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Assuming above median + Journal are state clerkships basically just all about luck? Anything specific to give one an advantage over another?

About as much luck as any other job. What school? Also big difference between trial, intermediate, supreme.

Edit: and to your second question, basically anything that would give you an edge for any legal job (knowing someone who is close to the judge, having good writing sample, top grades, etc.)

You looking in PA too, Barbell? edit - accidental anon, this is beach_terror

CA ones at Superior Court are actually very competitive because there are so few of them and they only hire at the end of 3L.

Cal. Ct. App. doesn't hire clerks and neither does the Cal. Supreme, although Justice Liu is starting to do so.

hiima3L wrote:Cal. Ct. App. doesn't hire clerks

OP in this thread says he/she got an offer: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=187869

Anonymous User wrote:You looking in PA too, Barbell? edit - accidental anon, this is beach_terror

PA and a few other states I have ties to. I have a close friend who is currently running for state judge so if they actually win it I may just clerk there. *crosses fingers*

ggocat wrote:

hiima3L wrote:Cal. Ct. App. doesn't hire clerks

OP in this thread says he/she got an offer: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=187869

OP here. Should have clarified...The position is for a staff attorney, but working for a specific judge.

augusta1985 wrote:OP here. Should have clarified...The position is for a staff attorney, but working for a specific judge.

I think you can still call it a "clerkship" as used in the vernacular since it's a term appointment for a specific judge. I pointed to your thread because I, like hiima3L, understood that California courts generally did not hire term clerks -- only permanent staff attorneys. Just curious, how common do you think it is for CA appellate judges to hire term clerks?

ggocat wrote:

augusta1985 wrote:OP here. Should have clarified...The position is for a staff attorney, but working for a specific judge.

I think you can still call it a "clerkship" as used in the vernacular since it's a term appointment for a specific judge. I pointed to your thread because I, like hiima3L, understood that California courts generally did not hire term clerks -- only permanent staff attorneys. Just curious, how common do you think it is for CA appellate judges to hire term clerks?

My understanding is that it's extremely rare. The California Courts are essentially using their "staff attorneys" and "habeas/capital attorneys" in lieu of clerks. Same goes for the state supreme court, for reasons I'm unsure of. One thing I might add is that the perks of the federal term clerks seem to be a lot better. If you choose to opt out of the "Leave Act", your vacation time is completely up to the judge you work for. So if you land a cool judge that isn't a taskmaster, they could theoretically give you an unlimited amount of vacation.