Clerks Taking Questions Forum

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who had a gap between school/job and the start of your clerkship, how did you fill that time? I just accepted a clerkship that starts about 6 months after my fellowship ends. I am lucky that I can support myself without outside income, so I am considering all options. But I would like to 1) avoid the gap on my resume and 2) earn some kind of income, no matter how nominal. Any thoughts?

[ArtistOfManliness]

For those of you who had a gap between school/job and the start of your clerkship, how did you fill that time? I just accepted a clerkship that starts about 6 months after my fellowship ends. I am lucky that I can support myself without outside income, so I am considering all options. But I would like to 1) avoid the gap on my resume and 2) earn some kind of income, no matter how nominal. Any thoughts?

Internet surveys.

[Anonymous User]

This is random and petty, but when you you fly out for calendars, is it doable to fly out the Friday before panels start and come back the Sunday after? (not that my circuit's oral arguments are held somewhere really awesome or anything... )

[bk1]

This is random and petty, but does chambers pay for your expenses when you fly out for calendars ? Also, is it doable to fly out the Friday before panels start and come back the Sunday after? (not that my circuit's oral arguments are held somewhere really awesome or anything... )

The government pays for it, yes (they pay your hotel too and you also get per diem for food and shit). And you should be able to arrange the travel like that.

[ArtistOfManliness]

This is random and petty, but when you you fly out for calendars, is it doable to fly out the Friday before panels start and come back the Sunday after? (not that my circuit's oral arguments are held somewhere really awesome or anything... )

Yup, you make weekend trips out of them. The Ninth Circuit has some nice places (LA, SF, Seattle, Portland, Hawaii, and Anchorage), if that ever enters into someone's calculus for deciding where to apply.

[Boltsfan]

This is random and petty, but when you you fly out for calendars, is it doable to fly out the Friday before panels start and come back the Sunday after? (not that my circuit's oral arguments are held somewhere really awesome or anything... )

I haven't done this yet, but I was told that you can be reimbursed for any flights during sittings up to the cost of the flight from the city your chambers are in to the city your judge is sitting in. Apparently prior clerks have used this as an opportunity to fly home/somewhere exciting for the weekend before a sitting. I imagine there is no problem flying to your destination city the weekend before a sitting as well, but if it is more expensive you probably won't be reimbursed the whole amount.

There are some pretty cool towns the various circuit courts sit in. As previously mentioned, the Ninth Circuit sits in a bunch of awesome places. The Fifth Circuit is in New Orleans, which could make for some interesting weekends before a sitting (or you could clerk for a judge whose chambers are in New Orleans and probably gain 30 pounds).

[ndirish2010]

This makes me sad that my judge does not sit on Mondays or Fridays. I have just one day trips for sittings. And it's driving/train distance so no need to stay longer.

[Anonymous User]

Really dumb question: what is the etiquette for accepting an offer made via email? I have the offer letter from the judge in an email sent by the JA. Do I respond with an email addressed to the JA? Call chambers?

[run26.2]

Since you received a letter attached to an email, the appropriate way to respond is to type up a letter accepting the offer and save it as a PDF. Address the letter to the judge. Attach that letter to an email reply to the JA and ask her to forward your email to the judge.

JK - either is fine.

[mjb447]

I think calling the judge is nice, particularly as you may have radio silence after that for a really long time, but you definitely need to overthink stuff like this much less once you've got the offer.

[Anonymous User]

I received an offer via phone in august for 2018-2019, and accepted on the spot. Since then, I haven't received anything in writing. I'm not concerned because I've heard similar stories from his former clerks, but any suggestions for how I could reach out and obtain a written confirmation? I sent an update when I accepted my job for next summer following OCS, and they said thanks for the update basically...

[A. Nony Mouse]

I received an offer via phone in august for 2018-2019, and accepted on the spot. Since then, I haven't received anything in writing. I'm not concerned because I've heard similar stories from his former clerks, but any suggestions for how I could reach out and obtain a written confirmation? I sent an update when I accepted my job for next summer following OCS, and they said thanks for the update basically...

If/when you need confirmation - like you need an offer letter for housing - you can reach out to the JA and ask for one. I asked specifically for an offer letter. But it really only makes sense if you need one to prove to someone that you have a job lined up, you don't need one for your peace of mind.

[mjb447]

If/when you need confirmation - like you need an offer letter for housing - you can reach out to the JA and ask for one. . . . you don't need one for your peace of mind.

Yes. The judge thought enough of you to hire you - he's not going to forget about you or renege.

[ggocat]

Yes. The judge thought enough of you to hire you - he's not going to forget about you or renege.

Unless it's the Mass Superior Court. #neverforget

[A. Nony Mouse]

well, if that happens I doubt having an offer letter is going to make the tiniest bit of difference.

[rpupkin]

For those of you who had a gap between school/job and the start of your clerkship, how did you fill that time? I just accepted a clerkship that starts about 6 months after my fellowship ends. I am lucky that I can support myself without outside income, so I am considering all options. But I would like to 1) avoid the gap on my resume and 2) earn some kind of income, no matter how nominal. Any thoughts?

You are a young adult who has six months off, doesn't need outside income, and has a job lined up. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel and do whatever you want. Don't squander it for the sake of putting a line on a resume.

[Besidethebench]

I'm currently completing a district court clerkship and didn't realize how quickly spots for appellate clerkships would fill up while I was finishing law school. I got my current clerkship offer in the beginning of 3L year. I really want to clerk at the appellate level next term but, judging by OSCAR, my chances are slim. Any advice on applying between now and December? Would it be appropriate to call chambers to ask if the '17-'18 term spots have been filled? (e.g., if I see an expired announcement on OSCAR or don't see one at all) I have a feeling getting updated recommendations will hold me up a few weeks. I have no idea what the recommendations I used for my district court clerkship say (school policy) but I was thinking I should get updated recommendations that speak to my fit for an appellate clerkship. I know who my recommenders will be and will reach out this weekend.

[mjb447]

I'm currently completing a district court clerkship and didn't realize how quickly spots for appellate clerkships would fill up while I was finishing law school. I got my current clerkship offer in the beginning of 3L year. I really want to clerk at the appellate level next term but, judging by OSCAR, my chances are slim. Any advice on applying between now and December? Would it be appropriate to call chambers to ask if the '17-'18 term spots have been filled? (e.g., if I see an expired announcement on OSCAR or don't see one at all) I have a feeling getting updated recommendations will hold me up a few weeks. I have no idea what the recommendations I used for my district court clerkship say (school policy) but I was thinking I should get updated recommendations that speak to my fit for an appellate clerkship. I know who my recommenders will be and will reach out this weekend.

Sounds like you're doing most of what you can reasonably do at this stage, and you probably still have most of your application materials in decent shape from your last search. If I were you, I think I'd just try to get applications in ASAP to maximize the number of judges available. (Your district judge may be able to help point you in the right direction, but it depends on his connections, and the number of appellate judges still hiring for that term is probably pretty small.)

Re: calling chambers, I think it's fine if you can't readily find out from other sources if the judge has hired for 2017-18. The clerk or JA who answers will likely be able to answer your question without bothering the judge at all. Just be ready for rejection.

[Anonymous User]

Admittedly obnoxious question, but will anybody give me a sanity-check and weigh-in on whether I have "SCOTUS credentials"? The reason I ask is that I recently decided that i'd like a COA clerkship, but I now have to decide whether I should pursue DC Cir. in addition to the [2nd/9th] Cir. (where I live, and want to eventually practice). The only reason I can see including DC Cir. would be to put myself in better SCOTUS contention.

I'm currently clerking for [SDNY/EDNY/CDCal/NDCal], graduated 4th at [T15-18], top grades in numerous clerk-y classes, Law Review, FedSoc board (which can be scrubbed depending on the judge), and have a non-famous former SCOTUS clerk professor who wrote me a strong letter of rec and is "willing to make calls" for me (not exactly sure what that means, we've never discussed SCOTUS in particular). I also have a separate tangential connection to a judge on Trump's SCOTUS nominee list (1-2/20 chance, I know).

Further, if I clerk at a COA it would probably have to be for 2019-20, meaning I would spend 2 years in practice at a V10 biglaw firm before COA, if that makes a difference (I guess I would be getting pretty "old" for a SCOTUS clerkship).

Am I crazy to think I might have a shot? Is it wasting my time to spend a year in a place I don't want to live/practice solely for the off-chance that it puts me in better SCOTUS contention?

[FascinatedWanderer]

My sense is that #4 at a "T15-18" is not good enough. From a school of that caliber I'd think #1 is necessary.

[Boltsfan]

My sense is that #4 at a "T15-18" is not good enough. From a school of that caliber I'd think #1 is necessary.

Do schools in that range publish class rank? I did not know that and find it a little shocking.

I think your chances are low but not non-existent. There is value to clerking on the COA beyond the small chance most law students/recent grads have at clerking for SCOTUS. Up to you if you want to give up a year of Biglaw to mine those benefits and take a long shot at the High Court. I would do it in your shoes, but I'm already a COA clerk and I love my job and judge and have the benefit of that perspective. If you are asking if you should do it based solely on your shot at SCOTUS, I would say that's a terrible reason to take any job and, because it is unlikely to happen, would recommend against it.

[BVest]

My sense is that #4 at a "T15-18" is not good enough. From a school of that caliber I'd think #1 is necessary.

Do schools in that range publish class rank? I did not know that and find it a little shocking.

I don't know about all the schools and have no idea where OP went, but as an example at UT, the top 4 at the end of 2L would be Grand Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Clerk, and Keeper of the Peregrinus, respectively. That doesn't necessarily line up with final rank, but it's certainly indicative.

[leslieknope]

FedSoc board (which can be scrubbed depending on the judge)

Don't do that. It's both unethical and easily discoverable (and therefore stupid).

[runinthefront]

FedSoc board (which can be scrubbed depending on the judge)

Don't do that. It's both unethical and easily discoverable (and therefore stupid).

Calling that "unethical" is a strech.

Anyway OP, I think you'd probably be viewed similarly to a top 10% non-HYSCCN T-14er with a very good district court clerkship. No better no worse. I don't think it will make too much of a difference where you clerk at the Circuit level between 9th/2nd/DC; though who you clerk for could make a big difference.

Your shot is probably low though, no matter how you slice it. Do the COA because you want to do it, not because you think you have a chance at the Court

[polareagle]

My sense is that #4 at a "T15-18" is not good enough. From a school of that caliber I'd think #1 is necessary.

Do schools in that range publish class rank? I did not know that and find it a little shocking.

I don't know about all the schools and have no idea where OP went, but as an example at UT, the top 4 at the end of 2L would be Grand Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Clerk, and Keeper of the Peregrinus, respectively. That doesn't necessarily line up with final rank, but it's certainly indicative.

wut