D.C. Circuit 2015-16? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know how many slots Judge Pillard has open for 2014-2015?

The OSCAR posting says she has two openings for 2014. Strange that those positions seemed to have been filled a few months back and are now open again.

Anybody know anybody who's landed an interview for these newly-available 2014-15 positions?

Curious about this too.

[Anonymous User]

Another quick question: The reason that a temporary relocation in 2014-15 is feasible is that my spouse has one of those careers where s/he gets to take off for a full year for a sabbatical/fellowship/grant every five years or so. That year off is coming up this fall. Mention something in the cover letter, or TMI?

Considering that this reasoning doesn't explain why you're interested in that judge/geographic area in particular, but merely why you can clerk for that year, I would say TMI.

No judge wants to read "I can clerk for you next year because X, Y, Z!" as opposed to "I really want to clerk for you in particular because A, B, C". She has the opening for 2014 and that aligns with your window.

The only time I would bring it up would be in the unlikely scenario that she asks you to clerk a different year.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know how many slots Judge Pillard has open for 2014-2015?

The OSCAR posting says she has two openings for 2014. Strange that those positions seemed to have been filled a few months back and are now open again.

Anybody know anybody who's landed an interview for these newly-available 2014-15 positions?

Curious about this too.

Anybody heard anything?

[Anonymous User]

Just received an "update application" request from Pillard sent via OSCAR. Not sure if she sent it out to everyone. Never had one of these before. Anyone know anything about this (as in OSCAR updates generally)

[Anonymous User]

Considering how new Judge Pillard is to the OSCAR process herself, I would not read too much into it. You are probably safe to assume that it's not a bad sign. But aside from that, it could mean anything.

[ResIpsa21]

Does anyone know if Sentelle has hired yet for 2015-2016?

[Anonymous User]

I know that Sentelle has started hiring for 2015; don't know if he's finished.

[Anonymous User]

Heard that Garland & Kavanaugh are both currently interviewing for their 2016 spots.

[Anonymous User]

Heard that Garland & Kavanaugh are both currently interviewing for their 2016 spots.

Each has hired at least one rising 2L already.

[Anonymous User]

Heard that Garland & Kavanaugh are both currently interviewing for their 2016 spots.

Each has hired at least one rising 2L already.

Heard they and Griffith are all now full for 2016. Can't confirm this is true, just what I heard.

[Anonymous User]

Heard that Garland & Kavanaugh are both currently interviewing for their 2016 spots.

Each has hired at least one rising 2L already.

Heard they and Griffith are all now full for 2016. Can't confirm this is true, just what I heard.

This is not true. It's possible that one of them is full, but they are not all full. (Keep in mind, though, that Griffith had filled several--if not all--of his 2016 slots from prior classes, and Kavanaugh had filled two slots.)

[Anonymous User]

Heard that Garland & Kavanaugh are both currently interviewing for their 2016 spots.

Each has hired at least one rising 2L already.

Heard they and Griffith are all now full for 2016. Can't confirm this is true, just what I heard.

This is not true. It's possible that one of them is full, but they are not all full. (Keep in mind, though, that Griffith had filled several--if not all--of his 2016 slots from prior classes, and Kavanaugh had filled two slots.)

Garland is full for 2016-2017. He hired at least 1 rising 2L (and I strongly suspect more than 1). Griffith is also full for 2016-2017. I believe Kavanaugh still has at least one open slot, but I can't confirm that.

[Anonymous User]

Srinivasan and Wilkinson are both interviewing now.

[Anonymous User]

Srinivasan and Wilkinson are both interviewing now.

Can anyone speak to what Sri is looking for in clerks? Is he trying to be competitive with Garland for feeder status in his clerks?

I'm competitive for some of the lower feeders on the DC Circuit, but I have no chance with Kavanaugh/Garland, so I'm wondering if it's worth sending an app to Sri.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Is it worth sending an app? I'd think so. Small expense, potentially high reward.

Also, this is pure speculation, but I think it might be tough for such a new judge to already be *as* competitive as Garland and Kavanaugh. In any event, if you think you're competitive for D.C. Cir. generally, I don't see why you wouldn't at least give it a shot.

[Anonymous User]

Srinivasan and Wilkinson are both interviewing now.

Can anyone speak to what Sri is looking for in clerks? Is he trying to be competitive with Garland for feeder status in his clerks?

I'm competitive for some of the lower feeders on the DC Circuit, but I have no chance with Kavanaugh/Garland, so I'm wondering if it's worth sending an app to Sri.

Barring unusually strong ties to the judge (and a reason for those ties to matter), I highly doubt Srinivasan would shortlist anyone who truly had "no chance" with Kavanaugh or Garland.

[Tangerine Gleam]

I'm curious how someone could be "competitive" for certain DC Cir. feeders (presumably...Tatel? Randolph? JRB? Sentelle?) but have "no shot" at Garland and Kavanaugh. Is there really that much of a delta between the hiring practices of the above judges?

This is an honest question. Not being facetious or anything.

[Anonymous User]

I'm curious how someone could be "competitive" for certain DC Cir. feeders (presumably...Tatel? Randolph? JRB? Sentelle?) but have "no shot" at Garland and Kavanaugh. Is there really that much of a delta between the hiring practices of the above judges?

This is an honest question. Not being facetious or anything.

Original questioner.

Short answer, yes. Different DC Circuit judges care about grades to different degrees. My grades are definitely on the lower end to be competitive for DC Circuit feeders, but I have other areas of my application that are very, very strong. This will matter to varying degrees based on the particular judge.