2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Checking in.

Have already started applying for any 2071-2018 clerkships in my target markets (DC/NY) that are posted on Oscar.

Stats:
Rising 3L
T-14
3.96
Working as a summer associate at a V50 this summer.

[Anonymous User]

Median or slightly below median Kjd SLS with only ties to the 9th circuit. State school ug, white female. Could reasonably apply to more conservative judges.

I'm making the right choice sitting this cycle out and applying for 2018-19, right? Or will one year of WE (well, projected one year) not make a difference? I'm willing to wait 2 but feel like waiting three and I'd start to have to limit (geographically) where I apply.

[sabrina8740]

Checking in.

Have already started applying for any 2071-2018 clerkships in my target markets (DC/NY) that are posted on Oscar.

Stats:
Rising 3L
T-14
3.96
Working as a summer associate at a V50 this summer.

How are you checking OSCAR? Every time I try to access it, I get an error message that it will be unavailable until June 15th.

[Anonymous User]

Checking in as well. Rising 3L, CCN, was top 5% last year, now closer to top 15%. Rough year.

Applied to some circuits for 2016-2017, had a couple interviews, didn't really mesh with anyone. Aimed fairly high given 1L grades, but now am obviously going to need to shoot for less competitive positions.

Is DDC a possibility/worth applying to? I've heard they prefer work experience, and the 2017-2018 cycle will be after I've had a year of firm life (or a year of another clerkship, elsewhere). Am at a DC firm this summer and looking to stay here long term, with a focus on regulatory work. Not deadset on clerking if it's not a good fit.

[jimmythecatdied6]

I am a rising 2L at UVA . I had one B+ and about an even mix of As/A-s apart from that. My GPA is in the 3.75-3.8 range, probably somewhere in the top 10% (I don't know for sure because my LS doesn't release the rankings).

3 questions: 1) when do rising 2Ls generally start applying to CoA clerkships? 2) Where am I competitive for CoA + District cts. (I'm guessing definitely not 2/9/DC/other random feeders)? 3) Does being a URM matter at all for these purposes? I am AA for what it's worth.

Anyone? I edited my post to give more info since I'm posting anonymously. I could really use some guidance on this.

1) See who considers applicants with only one year's worth of grades - apply to those judges.

2) Honestly man, I think you're a lot more competitive than you think. Being an AA and UVA LR grade-on puts you in rarefied air. I'm not sure about feeders, but Watford from the 9th Circuit may be worth a look. I would apply broadly, though, especially to liberal judges (some have a tendency to hire diverse candidates, especially AA). There are also a ton of judges in EDVA that traditionally hire AA clerks (Jackson from Norfolk comes to mind).

3) Yes.

Good luck.

[ndirish2010]

I am a rising 2L at UVA . I had one B+ and about an even mix of As/A-s apart from that. My GPA is in the 3.75-3.8 range, probably somewhere in the top 10% (I don't know for sure because my LS doesn't release the rankings).

3 questions: 1) when do rising 2Ls generally start applying to CoA clerkships? 2) Where am I competitive for CoA + District cts. (I'm guessing definitely not 2/9/DC/other random feeders)? 3) Does being a URM matter at all for these purposes? I am AA for what it's worth.

Anyone? I edited my post to give more info since I'm posting anonymously. I could really use some guidance on this.

1) See who considers applicants with only one year's worth of grades - apply to those judges.

2) Honestly man, I think you're a lot more competitive than you think. Being an AA and UVA LR grade-on puts you in rarefied air. I'm not sure about feeders, but Watford from the 9th Circuit may be worth a look. I would apply broadly, though, especially to liberal judges (some have a tendency to hire diverse candidates, especially AA). There are also a ton of judges in EDVA that traditionally hire AA clerks (Jackson from Norfolk comes to mind).

3) Yes.

Good luck.

I think URM matters a lot for some judges and none for others. You should apply to every AA circuit judge in the country. Since you're at UVA, you should DEFINITELY apply to Judge Gregory on the Fourth Circuit. I've heard great things about him, and I think he's up there in terms of best writers on the circuit (from my time clerking at a district court within the Fourth Circuit). Not sure if he prefers AA applicants, but he would be my first choice if I were you.

[Anonymous User]

3.9x at MVP, rising 2L. Assuming that puts me toward (but probably not at) the top of my class, I figure it's worth a shot to apply to feeders, but does anyone know when the "early" judges really get going? I pretty much don't have a clue what the timeline is, except that by August things might be moving for some judges. Do early feeders move much sooner than that?

[beepboopbeep]

3.9x at MVP, rising 2L. Assuming that puts me toward (but probably not at) the top of my class, I figure it's worth a shot to apply to feeders, but does anyone know when the "early" judges really get going? I pretty much don't have a clue what the timeline is, except that by August things might be moving for some judges. Do early feeders move much sooner than that?

Early August is about right. I knew a few last cycle who were interviewing a bit before that, but that was mostly through the fedsoc network. I'd get your recs taken care of in early summer and start talking with whatever professors at MVP have clerkship connections about what your goals are, where you'd like to end up, what your political affiliations are, etc. It helps if you're still living within easy distance to your school and have some time flexibility to meet with profs.

In my experience, most of what happens at the earliest stage is someone making a call on your behalf to alumni clerks, and going from there. Feel free to PM if you want more of a runthrough on that process.

[Anonymous User]

HLS. DS, 5H, 4P w good experience, strong we and ties to CA (which probably doesn't matter since 9th Cir. prob totally out). Thoughts on if ok to wait to apply until fall, and what I'm looking at?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement from feeders?

[papercut]

Can anyone from UVA post an updated version of the above? If not, can you just comment in general terms whether it's representative of the current numbers? Thanks.

If it's representative I don't see how being "only" in the top 10% at CLS puts you out of the running for COA clerkships.

[Emma.]

[img]

Can anyone from UVA post an updated version of the above? If not, can you just comment in general terms whether it's representative of the current numbers? Thanks.

If it's representative I don't see how being "only" in the top 10% at CLS puts you out of the running for COA clerkships.

I suspect those numbers have changed. I've heard a lot about how clerkship hiring has become significantly more competitive over the last 5-10 years.

[runinthefront]

grade inflation has occurred at virtually every non-HYS t14 and the recession really increased the competitiveness of clerkships. Relying on any data from 8 years ago isn't wise

[papercut]

[img]

Can anyone from UVA post an updated version of the above? If not, can you just comment in general terms whether it's representative of the current numbers? Thanks.

If it's representative I don't see how being "only" in the top 10% at CLS puts you out of the running for COA clerkships.

I suspect those numbers have changed. I've heard a lot about how clerkship hiring has become significantly more competitive over the last 5-10 years.

Yeah and (but?) I think UVA (and CLS, and probably others) have inflated their curves since.

(scooped)

[A. Nony Mouse]

Even if those GPAs haven't changed, what percentiles are they so you can compare with Columbia? If Columbia and UVA don't use the same curve, that list doesn't tell Columbia people very much.

[papercut]

Even if those GPAs haven't changed, what percentiles are they so you can compare with Columbia? If Columbia and UVA don't use the same curve, that list doesn't tell Columbia people very much.

Good point. Here's what they said in the thread:

[ahemmer]

3.9x at MVP, rising 2L. Assuming that puts me toward (but probably not at) the top of my class, I figure it's worth a shot to apply to feeders, but does anyone know when the "early" judges really get going? I pretty much don't have a clue what the timeline is, except that by August things might be moving for some judges. Do early feeders move much sooner than that?

Early August is about right. I knew a few last cycle who were interviewing a bit before that, but that was mostly through the fedsoc network. I'd get your recs taken care of in early summer and start talking with whatever professors at MVP have clerkship connections about what your goals are, where you'd like to end up, what your political affiliations are, etc. It helps if you're still living within easy distance to your school and have some time flexibility to meet with profs.

In my experience, most of what happens at the earliest stage is someone making a call on your behalf to alumni clerks, and going from there. Feel free to PM if you want more of a runthrough on that process.

I suspect early August will be late for the "early" feeder judges this year. Last year, this would have been about right, though maybe a bit late -- many if not most true feeders were hiring by the end of July. This year, I think it's very likely the feeder judges will be hiring by early July (when all spring 2015 grades are in and law review results are out at HY). I'm currently clerking for one; we've begun receiving rising 2L applications, though only a few.

[Anonymous User]

I know of some feeders already scheduling interviews. They're moving even sooner, folks. Buckle in.

[beepboopbeep]

3.9x at MVP, rising 2L. Assuming that puts me toward (but probably not at) the top of my class, I figure it's worth a shot to apply to feeders, but does anyone know when the "early" judges really get going? I pretty much don't have a clue what the timeline is, except that by August things might be moving for some judges. Do early feeders move much sooner than that?

Early August is about right. I knew a few last cycle who were interviewing a bit before that, but that was mostly through the fedsoc network. I'd get your recs taken care of in early summer and start talking with whatever professors at MVP have clerkship connections about what your goals are, where you'd like to end up, what your political affiliations are, etc. It helps if you're still living within easy distance to your school and have some time flexibility to meet with profs.

In my experience, most of what happens at the earliest stage is someone making a call on your behalf to alumni clerks, and going from there. Feel free to PM if you want more of a runthrough on that process.

I suspect early August will be late for the "early" feeder judges this year. Last year, this would have been about right, though maybe a bit late -- many if not most true feeders were hiring by the end of July. This year, I think it's very likely the feeder judges will be hiring by early July (when all spring 2015 grades are in and law review results are out at HY). I'm currently clerking for one; we've begun receiving rising 2L applications, though only a few.

Jeez, that's nuts. From my experience last year not much was closed off when I started looking in late July/early August, so I figured it'd be about the same--but it makes sense that would just creep forward closer and closer to when grades & LR come out over the summer. What a bonkers system.

[Anonymous User]

Wow. I've heard of a few accepting applications, but hadn't heard that any had started scheduling interviews. Can you say which circuit(s)?

[Anonymous User]

My prior (feeder) judge has been reviewing applications for a few weeks now. And my current judge is also in the process. It isn't just feeders moving now, folks. Saddle up.

[Anonymous User]

So are folks with later law review results out of luck for some judges? Or should we submit without LR results to get the application on the table before everything is over?

[Anonymous User]

Rising 2L here. 3.66 Stone scholar at CLS. LR won't be released for another 2 weeks, but I'm going to start applying to the Circuits. I know (think/hope) I'm competitive at most of the Circuits, but should I stay away from DC, 2, 7, and 9, at least for this round and wait for another semester of grades to come in, or am I competitive for those circuits too? TYIA.

[ndirish2010]

Rising 2L here. 3.66 Stone scholar at CLS. LR won't be released for another 2 weeks, but I'm going to start applying to the Circuits. I know (think/hope) I'm competitive at most of the Circuits, but should I stay away from DC, 2, 7, and 9, at least for this round and wait for another semester of grades to come in, or am I competitive for those circuits too? TYIA.

Thinking about it terms of circuits is not the way to go. Not every judge on the 2/7/9 is that competitive. Probably better to think of it as (1) feeders, (2) other more well-known judges (particularly those in major metro areas), and (3) everyone else.

I can't really speak to whether your GPA at CLS is competitive for circuit judges generally, though.

[Anonymous User]

3.66 at CLS is around top 15% I think. Probably competitive for some judges, but I doubt "competitive at most circuits" is an accurate way to characterize it.