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I recently submitted a bunch of applications to various judges. I found out just now that I put "Sincerely," at the end instead of "Respectfully." Do judges really care that much? Is this just a precaution law schools put out there? Help put a frantic law student's mind to rest.

As long as you proofed those letters better than you did the title to this thread...

Where in the world did you hear that "respectfully" is required on clerkship cover letters? I put "sincerely" at the end of every one of mine, and I'll be clerking in a top district in 2013. Most of the sample cover letters from my HYS career office website also used "sincerely." You're being paranoid.

True story: I wrote a clerkship cover letter to a federal judge that read, "... Chief Pubic Defender ...." Granted it was buried in the middle of the letter, but that's pretty bad. Somehow I still got an interview.

So I wouldn't worry about the judge or clerk who reads it giving a fuck about the salutation.

I think the better question is, did you just kill your entire career. This is serious business. The level of disrespect you showed here will cast a shadow over your reputation for years to come. The judges will think, nay, know, that you do not respect them; as people, as professionals. However, this could be a blessing in disguise. If this is at all representative of your judgment, then you did yourself a huge favor by having this happen before people's lives are at stake. You saved lives bro.

Sorry bro, but that's a well-known autoding.

Anonymous User wrote:True story: I wrote a clerkship cover letter to a federal judge that read, "... Chief Pubic Defender ...." Granted it was buried in the middle of the letter, but that's pretty bad. Somehow I still got an interview.

So I wouldn't worry about the judge or clerk who reads it giving a fuck about the salutation.

Ha!