2012 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any news about Boudin (1), Raggi (2), or Prado (5)?

[Citizen Genet]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

Based on six interviews between on and off plan (3 circuit, 3 district):
(1) No
(2) No
(3) No

Out of 400 applications, I personalized about 20 cover letters, none called. I had professors/deans contact around 10 judges, none called.

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

Based on six interviews between on and off plan (3 circuit, 3 district):
(1) No
(2) No
(3) No

Out of 400 applications, I personalized about 20 cover letters, none called. I had professors/deans contact around 10 judges, none called.

Grades?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear if the judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade or Court of Federal Claims have scheduled any interviews yet or are still hiring?

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

Over 50 apps led to one interview request
(1) The judge graduated from my T2 law school
(2) Nope
(3) Personalized in so far why I wanted to clerk in that judge's city

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

Non-Prof recommender knew one of the judges who gave me an interview. My other interview was from unpersonalized mass mail.

[Anonymous User]

Any news about Boudin (1), Raggi (2), or Prado (5)?

I know Prado hired one clerk weeks ago. Not sure how many others are confirmed.

[dudders]

This was a terrible day to get my phone stolen.

[Anonymous User]

Prado made calls @ HLS today, FWIW.

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

Rising 3L at T14 school, probably between 10%-15% (3.8+)
No journals of any kind
Only applied to about 25 judges
Interesting resume and life experience

Two interviews with district judges, one in the state in which I'll be working, the other in my school's state. I had no connections or calls that I'm aware of, and both judges got generic letters. I did have at least 2 (purportedly) kickass letters from powerhouse professors, and one letter from a partner at my post-grad firm. Interestingly, the judge from my current state called my post-grad employer to ask questions about me, but I think it was after he had extended the offer.

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

Based on six interviews between on and off plan (3 circuit, 3 district):
(1) No
(2) No
(3) No

Out of 400 applications, I personalized about 20 cover letters, none called. I had professors/deans contact around 10 judges, none called.

This was my experience too. I took great care in personalizing ~20 cover letters out of 100 applications. Also with those 20, I dropped names of former clerks in the letters, had former clerks place calls for me, and had current clerks move my apps to the top of the pile. Not one of those judges called. That actually shocked me. I heard from 4 districts and 4 courts of appeal and I didn't personalize anything for any of them and had no connection at all to 7/8 of them. I had a tenuous connection to one of them (that I discovered long after I sent out my applications) -- over three decades ago, he worked at a firm where I summered. Definitely puts to shame the idea that highlighting connections gets you far. In fact, none of the usual wisdom perpetuated by law schools and students held true for me.

[Anonymous User]

If you get an email from a judge asking you to contact their judicial assistant to set up an interview, do you thank the judge with an email back or just call the assistant to set up the interview? I assume the latter but interested to hear what others think...

[Anonymous User]

D. Colo. email just now.

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

I got 3 District Court interviews out of about 30 applications. For one of the judges, a professor called, (but without a connection to the judge) and I have interned for a judge who is a colleague of the judge and I personalized my letter to highlight that. For the other two judges that extended interviews, I believe the answer is no to all three. (I'm not 100% certain that none of my recommenders called, but I don't believe so).

[Anonymous User]

For those having success (any interviews), can you please indicate whether you (1) had a connection to the judge (prof knows them personally, etc.), (2) had recommenders without a connection to the judge call them, or (3) personalized your cover letter toward the judge.

I applied to about 20 district court judges on-plan and had two calls—one call was earlier in the week and one was this morning. For both judges, I had no connection, did not have anyone make a phone call, and did not personalize my cover letter.

[Anonymous User]

Any news about Boudin (1), Raggi (2), or Prado (5)?

Strange combination of judges. Raggi, from what I hear, is full. Like other posters, I've also heard Prado made calls.

[Anonymous User]

If you get an email from a judge asking you to contact their judicial assistant to set up an interview, do you thank the judge with an email back or just call the assistant to set up the interview? I assume the latter but interested to hear what others think...

The latter. It probably wouldn't hurt to send the judge a "thank you" email, but you would needlessly run the risk of coming off as weird. Just do what the judge says. You can thank him in person at the end of your interview.

[Anonymous User]

Do calls / emails go out through the weekend, or not resume again (if at all) until Monday?

[Anonymous User]

Do calls / emails go out through the weekend, or not resume again (if at all) until Monday?

Our career services said that it's unusual, but not unheard of, for calls to be placed on the weekend.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what a good number is for scheduled interviews turning into an offer? I have 4 interviews scheduled (2 CoA and 2 D.Ct.) and I was wondering if this means I'm guaranteed to get something or if I need more.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what a good number is for scheduled interviews turning into an offer? I have 4 interviews scheduled (2 CoA and 2 D.Ct.) and I was wondering if this means I'm guaranteed to get something or if I need more.

You need seven interviews. Seven is the key number here. Seven, man, that's the number.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRdWntqCLwg

[Anonymous User]

Awesome post.

Does anyone else know if Judge Kearse on the 2nd circuit has made any calls?

Yes, Kearse has made calls.

[Anonymous User]

Is the consensus that all calls are generally made in the first day?

[los blancos]

Do state trial-level clerkships generally provide decent exit options?