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Ranked around median at T20 - 25. No journal. Clerkship chance at D. Ct. at anywhere? How about for Maj. Ct? Flexible in terms of locations.

Thanks in advance

Maybe magistrate is possible, but those credentials are way out of the park for any federal district court (absent some very unique geographical or personal connection).

Are magistrate judges about = to district court judges?

A'nold wrote:Are magistrate judges about = to district court judges?

They're much easier to get, and different experience. Magistrates aren't appointed for life, they're Article I judges. They tend to do things like oversee complex discovery. Very substantive and engaging work, but not quite the cachet of district or CoA judges. Also less competitive. But magistrates often become district court judges, are enormously respected, have offices in federal court houses, etc.

I think no journal is kind of a deal breaker for D Ct unless you've got other significant publications or a sweet professor connection. No journal will be hard to explain anywhere, even with a magistrate or state court, since writing is so important for clerks. Start working on your writing sample if you're serious about applying.

Literally 0% for federal district court. Very low chance for federal magistrate or specialty court (bankruptcy/tax/etc.).

This year is, and will continue to be, the most competitive clerkship cycle in recent history--moreso even than last year. Friends of mine clerking right now keep saying the # of apps coming in is absolutely unprecedented.