2016-2017 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

^the obviously flaw here is only applying to 30 judges. I got a surprisingly good clerkship after 4 interviews. That's 4 interviews out of about 175 applications.

I get that I need to send out a bunch of applications. But I don't think I'm competitive every where (Rank 1-4 in top 40-50 school, LR, judicial internship last summer). I've been focusing on sending applications to fly-over districts and local districts. That's why I have so few applications out. Would you suggest applying in DC/NY/SFO/LA even though those areas are typically more competitive?

[Anonymous User]

Unfortunately that's the balancing act you have to handle - wait for a federal clerkship and maybe miss out on SSC/everything? Or go for SSC and possibly miss a federal clerkship you could have got? There's not much you can do, you have to just decide what risk you feel better taking.

Agreed. You have to figure out your own priorities and not let the fear of missing out (#FOMO) hamstring you through the process. For me, geography and not uprooting my family took priority, therefore I looked at D Ct and SSC on equal terms and the only thing that affected my order of applications was the order in which the judges were hiring.

Thank you both for this. I eventually want to clerk on a circuit--does it matter that much to judges what kind of clerkship experience you have if you have previously clerked?

[A. Nony Mouse]

It will probably depend on the judge. I know someone who went from a SSC clerkship to a federal COA, but I think federal DCt to COA is more common.

[BVest]

It will probably depend on the judge. I know someone who went from a SSC clerkship to a federal COA, but I think federal DCt to COA is more common.

I suspect some of the commonality is due to the few number of SSC clerkships that are considered to be within the same ballpark as a D.Ct. But yeah, D.Ct. is the more common avenue to COA.

With COA as a goal, a couple quick things to consider (that the COA, no doubt, is considering): D.Ct. will be similar to COA in lack of discretion over taking cases (and of course in its federal focus); SSC will be similar to COA in its review focus as opposed to trial focus.

[Anonymous User]

Looks like some SDNY judges are rolling out the 2018 train early this year....

[Anonymous User]

It will probably depend on the judge. I know someone who went from a SSC clerkship to a federal COA, but I think federal DCt to COA is more common.

I suspect some of the commonality is due to the few number of SSC clerkships that are considered to be within the same ballpark as a D.Ct. But yeah, D.Ct. is the more common avenue to COA.

With COA as a goal, a couple quick things to consider (that the COA, no doubt, is considering): D.Ct. will be similar to COA in lack of discretion over taking cases (and of course in its federal focus); SSC will be similar to COA in its review focus as opposed to trial focus.

I'm assuming we aren't talking about the California Supreme Court here? Acquiring this clerkship (i.e. Justice Liu) is probably more difficult than most CoA judges. He's already sent 2 or 3 up to SCOTUS. [Not sure about the hiring requirements of the new appointees though, as they were only recently confirmed.]

[Anonymous User]

I can't wait until it's April 1st. Then I can finally post on here that I got a clerkship.... *tear*

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any insight into why an OSCAR posting would be updated without any changes? The "Date Modified" has changed, but there were no substantive changes to the posting. Could the Judge be trying to solicit more applications (or in other words, is this the OSCAR equivalent of a TLS "bump")? That seems silly to me, considering how competitive clerkships are these days, but wondering if anyone has seen this before.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any insight into why an OSCAR posting would be updated without any changes? The "Date Modified" has changed, but there were no substantive changes to the posting. Could the Judge be trying to solicit more applications (or in other words, is this the OSCAR equivalent of a TLS "bump")? That seems silly to me, considering how competitive clerkships are these days, but wondering if anyone has seen this before.

Are you referring to Gorsuch? He's been doing that a lot lately.

[Anonymous User]

School range: low end TT
Rank: top 10%
LR?: yes
Published?: chyup
Recs: 2 profs, 1 externship
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: NJ, PA, MD, Del

*****


Padova, E.D. Pa. hired until 2018.

Conaboy, M.D. Pa. says not taking clerks anytime.

Thompson, D.N.J. says apply for '16 in September of '15.

[dannynoonan87]

Looks like some SDNY judges are rolling out the 2018 train early this year....

Crazy how you can send one out for 2017 right now, and it's actually late!

[Anonymous User]

Is it considered bad form to cold email a judge's former clerk in preparation for an interview? No one from my school has ever interviewed with this judge, and I'd like to know what to expect.

The only risk I can see is that the former clerk would tell the judge you've reached out, but that doesn't seem inherently bad.

[Anonymous User]

Is it considered bad form to cold email a judge's former clerk in preparation for an interview? No one from my school has ever interviewed with this judge, and I'd like to know what to expect.

The only risk I can see is that the former clerk would tell the judge you've reached out, but that doesn't seem inherently bad.

Maybe ask someone at your school (e.g. Clerkship advisor) to do it for you? That way they can't hold it against you personally.

[Anonymous User]

Is it considered bad form to cold email a judge's former clerk in preparation for an interview? No one from my school has ever interviewed with this judge, and I'd like to know what to expect.

The only risk I can see is that the former clerk would tell the judge you've reached out, but that doesn't seem inherently bad.

Maybe ask someone at your school (e.g. Clerkship advisor) to do it for you? That way they can't hold it against you personally.

That's a good idea, thanks.

On the other hand, given that no one else from my school is interviewing with this judge it will be fairly obvious who prompted the contact. But maybe still better than direct contact.

[wwwcol]

Is it considered bad form to cold email a judge's former clerk in preparation for an interview? No one from my school has ever interviewed with this judge, and I'd like to know what to expect.

The only risk I can see is that the former clerk would tell the judge you've reached out, but that doesn't seem inherently bad.

It feels kind of ballsy to reach out to ask only about the interview. On the other hand, I've cold emailed a couple former clerks to judges with whom I had already secured an interview and some were willing to give me phone time only after learning I had an interview, so as usual I guess the answer is it depends.

On the other hand, IME it's perfectly appropriate to cold email a former clerk to ask whether they can spare a few mins to chat about their clerkship experience generally. Once you get them on the phone and if the convo is going well, you can ask about the interview process.

[BlackAndOrange84]

Is it considered bad form to cold email a judge's former clerk in preparation for an interview? No one from my school has ever interviewed with this judge, and I'd like to know what to expect.

The only risk I can see is that the former clerk would tell the judge you've reached out, but that doesn't seem inherently bad.

Maybe ask someone at your school (e.g. Clerkship advisor) to do it for you? That way they can't hold it against you personally.

I did this multiple times for every judge with whom I had an interview (three). Former clerks were incredibly willing to talk, and I never even got a hint that the contact was unwelcome. My sense is that this isn't at all unusual. If a clerk is too busy or doesn't welcome the contact, you probably won't get a response to your initial email—nothing more. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, and neither should you.

If it gets back to the judge, it at least reflects well on you that you took your time and did your due diligence. Even better, as long as you don't come across like an insufferable ass, the judge may even hear from someone he trusts that you were smart, likeable, and asked thoughtful questions.

[Anonymous User]

Is it considered bad form to cold email a judge's former clerk in preparation for an interview? No one from my school has ever interviewed with this judge, and I'd like to know what to expect.

The only risk I can see is that the former clerk would tell the judge you've reached out, but that doesn't seem inherently bad.

Maybe ask someone at your school (e.g. Clerkship advisor) to do it for you? That way they can't hold it against you personally.

I did this multiple times for every judge with whom I had an interview (three). Former clerks were incredibly willing to talk, and I never even got a hint that the contact was unwelcome. My sense is that this isn't at all unusual. If a clerk is too busy or doesn't welcome the contact, you probably won't get a response to your initial email—nothing more. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, and neither should you.

If it gets back to the judge, it at least reflects well on you that you took your time and did your due diligence. Even better, as long as you don't come across like an insufferable ass, the judge may even hear from someone he trusts that you were smart, likeable, and asked thoughtful questions.

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone who recently interviewed with D. Md. judges heard back?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone who recently interviewed with D. Md. judges heard back?

friend interviewed recently, got an offer and accepted

[Anonymous User]

Which D. Md. judge? Would help those of us who are still waiting for an answer.

[Anonymous User]

So is a week and a half after the interview enough time that I should give up hope? I'm thinking so.

[Anonymous User]

So is a week and a half after the interview enough time that I should give up hope? I'm thinking so.

That's tough, man. You're smart enough to realize that your chance probably decreases with every week that passes, but on the other hand, some judges tend to wait a long time to make a decision. I'd probably say don't give up hope but plan as if you arn't getting it.

[seizmaar]

i found the best strategy was to assume a ding and then be pleasantly surprised when you get an offer. i know that's easier said than done, but the caliber of people interviewing for clerkships is so high that you can do nothing wrong and still lose out.

[Anonymous User]

So is a week and a half after the interview enough time that I should give up hope? I'm thinking so.

I was told I would hear within a week. A week later told it would be within another week. Got the offer after over 3 weeks.