2018-2019 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Roughly top 20% at HYS. Have applied to all the COA judges our clerkship adviser said were accepting apps (around 25-30) in places I'd live in and have gotten no response. I'm about to send out another round of apps to more COA judges on OSCAR (just waiting to have my third rec finalized) but is it time to start applying to district court clerkships for 2018-2019 and focusing COA apps on 2019-2020? Or can I safely wait until fall to do that?

You can but it's not like you've been waiting 6 months for a response. But the right D. Ct. might be worth pursuing (such as one of the feeders). But I wouldn't feel obligated to do it now.

Who are the feeders a the district court level?

[Anonymous User]

Boasberg (DDC), Feinerman (NDIL), Thapar (EDKY), Breyer (NDCA) are all d. ct. feeders that stick out in my mind. Various SDNY and DDC judges probably feed as well.

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but you'll need to be competitive for COA feeders to be competitive with these d. ct. feeders. For example, Boasberg only hires H/S folks with more DS/prizes than Ps. Thapar tries to hire in tandem with other feeders, like Kethledge, Sutton, and Carnes, so you'd need the grades to be competitive with those judges. A quick browse of former Breyer/Feinerman clerks at my school shows that every single one of them clerked for a COA feeder.

[Anonymous User]

It's probably a misuse of the term "feeder" but there are also a number of district judges who "feed" to particular COA judges or circuits (not SCOTUS), but tend to have lower grade requirements than circuit judges do. Applying to these judges first would make sense if you eventually want an appellate clerkship but your grades aren't as competitive as you would like them to be.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have information on the status of Judge Hardiman in the Third Circuit?

[Anonymous User]

I know 2 of his former clerks: both went to Catholic/Jesuit undergrads (Hardiman himself attended ND and Georgetown); 1 was LR and top 20% at CCN, the other a median Harvard Law grad. Small sample size, yes, but he doesn't seem uber-competitive--just fairly niche.

[Anonymous User]

Has anybody heard anything about Judge Fletcher? I know he started accepting apps in may..

Pretty sure he isn't full.

He's also one of the most grade-selective feeder judges.

Is Fletcher interviewing?

[Anonymous User]

Has anybody heard anything about Judge Fletcher? I know he started accepting apps in may..

Pretty sure he isn't full.

He's also one of the most grade-selective feeder judges.

Is Fletcher interviewing?

Pretty sure he's about to start extending interview offers.

[Anonymous User]

I know 2 of his former clerks: both went to Catholic/Jesuit undergrads (Hardiman himself attended ND and Georgetown); 1 was LR and top 20% at CCN, the other a median Harvard Law grad. Small sample size, yes, but he doesn't seem uber-competitive--just fairly niche.

One of his incoming clerks went to a religious undergrad, was a Harvard Law Review member, and graduated cum laude (but probably much closer to magna cum laude.) So he may be getting more competitive, if even still niche.

[Anonymous User]

If a judge takes apps through Oscar but hasn't posted a 2018 position yet is there anything you can do?

Not only do I want to get my apps out but I want to at least get one application ready to make sure my career office has all my letters ready to go.

[Anonymous User]

I know 2 of his former clerks: both went to Catholic/Jesuit undergrads (Hardiman himself attended ND and Georgetown); 1 was LR and top 20% at CCN, the other a median Harvard Law grad. Small sample size, yes, but he doesn't seem uber-competitive--just fairly niche.

One of his incoming clerks went to a religious undergrad, was a Harvard Law Review member, and graduated cum laude (but probably much closer to magna cum laude.) So he may be getting more competitive, if even still niche.

This is helpful, thanks. Anyone know if he is full for 2018/19? On Oscar his application for that term has expired.

[Anonymous User]

He has hired at least 1 for 18-19. My guess is he's full. Also I disagree that he's not competitive, I know someone who's going to him for a different term who's LR + north of top 10% at CCN.

[Anonymous User]

Any update on Pillard for 18-19?

[jbagelboy]

He has hired at least 1 for 18-19. My guess is he's full. Also I disagree that he's not competitive, I know someone who's going to him for a different term who's LR + north of top 10% at CCN.

basically all COA judges have become more competitive over the past few years AFAIK, esp those in desirable circuits

[Anonymous User]

Any update on Pillard for 18-19?

Done hiring AFAIK.

[Anonymous User]

does anyone know application protocol for Judge W.H. Pryor on the 11th ? I know he accepts on a rolling basis, but what do his usual clerks look like pedigree/resume wise? Does anyone know if his chambers is full for 18-19? Thanks

top 10% at #28-33 law school, EE on flagship journal, published note, multiple RA positions, prior D. Ct. clerkship, references from well-known professors

[Anonymous User]

does anyone know application protocol for Judge W.H. Pryor on the 11th ? I know he accepts on a rolling basis, but what do his usual clerks look like pedigree/resume wise? Does anyone know if his chambers is full for 18-19? Thanks

top 10% at #28-33 law school, EE on flagship journal, published note, multiple RA positions, prior D. Ct. clerkship, references from well-known professors

I doubt Pryor is full for 2018 as he was still interviewing for 2017 as of this spring. He is one of the last feeders to move.

He would only look at you if by #28-33 you mean Bama (preferably) or UGA. Even so top 10% likely won't be near good enough unless everything else is outstanding. Pryor does have a strong preference for Southerners though.

If you want a circuit clerkship in Alabama, Dubina might be a higher-percentage option? (No idea if he's hiring though)

[Anonymous User]

does anyone know application protocol for Judge W.H. Pryor on the 11th ? I know he accepts on a rolling basis, but what do his usual clerks look like pedigree/resume wise? Does anyone know if his chambers is full for 18-19? Thanks

top 10% at #28-33 law school, EE on flagship journal, published note, multiple RA positions, prior D. Ct. clerkship, references from well-known professors

I doubt Pryor is full for 2018 as he was still interviewing for 2017 as of this spring. He is one of the last feeders to move.

He would only look at you if by #28-33 you mean Bama (preferably) or UGA. Even so top 10% likely won't be near good enough unless everything else is outstanding. Pryor does have a strong preference for Southerners though.

If you want a circuit clerkship in Alabama, Dubina might be a higher-percentage option? (No idea if he's hiring though)

Thanks. Concerned more with 11th circuit than being in Alabama, I just figured I might as well start with the judges currently accepting applications. If he moves so late, would it be better to wait to apply? And would a recommendation from my D. Ct. judge go a long way? If so, that kind of throws off my timeline to apply sooner rather than later because I would need to be in his chambers for a while before asking for a recommendation.

[Anonymous User]

I know for a fact Judge Pryor has hired at least two (probably more) clerks for 2018-19.

[Anonymous User]

I know for a fact Judge Pryor has hired at least two (probably more) clerks for 2018-19.

Thanks. Time to get that one sent in.

[Anonymous User]

Pryor is full for 2018-2019, and has hired at least one clerk for 2019-2020.

[JackOfAllTrades]

If a judge takes apps through Oscar but hasn't posted a 2018 position yet is there anything you can do?

Not only do I want to get my apps out but I want to at least get one application ready to make sure my career office has all my letters ready to go.

I have this same question if anyone can help. Some judges I applied through Oscar for 2017, but it's been several months (or a year in some cases), and some judges have not re-posted anything.

Could we mail in an update? My fear is that, just because a judge used OSCAR last year, it's no guarantee that they will use OSCAR this year. So better to get materials to their chambers.

[Anonymous User]

Is it egregious to update OSCAR apps twice within a week? I updated apps with LR results on Tuesday but just found a small typo in my resume today. It's not a huge typo (I used the same adjective twice in a sentence), so should I just live with it or correct the app and risk annoying someone?

[nothingtosee]

Is it egregious to update OSCAR apps twice within a week? I updated apps with LR results on Tuesday but just found a small typo in my resume today. It's not a huge typo (I used the same adjective twice in a sentence), so should I just live with it or correct the app and risk annoying someone?

I updated an oscar app twice within an hour of submitting it and got an interview so idk

[jbagelboy]

Is it egregious to update OSCAR apps twice within a week? I updated apps with LR results on Tuesday but just found a small typo in my resume today. It's not a huge typo (I used the same adjective twice in a sentence), so should I just live with it or correct the app and risk annoying someone?

I updated an oscar app twice within an hour of submitting it and got an interview so idk

^I did this so many times. I don't think anyone cares.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Harris Hartz in the 10th is interviewing?