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T2, EIC of secondary journal. Top 20% (could go up after this semester obviously). Looking at District and Magistrate judges. Clerkship odds? Currently deciding whether to take the plunge and go for it. Not going to if the odds are ridiculously low though.

Anonymous User wrote:T2, EIC of secondary journal. Top 20% (could go up after this semester obviously). Looking at District and Magistrate judges. Clerkship odds? Currently deciding whether to take the plunge and go for it. Not going to if the odds are ridiculously low though.

District - virtually 0.
Magistrate - odds aren't great, but something above 0.

How about State appellate?

Also, any advice on firms? Any chance at the bigger firms? Thank you.

Anonymous User wrote:How about State appellate?

Also, any advice on firms? Any chance at the bigger firms? Thank you.

I thought I'd chime in because I'm in similar shoes, so hopefully you'll find my thoughts helpful.

I'm EIC of a secondary at a T40 and miraculously landed a (non-Art. 3, but still federal) clerkship even after being at the 40th percentile after 1L. I decided to try for EIC because I figured why the hell not, I need to do everything I can at this point. It's definitely been worth the work and stress because it has absolutely opened up some doors.

I can't speak to how helpful it's been with firms because I've focused exclusively on working in courts since 1L summer after realizing big law wasn't going to happen. Judges seem to love it. It has come up in every single interview I've done (always gives you tons to talk about), and the judge I'm clerking for spent about 1/3 of our interview asking about it.

As for applying to clerkships, just do it. It can't hurt. Just don't hold your breath.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:How about State appellate?

Also, any advice on firms? Any chance at the bigger firms? Thank you.

I thought I'd chime in because I'm in similar shoes, so hopefully you'll find my thoughts helpful.

I'm EIC of a secondary at a T40 and miraculously landed a (non-Art. 3, but still federal) clerkship even after being at the 40th percentile after 1L. I decided to try for EIC because I figured why the hell not, I need to do everything I can at this point. It's definitely been worth the work and stress because it has absolutely opened up some doors.

I can't speak to how helpful it's been with firms because I've focused exclusively on working in courts since 1L summer after realizing big law wasn't going to happen. Judges seem to love it. It has come up in every single interview I've done (always gives you tons to talk about), and the judge I'm clerking for spent about 1/3 of our interview asking about it.

As for applying to clerkships, just do it. It can't hurt. Just don't hold your breath.

Yea, just apply. Also, you might want to look at Mag. judges like this poster (I assume?) did. They are much less competitive... although I think I'd rather do a state level clerkship then. Your question depends a lot on the market you're in.