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

[ClerkAdvisor]

Checking in. Had a COA interview last week, haven't heard back yet.. the suspense is killing me. The more time that passes, the dimmer my hopes get..

It really depends on the judge and the hiring process. I've known judges who have interviewed an entire group of candidates before making decisions and others who just do rolling interviews. Although the odds become lower as time passes, you're not out of the running until you've heard that the judge has finished hiring.

[Anonymous User]

Checking in. Had a COA interview last week, haven't heard back yet.. the suspense is killing me. The more time that passes, the dimmer my hopes get..

It really depends on the judge and the hiring process. I've known judges who have interviewed an entire group of candidates before making decisions and others who just do rolling interviews. Although the odds become lower as time passes, you're not out of the running until you've heard that the judge has finished hiring.

The judge said he was going to do a few more interviews in "the coming days" before getting back to me, so I'm hoping that is still going on. My stats make me a long-shot candidate to begin with though, which adds to my anxiety. Oh well, at least it's still relatively early in the general hiring cycle.

[Anonymous User]

Checking in. Had a COA interview last week, haven't heard back yet.. the suspense is killing me. The more time that passes, the dimmer my hopes get..

It really depends on the judge and the hiring process. I've known judges who have interviewed an entire group of candidates before making decisions and others who just do rolling interviews. Although the odds become lower as time passes, you're not out of the running until you've heard that the judge has finished hiring.

The judge said he was going to do a few more interviews in "the coming days" before getting back to me, so I'm hoping that is still going on. My stats make me a long-shot candidate to begin with though, which adds to my anxiety. Oh well, at least it's still relatively early in the general hiring cycle.

how did you get the interview?

[Anonymous User]

Care to share a source re: Cole? As of early last week, chambers was saying the judge stuck to the plan for 2Ls.

Call to chambers on Monday. Talked to the JA for a few minutes, who said that Cole had just decided to open up the hiring process in response to earlier movement across the board this year and a flood of interest from anxious applicants/2Ls.

[Anonymous User]

O'Scannlain is full, per OSCAR.

[Anonymous User]

I am having a hard time converting interviews into offers and really not sure where I am going wrong. I've had 3 CoA interviews so far but have not had any luck getting offers despite feeling like the interviews went really well. Perhaps this is not so unusual considering that each judge only has a couple of spots available and could decide between candidates based on very idiosyncratic preferences, but I am starting to get a little worried that there is something wrong with how I am interviewing.

For the people who have received offers already (or clerks who are conducting the interviews), do you have any advice on converting the interview into an offer? I think that I have the basics covered (able to discuss some of the judge's published opinions / explain why I am interested in this particular clerkship) but I am worried that I am missing something. I did not have much trouble receiving SA offers from law firms in OCI yet the clerkship process feels so much more challenging.

Any advice is appreciated!

[Anonymous User]

I am having a hard time converting interviews into offers and really not sure where I am going wrong. I've had 3 CoA interviews so far but have not had any luck getting offers despite feeling like the interviews went really well. Perhaps this is not so unusual considering that each judge only has a couple of spots available and could decide between candidates based on very idiosyncratic preferences, but I am starting to get a little worried that there is something wrong with how I am interviewing.

For the people who have received offers already (or clerks who are conducting the interviews), do you have any advice on converting the interview into an offer? I think that I have the basics covered (able to discuss some of the judge's published opinions / explain why I am interested in this particular clerkship) but I am worried that I am missing something. I did not have much trouble receiving SA offers from law firms in OCI yet the clerkship process feels so much more challenging.

Any advice is appreciated!

I can't really give any advice other than to offer my empathy. I had 6 COA interviews last cycle and got an offer on the last one. It is a very strange process and IME the judges were interviewing LOTS of candidates for very few spots. It's really just a matter of whether you "click" with the judge. If you have the stats, and you are a decent interviewer, you'll do alright. Keep hope alive!

[Anonymous User]

I am having a hard time converting interviews into offers and really not sure where I am going wrong. I've had 3 CoA interviews so far but have not had any luck getting offers despite feeling like the interviews went really well. Perhaps this is not so unusual considering that each judge only has a couple of spots available and could decide between candidates based on very idiosyncratic preferences, but I am starting to get a little worried that there is something wrong with how I am interviewing.

For the people who have received offers already (or clerks who are conducting the interviews), do you have any advice on converting the interview into an offer? I think that I have the basics covered (able to discuss some of the judge's published opinions / explain why I am interested in this particular clerkship) but I am worried that I am missing something. I did not have much trouble receiving SA offers from law firms in OCI yet the clerkship process feels so much more challenging.

Any advice is appreciated!

are you a 2l? when did you send out these CoA apps and how long after mailing did you hear back with interview invites?

[Anonymous User]

Is it bad form to ask professors to make calls for you? Is this usually something professors offer themselves or is it normal to ask if they know anyone or would be willing to make calls?

[TatteredDignity]

Can any current clerks speak to how necessary it is to use the official OSCAR undergraduate grade sheet when mailing out paper applications? Can I just use an official or unofficial transcript as provided by my school?

[Tangerine Gleam]

Is it bad form to ask professors to make calls for you? Is this usually something professors offer themselves or is it normal to ask if they know anyone or would be willing to make calls?

It it definitely OK to ask professors if they would be willing to make calls. They may not say yes, but it is definitely not bad form to ask.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Can any current clerks speak to how necessary it is to use the official OSCAR undergraduate grade sheet when mailing out paper applications? Can I just use an official or unofficial transcript as provided by my school?

You do not have to use the official undergrad grade sheet. I never printed a thing off Oscar, just used a copy (unofficial) of the (official) UG transcript.

[TatteredDignity]

Can any current clerks speak to how necessary it is to use the official OSCAR undergraduate grade sheet when mailing out paper applications? Can I just use an official or unofficial transcript as provided by my school?

You do not have to use the official undergrad grade sheet. I never printed a thing off Oscar, just used a copy (unofficial) of the (official) UG transcript.

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

On the "calling judges" topic, does anyone have experience in asking professors to call from a school that does not typically place students in clerkships? I have never heard of anyone asking at my school. I am in an interesting position though as a current clerk seeking a second clerkship. Thank you for your help!

[Anonymous User]

Friend of mine got an interview and offer with a USDC Judge in Florida. Seems like even some USDC judges are moving early this year.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know anything about what the 2nd circuit is going to be doing (plan/no plan)? I heard a decision was going to be made this week.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any 2014 hiring status info for the following judges:
Chin (2d Cir.)
Newman (2d Cir.)
Nguyen (9th Cir.)
Paez (9th Cir.)

[Anonymous User]

School range: CCN
Rank: ~5%
LR?: No. Board of secondary.
Published?: Yes
Recs: a good one and an okay one from well-known professors, one okay one from a superstar (e.g. Sunstein)
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L

Sent out a handful of COA apps. Got a non-feeder on the 6th/8th/10th Circuit. Happy to be avoiding the plan. Good luck, everyone.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know anything about what the 2nd circuit is going to be doing (plan/no plan)? I heard a decision was going to be made this week.

I'm at NYU, and we've been hearing that they're meeting "this week" for two or three weeks. No one seems to really know.

[Haymarket]

Anyone have any 2014 hiring status info for the following judges:
Chin (2d Cir.)
Newman (2d Cir.)
Nguyen (9th Cir.)
Paez (9th Cir.)

According to OSCAR, Chin claims he's sticking with the Plan, IIRC.

[elipad]

Anyone have any 2014 hiring status info for the following judges:
Chin (2d Cir.)
Newman (2d Cir.)
Nguyen (9th Cir.)
Paez (9th Cir.)

Nguyen is finished; she spoke at our school recently.

Further, Wardlaw has also completed her hiring (call from chambers).

[Anonymous User]

School range: MVP
Rank: 10-5%
LR?: Secondary EIC
Published?: No
Recs: Average
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: 5th circuit COA and District
Any other factors: Decent work experience. Not spectacular but not trivial.

Curveball for me is I'm a transfer. Was top 10% at T-25 before. Have one semester of grades at current school that would put me roughly top 10 - 5%.

How competitive am I for 5th circuit COAs and the more competitive 5th circuit District Courts? My guess is toss up for COA, decent shot at a good District judge.

[Tangerine Gleam]

How competitive am I for 5th circuit COAs and the more competitive 5th circuit District Courts? My guess is toss up for COA, decent shot at a good District judge.

Your guess sounds about right. If I were you, I would try for both, but would especially target district courts. And then you can apply for COA as a 3L (if you're open to doing two years).

[Anonymous User]

Judge Wood (CA7) is full

[Anonymous User]

Carolyn King in the Fifth Circuit is full.