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How hard is it to get into a big law appellate practice?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:33 am
by Anonymous User
Is big law appellate out of reach for anyone who doesn't have a SCOTUS clerkship? I'm clerking at a d. ct. in 2/9/DC and just finished COA in 2/9/DC. One clerkship was with a well-regarded feeder, the other a younger and less well-known judge.
I really prefer appellate practice but don't know how realistic that is early in one's career.
Re: How hard is it to get into a big law appellate practice?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:43 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Is big law appellate out of reach for anyone who doesn't have a SCOTUS clerkship? I'm clerking at a d. ct. in 2/9/DC and just finished COA in 2/9/DC. One clerkship was with a well-regarded feeder, the other a younger and less well-known judge.
I really prefer appellate practice but don't know how realistic that is early in one's career.
You have the right clerkships. Other prestige indicia (e.g., law school; rank in class; etc.) are all important, too. Given your feeder CoA 2/9/DC clerkship, presumably your resume is top 5% lower T14; top 15% CCN; or top 25% HYS -- so you should have as good a chance as anyone.
Re: How hard is it to get into a big law appellate practice?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:43 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Is big law appellate out of reach for anyone who doesn't have a SCOTUS clerkship? I'm clerking at a d. ct. in 2/9/DC and just finished COA in 2/9/DC. One clerkship was with a well-regarded feeder, the other a younger and less well-known judge.
I really prefer appellate practice but don't know how realistic that is early in one's career.
You have the right clerkships. Other prestige indicia (e.g., law school; rank in class; etc.) are all important, too. Given your feeder CoA 2/9/DC clerkship, presumably your resume is top 5% lower T14; top 15% CCN; or top 25% HYS -- so you should have as good a chance as anyone.
It also depends on which firm you're going to. If you go someplace like Jones Day DC, where the appellate group is enormous, you've got a better shot (providing all the spots aren't taken up by SCOTUS clerks that year) than if you go to a firm that is good in lit, but doesn't have a large appellate practice.
ETA: but yes, you definitely have the *right* clerkships. If a firm has room in their appellate practice, you're exactly the kind of candidate they'd want.