2015-2016 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any word on Judge Pillard's hiring status?

I've been wondering the same thing. I applied a couple weeks back thinking my chances were decent but haven't heard anything. Anybody know anybody who's been hired or had an interview?

She has hired at least one: a GULC alum from a few years ago.

[Anonymous User]

So Carnes isn't a feeder?

[Anonymous User]

So Carnes isn't a feeder?

That depends on your definition of "feeder." He's more of a feeder than the vast majority of federal judges (in that he's sent any of his clerks to SCOTUS at all), but he's not one of the judges who reliably sends a clerk every year.

[Anonymous User]

Any word on Judge Pillard's hiring status?

I've been wondering the same thing. I applied a couple weeks back thinking my chances were decent but haven't heard anything. Anybody know anybody who's been hired or had an interview?

She has hired at least one: a GULC alum from a few years ago.

To start now? (1/14)? Has she started interviewing for 8/14 and 8/15? Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

When a COA judge provides an opening on Oscar roughly how many applications does he or she receive in the first day, week, and as a final total?

[ZyzzBrah]

When a COA judge provides an opening on Oscar roughly how many applications does he or she receive in the first day, week, and as a final total?

depends on the judge, but fwiw Andre Davis (4th Cir) says he gets ~1100 applications for 4 slots

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the more competitive circuits get 2000 applicants

[Anonymous User]

Updates?

[Anonymous User]

Judge Stark (D. Del.) has hired at least one clerk for 2015.

[Anonymous User]

Can any HLS people tell me how competitive I am grades-wise for both Dct and Cir Ct clerkships? Not applying to feeders, obviously.

I graduated cum laude last year, am working, and am applying for 2015-2016. 20 Hs (including 2 DS), and 8Ps. 1L grades were 8Hs/2Ps.

I know a lot more besides grades go into it, but I have no idea if I'm even in the right ballpark.

[Anonymous User]

Am I too late to the game for 2015-2015 circuit clerkship hiring?

Also - to what extent will a district court clerkship (2014-2015 term) help my application?

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Can any HLS people tell me how competitive I am grades-wise for both Dct and Cir Ct clerkships? Not applying to feeders, obviously.

I graduated cum laude last year, am working, and am applying for 2015-2016. 20 Hs (including 2 DS), and 8Ps. 1L grades were 8Hs/2Ps.

I know a lot more besides grades go into it, but I have no idea if I'm even in the right ballpark.

Had very similar grades (21 Hs (including 3 DS) and 7 Ps, but with worse 1L grades) and got 5 clerkship interviews (including a 9th Cir. interview) and a district court clerkship immediately out of law school. Know several people with worse grades who got good clerkships, both right out of law school and as alumni. There are no guarantees in this day and age but you're plenty competitive for both district court and COA positions.

[Doorkeeper]

Can any HLS people tell me how competitive I am grades-wise for both Dct and Cir Ct clerkships? Not applying to feeders, obviously.

I graduated cum laude last year, am working, and am applying for 2015-2016. 20 Hs (including 2 DS), and 8Ps. 1L grades were 8Hs/2Ps.

I know a lot more besides grades go into it, but I have no idea if I'm even in the right ballpark.

Generally speaking and without special professor connections, cum laude should make you competitive for non-feeder/DCC circuits. I don't know about non-feeders on 2/9, but I would think that they're worth the application. I would imagine then that you're pretty set for districts that aren't SDNY/DDC/NDCa. I don't know the grade ranges for those districts.

[Anonymous User]

Just below median at Chicago, secondary journal, six years previous work in immigration for DHS. Dime a dozen LORs available from profs, fantastic LORs (seen em) available from employers. Interested in federal d. ct. or magistrate clerkships in the southwest or mountain west-- essentially anywhere from WA/ID/MT in the north down to AZ/NM/TX in the south. Regional ties to ABQ and SLC but originally from Boston. You think I've got a shot considering I've been a solid B student in core classes?

[Anonymous User]

...

[Anonymous User]

How's everyone doing with clerkship apps? Have you started your mass-mailing campaign? Have people gotten interviews/offers?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a bit confused about the above. If I'm interested in a non-super competitive district, i.e. DConn., NDNY, DNJ, WDNY district clerkship, do I mass mail judges or do I just wait for them to post on OSCAR?

[noble1]

Hey y'all,

I just realized I have to keep this under 60k characters, so I'll try not to reproduce War and Peace or anything. Anyway...I apologize for this question, if it's been asked before, but after a quick search, I couldn't find anything. Has anyone heard if any of the Sixth Circuit judges have made any offers or filled any positions yet?

Sadly, I just found this forum, and although I've had my apps ready for a while, I've been holding on to them so as not to apply "too early" (if there is such a thing). I'm really worried that I've missed some of the earlier movers, like Judge Sutton, Judge Batchelder. (I realize Judge Batchelder just posted some info on OSCAR, but it confuses me because it refers to some type of "position description" that I don't see anywhere, so I'm including her).

Any updates would help.

Thanks!

Edited for a typo

[Anonymous User]

Just below median at Chicago, secondary journal, six years previous work in immigration for DHS. Dime a dozen LORs available from profs, fantastic LORs (seen em) available from employers. Interested in federal d. ct. or magistrate clerkships in the southwest or mountain west-- essentially anywhere from WA/ID/MT in the north down to AZ/NM/TX in the south. Regional ties to ABQ and SLC but originally from Boston. You think I've got a shot considering I've been a solid B student in core classes?

Definitely with magistrate - maybe a chance with fed d. court if you go for the less popular ones (which it sounds like you will be doing). You should be talking to Hutch, ASAP.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a DCt clerk right now in a bigger market. For 1Ls or 2Ls, I suggest that other than your clerkship app, also spend some time trying to get an internship during the school year or over the summer. 2Ls especially -- you're more valuable to the chambers. Interning will give you a chance to get to know your judge and maybe some others around the court, and that will help you so much for a clerkship. I interned for the judge I'm clerking for now after my 1L year. The judge knew me, liked me and my work, and so I got the clerkship during the fall of my 3L year without even having to go interview.

Just my humble advice on how to make some personal connections and stand amid the boxes of applications. Good luck!

[ClerkAdvisor]

Trying to figure out how many apps to send out. Targeting district cts. only. Right now I'm applying to ~8 districts in my geographic region (roughly 100 judges total). Would go broader if needed, but I'd much prefer to be in this general area. Top ~5% at lower T14 + LR + good recs. I don't want to shut myself out from clerking by not applying broadly enough. How many applications is typical? My profs and career services are very cagey about this.

It just depends... A good rule of thumb for maximizing your odds is to apply to every judge you are willing to work for in every city you are willing to live in.

As far as whether the 8 districts in your geographic region is enough -- this just depends. If the 8 districts are all amtrak corridor districts (EDVA, DDC, DMD, DDel, DNJ, SDNY, EDNY, DMass) and your school doesn't have a history of placing many clerks in these districts, then it may not be enough. But if your school typically places a bunch of clerks there, then you probably have enough.

[ClerkAdvisor]

Hey y'all,

I just realized I have to keep this under 60k characters, so I'll try not to reproduce War and Peace or anything. Anyway...I apologize for this question, if it's been asked before, but after a quick search, I couldn't find anything. Has anyone heard if any of the Sixth Circuit judges have made any offers or filled any positions yet?

Sadly, I just found this forum, and although I've had my apps ready for a while, I've been holding on to them so as not to apply "too early" (if there is such a thing). I'm really worried that I've missed some of the earlier movers, like Judge Sutton, Judge Batchelder. (I realize Judge Batchelder just posted some info on OSCAR, but it confuses me because it refers to some type of "position description" that I don't see anywhere, so I'm including her).

Any updates would help.

Thanks!

Edited for a typo

Just mail in your applications. Look, it's far better to be too early than too late. And you can always 'update' (i.e., send a new application) whenever you get your law review ed board position, spring grades, etc.

[ClerkAdvisor]

I'm a bit confused about the above. If I'm interested in a non-super competitive district, i.e. DConn., NDNY, DNJ, WDNY district clerkship, do I mass mail judges or do I just wait for them to post on OSCAR?

Mail your applications. You have to get your application in front of the judge before she finishes hiring...

[ClerkAdvisor]

How's everyone doing with clerkship apps? Have you started your mass-mailing campaign? Have people gotten interviews/offers?

FYI - people need to be sending in their applications, there are plenty of judges out there interviewing and hiring. Remember, it's far better to be 'too early' than too late.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea what sort of stats might be competitive for Judge Carnes? Just curious.

Only Carnes clerk I knew was at the top of his/her class at a T14. But I know he takes students from regional schools too. Carnes has fed some clerks to SCOTUS I believe.

Carnes has sent two clerks to SCOTUS, both to Justice Thomas. One was from UVA, the other from Georgia. Whether it was Carnes that was the in with Justice Thomas or a prof at UVA/Georgia is impossible to know without asking those clerks. Georgia has sent another student to Thomas; he clerked with Sentelle before going to Thomas. UVA has a number of conservative profs with ties to Justice Thomas. Likely it's a combination of both profs and Carnes.

I know a guy who was 3rd in his class at a regional school (non UGA) that went to Carnes. The rest of his credentials were stellar: high position on journal, MC accolades, published note and other publication, etc.

Judge Sutton (Sixth Circuit) is filled for 2015-16 as well.

[Anonymous User]

Where can one find a spreadsheet with Court of Appeals judges' addresses?