Let's talk 2nd Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Also, anyone know how competitive Lynch is?

This is anecdotal, but I'm close to top 20% at HLS and I didn't get an interview.

Graduated magna from HLS and have non-SDNY/EDNY district court clerkship within a 100 mile radius and also didn't get interview. Figured this was more due to lack of connections with my recommenders and DJ than grades, but idk.

[Anonymous User]

Pooler was interviewing last week

[Anonymous User]

Any idea when to expect apps for 2021-22 to open for 2nd Cir.?

[Anonymous User]

What grades does one need from HYS for non-feeder 2nd Circuit judges?

[Anonymous User]

Probably top quarter at hls and got interviews with some of the least selective

Anything that's close to magna opens even more doors, as does LR obvi

[Anonymous User]

Any judges that look for work experience (in addition to a district court clerkship)?

[Anonymous User]

Who are the least grade selective in the 2nd Circuit?

[Anonymous User]

Is Stein actually still hiring for 19

[Anonymous User]

Who are the least grade selective in the 2nd Circuit?

Generally non-Manhattan judges, with some exceptions

[Anonymous User]

Also, anyone know how competitive Lynch is?

Probably top 20% at HYS, with an SDNY/EDNY district court clerkship and a reference from a former clerk. Didn’t get an interview.

[Anonymous User]

Top third at MVP, with two years NYC big law experience and a district court clerkship. Do I have a shot at any judges in the Second Circuit? More specifically, any judges that consistently hire outside of the T6 or look for those with work experience?

I guess a more important question is, do I have a shot with any circuit court judges? Have been applying for several months now, and I thought the district court clerkship would help a lot, but radio silence. I prefer 1st, 2nd, or 3rd because I am from the Northeast and prefer to be within a short flight from my wife who will remain in NYC doing big law, but I would go anywhere to clerk. I wouldn’t clerk for any judge, but I would go anywhere. I’ve talked to my wife about it and we’re ok with long distance for a year.

[Anonymous User]

If you have 2 years in big law and a prior district court clerkship already, you're looking at clerking as a 5th or 6th year if you're applying now. At that point it's probably not worth it.

[Anonymous User]

If you have 2 years in big law and a prior district court clerkship already, you're looking at clerking as a 5th or 6th year if you're applying now. At that point it's probably not worth it.

Re bold - 2019 is still an option (I know not many, but still an option).

Why do you think it is not worth it? Will it jeopardize my career when I try to return to big law? Also, assuming I do think it would be worth it, what do you think?

[Anonymous User]

Top third at MVP, with two years NYC big law experience and a district court clerkship. Do I have a shot at any judges in the Second Circuit? More specifically, any judges that consistently hire outside of the T6 or look for those with work experience?

I guess a more important question is, do I have a shot with any circuit court judges? Have been applying for several months now, and I thought the district court clerkship would help a lot, but radio silence. I prefer 1st, 2nd, or 3rd because I am from the Northeast and prefer to be within a short flight from my wife who will remain in NYC doing big law, but I would go anywhere to clerk. I wouldn’t clerk for any judge, but I would go anywhere. I’ve talked to my wife about it and we’re ok with long distance for a year.

One big question is where your district court clerkship is. If it's SDNY/EDNY, it might help a fair bit for 2nd Cir.; if it's D. Mass, same for 1st; etc. If it's a random district that's (a) not in the circuit, or (b) not "prestigious," it may not be a big boon.

Also, be aware that you'll be a relatively untraditional candidate. Most COA judges hire students straight from law school or with maybe a year or two of experience. It is more common for a district court judge to hire a clerk with law firm work experience, since it's more helpful for the job. There are a number of judges who only hire straight from law school; and probably more judges that are generally disinclined from hiring clerks with too much experience.

I think the best bet would be to work connections -- with your district court judge, with your law firm mentors, with alumni -- and see if you can get someone who the judge trusts to put your application in front of them. You can of course also just apply broadly and see if you get any bites (if you're geographically limited, why not just apply to every judge you'd work for in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd circuits?), but if someone in chambers is quickly going through hundreds of applications, you might stand out only in a negative way.

[Anonymous User]

Are there any 2nd circuit judges who are particularly receptive to cold calls from professors?

[Anonymous User]

^Also interested in this if anyone has thoughts.

[lizaregina]

Does anyone have experience clerking for Judge Winter? I'm curious what his caseload is like now that he's senior and what it's like clerking for him in general. I've also reached out to a couple of his old clerks, but they weren't recent, so things could have changed.

PM me

[Anonymous User]

Are there any 2nd circuit judges who are particularly receptive to cold calls from professors?

Thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

Also, anyone know how competitive Lynch is?

This is anecdotal, but I'm close to top 20% at HLS and I didn't get an interview.

As someone with a bit of experience: top 20% at HLS will be an uphill climb for CA2 judges (esp. in Manhattan) if you don't have Law Review or some other connections (such as a professor willing to make a phone call).

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have experience clerking for Judge Winter? I'm curious what his caseload is like now that he's senior and what it's like clerking for him in general. I've also reached out to a couple of his old clerks, but they weren't recent, so things could have changed.

PM me

I'd like to hear more. I can't seem to PM though. Does anyone know if I need to purchase a TLS upgrade or something?

[radio1nowhere]

Does anyone have experience clerking for Judge Winter? I'm curious what his caseload is like now that he's senior and what it's like clerking for him in general. I've also reached out to a couple of his old clerks, but they weren't recent, so things could have changed.

PM me

I'd like to hear more. I can't seem to PM though. Does anyone know if I need to purchase a TLS upgrade or something?

The new website owners removed the PM function for some reason. Dunno why.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know anything about Cabranes for 20-21?

[Anonymous User]

I believe Cabranes has 2-3 vacancies left for 20-21. He’s done hiring for 19-20.

[Anonymous User]

I believe Cabranes has 2-3 vacancies left for 20-21. He’s done hiring for 19-20.

[Anonymous User]

Also, anyone know how competitive Lynch is?

This is anecdotal, but I'm close to top 20% at HLS and I didn't get an interview.

As someone with a bit of experience: top 20% at HLS will be an uphill climb for CA2 judges (esp. in Manhattan) if you don't have Law Review or some other connections (such as a professor willing to make a phone call).

Too late to be helpful for the person who posted since it looks like Lynch is now full for 2020, but FWIW as a future datapoint: I'm top 10% at HLS, Law Review, applied right away, didn't get an interview. Not sure if it's because he was looking for higher states than I had, because none of my profs had a connection to him, or pure luck/he just didn't like my application for whatever reason, but he's definitely pretty dang competitive. (For comparison, I interviewed with -- and eventually landed a job with one of -- several judges in the non-feeder 2/9/semi-feeder-on-different-circuit range.)