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I'm a 1L. JIOP applications are available December 1st, and the deadline is January 4th. I'd be applying under the diversity student application.

From the info packet:
-First 500 applicants are "guaranteed at least one interview" and that first interview can happen any time after your application is complete.
-"The earlier the student enters into [the application stream], the more time they have to be reviewed by hiring judges. That will increase their chances of being hired."

I have my resume ready. I would just need to write a statement of interest, which they want under 1000 words. How important is it that I get this in as soon as possible?

In other words, is it worth sacrificing maybe 6 hours of my time during finals prep to write and revise this statement of interest?

My finals end 12/17 so I have two weeks to do it before the deadline if it's not that critical that I get it in on 12/1.

I received 2 interviews with judges after finals and before Jan 1 my 1L year having sent applications out on 12/1. Many others received similar jobs applying later, but I personally believe it's worth jumping on it in December.

It's not a huge time sink and you don't need every minute of every day for exams.

I was going to say, it's no big deal (based on getting my 1L judicial internship, and a bunch of interviews, in February). But then I realized that the JIOP is a different thing, and PAID. I don't have any personal experience with it, but since it's paid (and national), yeah, it would probably be good to get your application in early. I agree the statement of interest shouldn't take that long, and you can't study 24 hours a day anyway.