2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

What are my chances at a D. Ct. Clerkship.. I have a 3.55 (around top 15%) at a t20 school and am on LR. Also, I know with these stats I am likely out for COA clerkships, but is it worth applying to the less competitive circuits (10,11, etc.)

[Anonymous User]

I don't really get the point of these posts. Just apply. It doesn't take that much effort and time. Try to get a professor or two who can go to bat for you by making some phone calls after you've submitted your apps. Try to reach out to anyone else with connections to judges to whom you're applying (e.g. current/former law clerks to the judge, past judges you've interned/externed for, etc.).

[los blancos]

I don't really get the point of these posts. Just apply. It doesn't take that much effort and time. Try to get a professor or two who can go to bat for you by making some phone calls after you've submitted your apps. Try to reach out to anyone else with connections to judges to whom you're applying (e.g. current/former law clerks to the judge, past judges you've interned/externed for, etc.).

Eh I don't really agree with this. It does take a significant amount of time and energy to proofread your writing sample and reach out to potential recommenders and whatnot and there are definitely folks for whom that's not a worthy investment. Top 15% at a T20 is definitely not one of those folks and I'd definitely give a shot. Just like everyone, they'll have to apply broadly, cross fingers, &c.

[A. Nony Mouse]

What are my chances at a D. Ct. Clerkship.. I have a 3.55 (around top 15%) at a t20 school and am on LR. Also, I know with these stats I am likely out for COA clerkships, but is it worth applying to the less competitive circuits (10,11, etc.)

I think that on stats alone your shot at COA is pretty slim to none, unless you can find a judge who has known to hire people with similar stats from your school, maybe (a loyal alum? but still unlikely). Of course, if you can find some kind of connection that will help.

Keep in mind there aren't really less competitive circuits. People do put 2/9/DC above the others, and there may be specific judges who hire more broadly (or less - no one is going to call Gorsuch in the 10th Cir less competitive), but they're all tough to get. There's no real reason not to apply if you're putting applications together anyway, but you'd be better off finding/focusing on judges who have hired alumni to your school, or judges with whom you can forge some kind of connection, than trying to find less competitive circuits. (Or just apply everywhere and see what happens.)

[Anonymous User]

Why don't judges update their OSCAR pages once positions are filled? Is it lazy clerks or are the judges hoping to get some applicants for 2017-18 only to offer them a 2018-19 slot?

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Have people been following up with chambers where you applied? I applied a month ago and have heard crickets since then.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Why don't judges update their OSCAR pages once positions are filled? Is it lazy clerks or are the judges hoping to get some applicants for 2017-18 only to offer them a 2018-19 slot?

I think it's just that it's a very low priority in a busy chambers. Many chambers probably just don't think about it until it comes time to update the posting for the following year.

[Anonymous User]

Has Raggi or Walker (2nd ciruit) begun interviewing for 2017, and if so, how long ago were the interviews? Both have postings for openings on OSCAR for a while.

[Anonymous User]

Has Raggi or Walker (2nd ciruit) begun interviewing for 2017, and if so, how long ago were the interviews? Both have postings for openings on OSCAR for a while.

I got an email from Walker a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to update my 2016 application for 2017.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on Fuentes (2017) or Shwartz (2018) in Newark/Third Cir?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on the Fourth? Specifically with Wynn, Duncan and Gregory.

[Anonymous User]

Chin offered

[Anonymous User]

Chin offered

stats and/or interview dates? also, accepted? (answer as much as you're comfortable sharing)

[Anonymous User]

Just heard from my clerkship advisor (CCN) that Kelly on the 10th is now taking applications, though he's not on oscar. How many judges are like this, not posting on oscar but taking applications? Just in case, should we be sending apps to judges who have't posted yet (or may potentially never post)?

[Anonymous User]

Just heard from my clerkship advisor (CCN) that Kelly on the 10th is now taking applications, though he's not on oscar. How many judges are like this, not posting on oscar but taking applications? Just in case, should we be sending apps to judges who have't posted yet (or may potentially never post)?

I'm interested in this as well. It seems like so much about getting a clerkship is (1) knowing someone who personally knows the judge or (2) being the first one to get your resume in front of the judge.

With that being said, is it risky to send applications out to judges (apparently) not currently hiring.

[Anonymous User]

My application was from the last year the plan officially existed (which meant it was in place but extremely theoretical at that point). I just sent paper applications to every judge in the circuit where I wanted to be (though I should note I was focusing on district judges, not COA), regardless of whether they listed an opening on OSCAR. I did get quite few "we're not hiring" responses, I think at least one "apply through OSCAR when the opening shows up" response, and lots of no responses at all. But I also got a clerkship.

It's probably worth noting, also, that I was in a circuit where most judges didn't follow the plan, so lots didn't bother with OSCAR anyway because you couldn't accept off-plan apps through it. So just blanketing everyone made the most sense to me; I don't know if in other regions it would be less welcomed.

I don't think there's any risk to applying to judges who aren't on OSCAR, though. If they're not hiring, they'll either tell you that or never respond, but they're not going to take not of your name or put you on a blacklist or anything. For district court chambers you could certainly call and ask whether the judge is hiring (COA is tougher since they don't usually seem to have chambers' contact numbers readily available).

[Anonymous User]

It seems like so much about getting a clerkship is (1) knowing someone who personally knows the judge or (2) being the first one to get your resume in front of the judge.

With that being said, is it risky to send applications out to judges (apparently) not currently hiring.

Being qualified is more important. Your (1) and (2) only come into play if you are qualified for the clerkship. There is no risk in sending applications to judges without openings on OSCAR. But it would be a waste of time to send applications to judges who have current postings explicitly stating that they are no longer accepting applications.

[Anonymous User]

It seems like so much about getting a clerkship is (1) knowing someone who personally knows the judge or (2) being the first one to get your resume in front of the judge.

With that being said, is it risky to send applications out to judges (apparently) not currently hiring.

Being qualified is more important. Your (1) and (2) only come into play if you are qualified for the clerkship. There is no risk in sending applications to judges without openings on OSCAR. But it would be a waste of time to send applications to judges who have current postings explicitly stating that they are no longer accepting applications.

Being qualified AND having connections matters. I can attest as someone at CCN active in the hunt that there are plenty of qualified (LR + top 15% grades) applicants struggling. It seems like the 2Ls who have been successful will clerk for the same judges as the 3Ls because that is where the school's connections are. Having a well-known professor that will place a call to a judge they know makes a huge difference, especially for feeder-level judges that probably never look at the pile of applicants without any connection.

[Anonymous User]

It seems like so much about getting a clerkship is (1) knowing someone who personally knows the judge or (2) being the first one to get your resume in front of the judge.

With that being said, is it risky to send applications out to judges (apparently) not currently hiring.

Being qualified is more important. Your (1) and (2) only come into play if you are qualified for the clerkship. There is no risk in sending applications to judges without openings on OSCAR. But it would be a waste of time to send applications to judges who have current postings explicitly stating that they are no longer accepting applications.

Being qualified AND having connections matters. I can attest as someone at CCN active in the hunt that there are plenty of qualified (LR + top 15% grades) applicants struggling. It seems like the 2Ls who have been successful will clerk for the same judges as the 3Ls because that is where the school's connections are. Having a well-known professor that will place a call to a judge they know makes a huge difference, especially for feeder-level judges that probably never look at the pile of applicants without any connection.

At HYS, and all of this is exceptionally true. I'm firmly of the belief that the vast majority of clerkship hiring isn't strictly input-driven (a la law school admissions/biglaw hiring), but is highly idiosyncratic and driven by personal connections more than by any other single factor.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on the Fourth? Specifically with Wynn, Duncan and Gregory.

Curious about the same judges as well. Interviews or offers for Wynn, Duncan, or Gregory? General stats needed for these three?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on the Fourth? Specifically with Wynn, Duncan and Gregory.

Curious about the same judges as well. Interviews or offers for Wynn, Duncan, or Gregory? General stats needed for these three?

OSCAR says that Duncan recently filled up for 17-18.

[Anonymous User]

IGregory has hired at least 2 for 2017-2018.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on the Fourth? Specifically with Wynn, Duncan and Gregory.

Curious about the same judges as well. Interviews or offers for Wynn, Duncan, or Gregory? General stats needed for these three?

Wynn has hired at least one for 17–18.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on the Fourth? Specifically with Wynn, Duncan and Gregory.

Curious about the same judges as well. Interviews or offers for Wynn, Duncan, or Gregory? General stats needed for these three?

Wynn has hired at least one for 17–18.

Wynn is no longer conducting interviews for 17-18

[Anonymous User]

DO you all send clerkship application withdrawal letters out if you've sent paper applications but have recently snagged a clerkship?