2016-2017 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Alright guys - I had an interview on April 24 and haven't heard either way yet.

I was referred to the interview from another Judge on the same court I submitted an application to. The Judge I interviewed with did not have a position opening listed on OSCAR at any point. One week after my interview, on May 1, the Judge I interviewed with's OSCAR profile was updated to indicate that he was not hiring (fully staffed, not accepting applications) - so, this lead me to believe he had made a choice. However, I still haven't heard either way. I know "it's not a ding until it's a ding," but do I have any realistic hope? Is there any way I can appropriately ask them if they have made their decision? Is it possible I might just never hear?

[seizmaar]

gah that's tough man. given those indicators, i might call and inquire of the JA whether a decision has been made or can be expected, etc.

[Anonymous User]

Anon from above with April 24 interview -- my interview was set up by email directly with the Judge (he emailed me initially, we corresponded back and forth a few times to set a date). I sent a thank you email to him immediately following the interview, and then a follow-up asking about a timeline for hiring about a week later. I didn't get any response to either. I know Judges are busy and my emails aren't a priority, but could I email him again? Is the follow-up I've already done enough and means I should lay off?

[maitreya]

School range: BC
Rank:Bottom Half (GPA is bad but above a 3)
LR?: No
Published?: Publication from pre-law school
Recs: Good rapport with profs whose classes I received A's in...they're willing to go to bat for me, make phone calls, etc.
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: Court of Common Pleas in Philly
Any other factors: Strong public interest focus...lots of experience volunteering for legal aid, non-profits etc. and won awards in law school for my commitment to public service. Immigration and Family Law background. Spanish fluency.

Am I competitive for state trial court clerkships? I am especially interested in Family Court in PA.

Also, does anyone here know about the Judicial Fellowship Program? (unpaid, post grad gigs in the Court of Common Pleas in Philly) http://courts.phila.gov/jfp/
Could this possibly lead to a paying, legal position? Does this program have a good track record of funneling unemployed grads into FTLT JD-required jobs in the Philadelphia area?

[Anonymous User]

School range: BC
Rank:Bottom Half (GPA is bad but above a 3)
LR?: No
Published?: Publication from pre-law school
Recs: Good rapport with profs whose classes I received A's in...they're willing to go to bat for me, make phone calls, etc.
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: Court of Common Pleas in Philly
Any other factors: Strong public interest focus...lots of experience volunteering for legal aid, non-profits etc. and won awards in law school for my commitment to public service. Immigration and Family Law background. Spanish fluency.

Am I competitive for state trial court clerkships? I am especially interested in Family Court in PA.

Also, does anyone here know about the Judicial Fellowship Program? (unpaid, post grad gigs in the Court of Common Pleas in Philly) http://courts.phila.gov/jfp/
Could this possibly lead to a paying, legal position? Does this program have a good track record of funneling unemployed grads into FTLT JD-required jobs in the Philadelphia area?

Ive been a PA state trial court clerk for two years. To be honest, you're probably not competitive in Philly with your GPA. Philly is one of the more competitive markets for the common pleas courts because it's one of the most competitive markets in general. If you really want to get into Philly, you'd probably be better off working to get a clerkship in a random county first, and then doing a second one in Philly. I know a lot of counties are still hiring. I'm not familiar with the Judicial Fellowship Program, so I can't add any insight there.

[Anonymous User]

School range: T25
Rank: Top 10%ish
LR?: Yes
Published?: 1 note, 1 article at 200ish ranked journal
Recs: 2 pretty good ones, one prof with good enough relationship to call
2L/3L/Alum?: alum
Where applying?: applied to one circuit judge in the city I wanted
Any other factors: district court clerkship, working public interest in [insert ideological] movement, very specific application

Got the offer. This was after striking out completely on circuit judges my first two times applying. So, it is possible.

[Anonymous User]

School range: T14
Rank: Top 25%
LR?: Secondary Journal
Published?: Two Notes
Recs: 1L prof, 2L prof, 3L prof (who made calls)
2L/3L/Alum?: Now alumni
Where applying?: Offered Federal D.Ct. clerkship 16-17, clerking SSC 15-16.
Any other factors: Strong ties to the region.

100s of applications, two interviews, 1 offer.

[Anonymous User]

Hope is alive people. Had a handful of interviews 6months ago for 2016. All rejects. Radio silence for half a year, then in last 48 hours got two more interviews for 2016 out of the blue. Pllllleeeeeaaassseeee let this process he over soon.

[Anonymous User]

*deleted*

[Anonymous User]

It's super early, but has anyone heard back from any New Jersey state judges yet? I applied to a bunch in the big counties, and have gotten a few confirmations that they've received my materials, but no interviews yet. I know some judges who don't look at applications until the Fall or even later, but some apparently start interviewing this week or next.

Any current or former NJ clerks have any info, it would be much appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Judge Vitaliano in EDNY?

[Anonymous User]

School range: T10 (transferred from TT)
Rank: ~Top 1/3
LR?: No (wrote onto LR before transferring)
Published?: Secondary journal (also before transferring)
Recs: 1L prof, 2L prof, 2L prof
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applying?: federal district court everywhere
Any other factors: significant ties to the area

I maxed out OSCAR, sent dozens of paper apps, and got ding after ding after ding (including one after interviewing with a judge who shared my tiny alma mater). Most of this turned out to be unnecessary, since I ended up getting an offer in the district where I grew up.

Take heart, fellow transfers. It can be done.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Judge Vitaliano in EDNY?

bump

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Judge Vitaliano in EDNY?

bump

Interviewing next week.

[Anonymous User]

School range: T40
Rank: Top 1%
LR?: Yes
Published?: Article in secondary journal of different school
Recs: 3 profs (1 called)
2L/3L/Alum?: Applied as 3L but did not get interview until post-graduation.
Where applying?: Applied to USCA that covers my state.
Any other factors: Clerking at SSC during 15-16.

1 interview, 1 offer

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Judge Vitaliano in EDNY?

bump

ditto.

[Anonymous User]

School range: T3
Rank: N/A
LR?: Yes
Published: No
Recs: 2 great ones that called, 1 good letter
2L/3L/alum?: 3L
Where applying: DC/9th. Offered D.C. district 2016, D.C. circuit 2017

6 apps total, 3 interviews, 2 offers

[law98765]

whats the protocol for calling a judge and asking the status of your application after you've interviewed? I have more interviews coming up but dont want to jump on any potential quick offers without hearing back from the first judge. Also do rejections after interviews usually come as letters or emails or calls?

[Anonymous User]

Also do rejections after interviews usually come as letters or emails or calls?

All of my dings were via email. I think that's pretty standard.

[A. Nony Mouse]

whats the protocol for calling a judge and asking the status of your application after you've interviewed? I have more interviews coming up but dont want to jump on any potential quick offers without hearing back from the first judge. Also do rejections after interviews usually come as letters or emails or calls?

I think it's totally fair to call up and ask if the judge has completed hiring, because you have additional interviews coming up but are still very interested in clerking for this judge.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard from Matsumoto at EDNY?

[law98765]

whats the protocol for calling a judge and asking the status of your application after you've interviewed? I have more interviews coming up but dont want to jump on any potential quick offers without hearing back from the first judge. Also do rejections after interviews usually come as letters or emails or calls?

I think it's totally fair to call up and ask if the judge has completed hiring, because you have additional interviews coming up but are still very interested in clerking for this judge.

what about calling to reinterate interest?

[ndirish2010]

whats the protocol for calling a judge and asking the status of your application after you've interviewed? I have more interviews coming up but dont want to jump on any potential quick offers without hearing back from the first judge. Also do rejections after interviews usually come as letters or emails or calls?

I think it's totally fair to call up and ask if the judge has completed hiring, because you have additional interviews coming up but are still very interested in clerking for this judge.

what about calling to reinterate interest?

I think it's safe to assume judges know you want to clerk for them.

[Anonymous User]

I'm still looking for a clerkship starting in the fall of 2016. Circuit or district. Circuits can be anywhere, districts I'm fine with any major city (DC, ny, chi, San Fran, LA, philly, NJ, Boston, etc...).

What judges still hiring for 2016?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Judge Vitaliano post-interview yet?