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3.6 (top 20%), T10 (not HYS), Law Review. Seeking federal district clerkship in major cities in the northeast. Is that realistic? Any suggestions to stand out?

I have very similar stats. Was told major cities (Chicago, NY, DC) are very unlikely, but not unrealistic. Stand out by publishing or writing a cover letter saying why you want to work in the specific city (but that still probably won't help much).

Possible, but unlikely without a professor connection. You'd have a better shot in less competitive circuits, but I still think it'll be tough without a prof. phone call or some really distinctive qualifications on your resume.

Based on experiences of a few friends of mine, I think you have a real shot if you apply broadly.

I don't see how SDNY or DDC happen for you, since they're so focused on alumni hiring (and have hired up a substantial % already for 11-12) and since so many people with better grades will be competing there. That said, if you expand to cover EDNY, D. Mass, ED Pa., ED Va., D. Md., and Atlanta, I think you've got a real shot. If you expand your search even wider to cover places like MD Pa. and D. NJ, then I'd have to think you're a lock to get interviews and have a real shot at landing a clerkship. The thing that stops me from saying you're a lock to actually land the clerkship in those more seconary courthouses is the fact that clerkship hiring really is a crapshoot, and people with credentials just like yours struck out last year at least as often as they succeeded at my T10.

Two examples may help illustrate the points above. Candidate 1 was top 1/3, secondary journal, no publication, and no ed board. Strong resume and well above average recs otherwise. Landed 3 interviews in secondary/tertiary courthouses along the east coast, but ended up not scoring any of the 3 jobs. Still a very successful cycle if you think about it. Candidate 2 was ~top 10%, LR, ed board, published, and a strong resume. Strong interviewer and above average faculty recs, too. Had several interviews, including a few COA, but got very unlucky and ended up empty handed. That was a real surprise, even after allowing for how competitive the cycle was.

Anonymous User wrote:I think you have a real shot if you apply broadly.

This. Don't just apply to major cities.