2014-2015 Clerkship Application Thread - OP Updated 04/19/13 Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm in. Glad this forum popped up.

School range: HYS
Rank: Good but not perfect. Probably top 1/4 to 1/3 but it's hard to tell.
LR?: Secondary - Likely EIC come elections.
Published?: No.
Recs: 1 well-connected professor who will call. 1 medium/strong from a famous professor. Strong summer work.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: 9th > Cir > Dist - Primarily by judge. Choosing judges by reputation for not being an asshole, not by prestige/feeder status. Slight geographic preference for West > Midwest > South > East Coast >>>> DC.
Any other factors: Advanced degree, strong clinical work, "prestigious" 2L summer firm.

-Nino

I know I'm a bit behind, but I'm just now getting my recs/applicaiton in order. Hopefully this won't screw me over.

[nevdash]

Hey dudes, checking in. Glad to see this new forum exists, and glad to see some familiar faces from Legal Employment.

School range: T30
Rank: Top 15% as of last year (though I copped dat 4.0 last semester, so fingers crossed for top 10% now)
LR?: Yeah; no e-board
Published?: Nope
Recs: COA judge for whom I externed, two profs
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: COAs broadly
Any other factors: Beginning a two-year D.Ct. clerkship in a non-competitive Texas district next year, so applying for 2015. Hoping to clerk for the awesome judge who wrote one of my recs, but obviously not putting all my eggs in that basket.

[ndirish2010]

Hey dudes, checking in. Glad to see this new forum exists, and glad to see some familiar faces from Legal Employment.

School range: T30
Rank: Top 15% as of last year (though I copped dat 4.0 last semester, so fingers crossed for top 10% now)
LR?: Yeah; no e-board
Published?: Nope
Recs: COA judge for whom I externed, two profs
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: COAs broadly
Any other factors: Beginning a two-year D.Ct. clerkship in a non-competitive Texas district next year, so applying for 2015. Hoping to clerk for the awesome judge who wrote one of my recs, but obviously not putting all my eggs in that basket.

We're in pretty similar situations, including 3L fall GPA. I am beginning to wish that my clerkship was two years, so I could start applying for 2015 already.

[Anonymous User]

School range: HYS
Rank: Top 1/3? ~70% H's
LR?: Secondary
Published?: No.
Recs: Strong
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: Circuit courts everywhere. Hoping for 9th/DC or a feeder judge on different circuit.
Any other factors: Advanced degree; great network.

[Anonymous User]

If anyone has any clerkship-related questions, I clerked on the Ninth and would be happy to answer any questions about that circuit, the hiring process, and clerking in general.

--9C alum

[ph14]

If anyone has any clerkship-related questions, I clerked on the Ninth and would be happy to answer any questions about that circuit, the hiring process, and clerking in general.

--9C alum

PM me please, if you don't mind.

[Anonymous User]

I figure it may be helpful to compile a list of judges who have filled some or all of their 2014-2015 positions to prevent wasted applications.

2d Cir:
Cabranes (done), Calabresi (done), Sack (done)

Anyone know of others?

[ph14]

I figure it may be helpful to compile a list of judges who have filled some or all of their 2014-2015 positions to prevent wasted applications.

2d Cir:
Cabranes (done), Calabresi (done), Sack (done)

Anyone know of others?

I'll compile a list in the OP.

[Anonymous User]

School range: MVPB
Rank: Right around top 1/3
LR?: Secondary board position
Published?: No.
Recs: 3 from law school professors. 1 was a SCOTUS clerk, 1 teaches Fed Courts, and the other knows me very well. Hard to gauge the relative strength of recs when you don't know how good other applicants' recs are.
2L/3L/Alum?: Alum (V20 lit associate)
Where applying?: district courts (very broadly); Fed Circuit
Any other factors: IP/tech background (EE/CS)

-TechClerk

I know it's a long shot, but I figure it's worth it, because I want to work at the USPTO or USITC after I clerk.

[Anonymous User]

If anyone has any clerkship-related questions, I clerked on the Ninth and would be happy to answer any questions about that circuit, the hiring process, and clerking in general.

--9C alum

Which judges in the Pasadena courthouse are the best to work for in terms of overall clerkship experience? Assume no realistic SCOTUS prospects. I've heard good things second hand about Paez in particular
but don't actually know anyone who's clerked for him. Do any others come to mind?

[Anonymous User]

If anyone has any clerkship-related questions, I clerked on the Ninth and would be happy to answer any questions about that circuit, the hiring process, and clerking in general.

--9C alum

Which judges in the Pasadena courthouse are the best to work for in terms of overall clerkship experience? Assume no realistic SCOTUS prospects. I've heard good things second hand about Paez in particular
but don't actually know anyone who's clerked for him. Do any others come to mind?

My judge sat with Judge Paez a few times. He is pretty sharp and asked good questions on the bench, as one would expect from a former district judge. I don't know how he treats his clerks, though.

Judge Ikuta is very smart and seems like a genuinely nice person. She used to edit a martial arts magazine before law school, so she's had an interesting life outside the law. Although she is pretty junior, she gets a lot of respect because of her intellect and thoughtful approach. I think she is one of the most underrated judges out there, and one you should seriously consider.

I don't know much about Paul Watford because he joined the court after I left, but he has spectacular credentials and seems to be well respected by both liberals and conservatives. I think he's going to be a rising star on the court and perhaps even has SCOTUS potential.

-9C alum

[Anonymous User]

School range: WUSTL
Rank: #1
LR?: Yes -- board elections in Feb.
Published?: publishing selections in Feb.
Recs: One very good, a couple meh; one very good from 1L SA partner.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: COA, very broadly.
Any other factors: Made it to finals of school moot court competition, for whatever that's worth (probably nothing).

Really no idea how competitive I am anywhere. Our top people usually manage to land COA in one of 8/10/5/6, but that's about it. We've sent maybe one person to 2/9/DC. Thinking I have <1% chance at a feeder, but pretty good shot overall at getting something.

-Bob Loblaw

[ndirish2010]

#1 at WUSTL should definitely land you something pretty good, congrats on those grades!

[Anonymous User]

Thinking I have <1% chance at a feeder

I'm not remotely in you position, but if I was and SCOTUS was a goal, I'd be applying hard to the Republican judges in the 10th, and then having anyone and everyone place calls to Eid on the Colorado Supreme Court. She's placed a couple of former clerks with Thomas (who she clerked with). Both went 10th-CSC-SCOTUS (maybe with a year or two of practice in there) if memory serves. And he certainly hires outside of HYS.

[Anonymous User]

School range: Lower T14
Rank: Top 5-10%
LR?: Yes, dunno about board.
Published?: Dunno.
Recs: Decent.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: West Coast ideally.
Any other factors: N/A

-Year Zero

[Anonymous User]

School range: CCN
Rank: Just outside top 10%
LR?: Non-EIC/Senior Articles Editor Board of Secondary.
Published?: Yes.
Recs: 3 professors, all likely mediocre recs, but one well connected with good clerk placement history.
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: All CoA in or near a major city, All districts in a major city, with a focus on Northeast.
Any other factors: Will have a year of work experience by 2014 at V15 and hopefully a partner rec if I'm still applying by the time I get to work. Family friend who worked as major metropolitan AUSA willing to get in touch with judges for me.


Striking out last September really crushed me since I really want to clerk and gave me a lot of perspective about how hard this process is even if you have competitive grades or manage to get an interview or two.

-Struggling3L

[Anonymous User]

Thinking I have <1% chance at a feeder

I'm not remotely in you position, but if I was and SCOTUS was a goal, I'd be applying hard to the Republican judges in the 10th, and then having anyone and everyone place calls to Eid on the Colorado Supreme Court. She's placed a couple of former clerks with Thomas (who she clerked with). Both went 10th-CSC-SCOTUS (maybe with a year or two of practice in there) if memory serves. And he certainly hires outside of HYS.

I'm pretty sure the Eid people went from CSC -> 10th -> SCOTUS, although I suppose there's no reason you couldn't do it the other way around. Also, Eid is incredibly nice.

[Anonymous User]

Judges Hiring Status (2014)

Last Updated: 01/19/13

Second Circuit:

• Cabranes - Done
• Calabresi - Done
• Sack - Done

Ninth Circuit:

• Kozinski - Done

Word is Lohier and Lynch (both 2d Cir.) are also done.

[Anonymous User]

School range: UT
Rank: Top 1-5%
LR?: Yes, board apps next week
Published?: TBD
Recs: Hopefully good
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: District courts in Dallas and Houston. 5th and 9th circuits.
Any other factors: Moot court, RA, Dean's awards.

- cyril figgis

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard any info about the new plan dates? My school is saying it will likely get moved to March. They're also predicting that if the plan is moved up that much, fewer judges will hire off-plan. I'm hesitant to trust them, however. Thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

School range: H/S
Rank: Top 25-33% (around 60-65% H with multiple Book/DS prizes)
LR?: No, e-board of secondary
Published?: TBD
Recs: Were meh-to good last cycle, will likely be better this cycle
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: 9th Circuit, maybe other COA judges
Any other factors: Clerking for a district court judge in the 9th Circuit (but not N.D. Cal. or C.D. Cal.) in 2013-2014

-R.W. Artest Jr.

[ndirish2010]

Has anyone heard any info about the new plan dates? My school is saying it will likely get moved to March. They're also predicting that if the plan is moved up that much, fewer judges will hire off-plan. I'm hesitant to trust them, however. Thoughts?

I'm pretty sure we'd already know if that were happening this year, right?

[Tangerine Gleam]

Has anyone heard any info about the new plan dates? My school is saying it will likely get moved to March. They're also predicting that if the plan is moved up that much, fewer judges will hire off-plan. I'm hesitant to trust them, however. Thoughts?

I'm pretty sure we'd already know if that were happening this year, right?

Yeah, if they were gonna do March, it seems like they would have announced it by now. I've heard unsubstantiated rumors of the Plan kicking off in May, too.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard any info about the new plan dates? My school is saying it will likely get moved to March. They're also predicting that if the plan is moved up that much, fewer judges will hire off-plan. I'm hesitant to trust them, however. Thoughts?

I'm pretty sure we'd already know if that were happening this year, right?

Yeah, if they were gonna do March, it seems like they would have announced it by now. I've heard unsubstantiated rumors of the Plan kicking off in May, too.

Wow really? UT was pretty adamant that they would announce a March plan in the end of january. God UT's clerkship program seems to have dropped off since the former director left.

[LeDique]

Welp. I'm behind.