought they looked promising), easy to lose, and just a general pain in the ass.

[Anonymous User]

If the judge gives you the option of Oscar, paper app, or email, which should I choose? I'm thinking paper since that's harder to ignore than an electronic submission.

Yep, paper is TCR, for that reason and because printing + mailing things takes marginally more effort, which makes you look more interested.

I get the argument for paper, but Oscar would have been the right answer in my old chambers. Paper apps are hard to pass around (we'd e-mail apps to the judge if we thought they looked promising), easy to lose, and just a general pain in the ass.

So clearly the answer is just like the answer for everything else regarding clerkships: it depends on the judge, there are no right answers, you have to guess, everything is random chance.

[newlawgrad]

If the judge gives you the option of Oscar, paper app, or email, which should I choose? I'm thinking paper since that's harder to ignore than an electronic submission.

Yep, paper is TCR, for that reason and because printing + mailing things takes marginally more effort, which makes you look more interested.

I get the argument for paper, but Oscar would have been the right answer in my old chambers. Paper apps are hard to pass around (we'd e-mail apps to the judge if we thought they looked promising), easy to lose, and just a general pain in the ass.

So clearly the answer is just like the answer for everything else regarding clerkships: it depends on the judge, there are no right answers, you have to guess, everything is random chance.

Right. FWIW, I applied to about the same number of judges for district and then circuit. District I did almost all Oscar. Circuit I did solely paper (just about). Got two interviews for both.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW for all those out there struggling. I've been at this game for about 18months. Ive had 6 COA interviews...all rejected. The last 7-8 months have been complete silence with getting interviews. In the last week I just scheduled 3 upcoming. I guess this shows it's never really over.

Also if I don't secure one of these I'm done with applying. Everyone has their own limits where they just can't anymore.