Best conservative judges to clerk for? Forum

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

I've heard this as well. What I've heard is that Julius Richardson is taking up the mantle as the best conservative clerkship on the 4th, both in terms of experience and potential to feed (though the feeding is still yet to consistently materialize)

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

Can you go into a little bit more depth? A professor of mine recommended that I apply to him.

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

Can you go into a little bit more depth? A professor of mine recommended that I apply to him.

He never returned to office after Covid and basically doesn’t speak with most of his clerks. There’s some weirder stuff I’m not comfortable sharing. If you’re competitive enough for him you’re competitive enough for a judge who both feeds and will be a good mentor. Agree that Richardson is the obvious alternative on CA4.

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

I've heard this as well. What I've heard is that Julius Richardson is taking up the mantle as the best conservative clerkship on the 4th, both in terms of experience and potential to feed (though the feeding is still yet to consistently materialize)

Don’t see him becoming a big feeder but I’ve heard it’s an awesome clerkship and he’s a known name regardless of feeder status.

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

Can you go into a little bit more depth? A professor of mine recommended that I apply to him.

He used to go running every day with all of his clerks, which was quirky but good office social time. Now he apparently chooses one of his clerks to be his running partner and has virtually zero interaction with the others.

[Anonymous User]

I'm curious who the best conservative judges to clerk for are when it comes to mentorship, clerkship experience, and the advocacy that a judge puts forward for his/her clerks moving forward in their careers. Through the FedSoc grapevine, for example, I have heard very good things about the experience with Oldham, Newsom, Sutton, Beaton, and Kethledge.

Would be curious to hear others' thoughts on these and other judges. Who are the best conservative judges to clerk for -- and how does that list line up with the judges that are most "popular" in FedSoc student circles?

I would add Ken Lee in CA9 to this list.

What do people know about Lee? I keep hearing generally positive things, but I would love to know more about him and the experience clerking with him

I have also heard generally positive things about him. He and his clerks generally have good senses of humor.

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

Can you go into a little bit more depth? A professor of mine recommended that I apply to him.

He used to go running every day with all of his clerks, which was quirky but good office social time. Now he apparently chooses one of his clerks to be his running partner and has virtually zero interaction with the others.

This is not true. He no longer runs because of his age, but regularly walks with his clerks.

[Anonymous User]

What do people know about Judge Bress on the 9th? I know people really respect him, I'm curious what the experience clerking for him is like

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

Can you go into a little bit more depth? A professor of mine recommended that I apply to him.

He used to go running every day with all of his clerks, which was quirky but good office social time. Now he apparently chooses one of his clerks to be his running partner and has virtually zero interaction with the others.

This is not true. He no longer runs because of his age, but regularly walks with his clerks.

Unless he’s recently changed, he walks with one of his clerks. (I’m a different poster but heard the same thing from a Wilkinson clerk this term.)

[Anonymous User]

What do people know about Judge Bress on the 9th? I know people really respect him, I'm curious what the experience clerking for him is like

His clerks love him but it’s not a lifestyle clerkship, regular late nights. His work is very good.

[Anonymous User]

What do people know about Judge Bress on the 9th? I know people really respect him, I'm curious what the experience clerking for him is like

His clerks love him but it’s not a lifestyle clerkship, regular late nights. His work is very good.

What would you say the average work week is for an appellate clerk? I cannot understand how an appellate judge with 3-4 clerks could possibly manage to work them all more than like 55-60 hours a week.

[Anonymous User]

What do people know about Judge Bress on the 9th? I know people really respect him, I'm curious what the experience clerking for him is like

His clerks love him but it’s not a lifestyle clerkship, regular late nights. His work is very good.

What would you say the average work week is for an appellate clerk? I cannot understand how an appellate judge with 3-4 clerks could possibly manage to work them all more than like 55-60 hours a week.

It depends on the circuit. If you're working for an active judge on CA9, 50-60 hours a week is pretty common. It's got a heavy caseload and frequent en banc activity. Circuits with lower caseloads, like CADC or CA10, will be closer to a 9-5. That is, unless you're working for someone like Holmes or Matheson (CA10) or Millett (CADC), in which case you'll have a much more demanding schedule.

[Anonymous User]

What do people know about Judge Bress on the 9th? I know people really respect him, I'm curious what the experience clerking for him is like

His clerks love him but it’s not a lifestyle clerkship, regular late nights. His work is very good.

What would you say the average work week is for an appellate clerk? I cannot understand how an appellate judge with 3-4 clerks could possibly manage to work them all more than like 55-60 hours a week.

It depends on the circuit. If you're working for an active judge on CA9, 50-60 hours a week is pretty common. It's got a heavy caseload and frequent en banc activity. Circuits with lower caseloads, like CADC or CA10, will be closer to a 9-5. That is, unless you're working for someone like Holmes or Matheson (CA10) or Millett (CADC), in which case you'll have a much more demanding schedule.

Yeah, a ton of this is circuit caseload, but judges can just decide they want you to look at more cases, or rewrite this section (and this section and this section and this section...), or do a bench memo for every case even when your judge isn't writing the opinion. It's not hard for a judge to find ways for you to do more work.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have insight into the clerkship experience with Oldham? I know people say good things, but anyone with more nuance/insight?

[Anonymous User]

What do people know about Judge Bress on the 9th? I know people really respect him, I'm curious what the experience clerking for him is like

His clerks love him but it’s not a lifestyle clerkship, regular late nights. His work is very good.

What would you say the average work week is for an appellate clerk? I cannot understand how an appellate judge with 3-4 clerks could possibly manage to work them all more than like 55-60 hours a week.

It depends on the circuit. If you're working for an active judge on CA9, 50-60 hours a week is pretty common. It's got a heavy caseload and frequent en banc activity. Circuits with lower caseloads, like CADC or CA10, will be closer to a 9-5. That is, unless you're working for someone like Holmes or Matheson (CA10) or Millett (CADC), in which case you'll have a much more demanding schedule.

Yeah, a ton of this is circuit caseload, but judges can just decide they want you to look at more cases, or rewrite this section (and this section and this section and this section...), or do a bench memo for every case even when your judge isn't writing the opinion. It's not hard for a judge to find ways for you to do more work.

I can confirm that Judge Bress specifically tends to have his clerks write bench memos every case every sitting, even the ones not assigned to him. I think that is part of the more significant workload. It is still a great job though. His clerks love him.

[Anonymous User]

I believe Bress is one of the few Fed Soc judges with a hard “no double appellate” rule—instead many of his clerks double with judges like Cronan or McFadden. Coincidentally he’s another judge who now tries to hire in the Wilkinson slot from UVA.

[Anonymous User]

[]

[Anonymous User]

Surprised Bibas hasn’t come up much so far. I’ve heard great things from multiple sources. Of the newer judges, I’ve also heard great things about Oldham, Bumatay, Bress, Katsas, Thapar, Willett, and Stras (but I’ve also heard Stras is a tough boss).

[Anonymous User]

Surprised Bibas hasn’t come up much so far. I’ve heard great things from multiple sources. Of the newer judges, I’ve also heard great things about Oldham, Bumatay, Bress, Katsas, Thapar, Willett, and Stras (but I’ve also heard Stras is a tough boss).

Bibas is eccentric and intense but everything I’ve heard is that he’s kind to his clerks. Stras comes across as very friendly in casual conversation but I’ve also heard that he’s not an easy clerkship.

[Anonymous User]

What about Wilkinson? Didn’t that use to be a great clerkship?

Wilkinson is definitely not a good clerkship anymore unfortunately. He's now quite eccentric and his clerks have very limited interaction with him.

Can you go into a little bit more depth? A professor of mine recommended that I apply to him.

He used to go running every day with all of his clerks, which was quirky but good office social time. Now he apparently chooses one of his clerks to be his running partner and has virtually zero interaction with the others.

This is not true. He no longer runs because of his age, but regularly walks with his clerks.

Demonstrably false. He speedwalks.

[Anonymous User]

Surprised Bibas hasn’t come up much so far. I’ve heard great things from multiple sources. Of the newer judges, I’ve also heard great things about Oldham, Bumatay, Bress, Katsas, Thapar, Willett, and Stras (but I’ve also heard Stras is a tough boss).

Bibas is eccentric and intense but everything I’ve heard is that he’s kind to his clerks. Stras comes across as very friendly in casual conversation but I’ve also heard that he’s not an easy clerkship.

Stras is a pretty tough clerkship. He’s not a bad guy or anything but I’d put that clerkship in the category of one to probably avoid if you think you will have other options. Bibas works his clerks hard and he’s pretty awkward. But he’s kind and invests in mentorship.

[Anonymous User]

Surprised Bibas hasn’t come up much so far. I’ve heard great things from multiple sources. Of the newer judges, I’ve also heard great things about Oldham, Bumatay, Bress, Katsas, Thapar, Willett, and Stras (but I’ve also heard Stras is a tough boss).

Bibas is eccentric and intense but everything I’ve heard is that he’s kind to his clerks. Stras comes across as very friendly in casual conversation but I’ve also heard that he’s not an easy clerkship.

Stras is a pretty tough clerkship. He’s not a bad guy or anything but I’d put that clerkship in the category of one to probably avoid if you think you will have other options. Bibas works his clerks hard and he’s pretty awkward. But he’s kind and invests in mentorship.

Any more intel on Stras? Seems like two the last two posts agree he's a nice guy but it's a rough clerkship. Is it just long hours?

[Anonymous User]

Surprised Bibas hasn’t come up much so far. I’ve heard great things from multiple sources. Of the newer judges, I’ve also heard great things about Oldham, Bumatay, Bress, Katsas, Thapar, Willett, and Stras (but I’ve also heard Stras is a tough boss).

Bibas is eccentric and intense but everything I’ve heard is that he’s kind to his clerks. Stras comes across as very friendly in casual conversation but I’ve also heard that he’s not an easy clerkship.

Stras is a pretty tough clerkship. He’s not a bad guy or anything but I’d put that clerkship in the category of one to probably avoid if you think you will have other options. Bibas works his clerks hard and he’s pretty awkward. But he’s kind and invests in mentorship.

Any more intel on Stras? Seems like two the last two posts agree he's a nice guy but it's a rough clerkship. Is it just long hours?

I’m one of the above posters and I haven’t clerked for him so everything I’ve heard is secondhand but the general word is that he’s hard to please and you will work very long hours.