2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm the top feeders are moving NOW.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Watford or Reinhardt have started scheduling interviews?

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm the top feeders are moving NOW.

Moving as in interviewing and hiring, or just reviewing applications?

[Anonymous User]

3.66 at CLS is around top 15% I think. Probably competitive for some judges, but I doubt "competitive at most circuits" is an accurate way to characterize it.

Pretty sure 3.66 at CLS is around top 10%, given that 3.3 is around median and Stone (3.41) is around top 1/3. Not sure if that changes anything w/r/t COA clerkships, though.

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm the top feeders are moving NOW.

Moving as in interviewing and hiring, or just reviewing applications?

As in interviewing at least. Not sure about hiring but I doubt that's far off if it hasn't already started.

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm the top feeders are moving NOW.

Moving as in interviewing and hiring, or just reviewing applications?

As in interviewing at least. Not sure about hiring but I doubt that's far off if it hasn't already started.

Do you know if any 9th Circuit judges have started interviewing?

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm the top feeders are moving NOW.

Moving as in interviewing and hiring, or just reviewing applications?

As in interviewing at least. Not sure about hiring but I doubt that's far off if it hasn't already started.

Do you know if any 9th Circuit judges have started interviewing?

Friedland has already hired one from Berkeley

[Anonymous User]

I have heard of one at HLS with interviews with all the top feeders.

[runinthefront]

Do d.ct/coa judges typically ask for undergrad transcripts?

I know scotus does but what about everyone else?

[lawschool22]

Do d.ct/coa judges typically ask for undergrad transcripts?

I know scotus does but what about everyone else?

It varies. I'd say about 20% of judges do.

[TatteredDignity]

Do d.ct/coa judges typically ask for undergrad transcripts?

I know scotus does but what about everyone else?

It varies. I'd say about 20% of judges do.

In my experience, 20% is way too low. I'd say 60-70%. This was obnoxious for people like me, so I remember it well.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone from UVA post an updated version of the above? If not, can you just comment in general terms whether it's representative of the current numbers? Thanks.

If it's representative I don't see how being "only" in the top 10% at CLS puts you out of the running for COA clerkships.

Rather not post the updated version, but on average they're about .05 higher now.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for that Really appreciate it.

[lawschool22]

Do d.ct/coa judges typically ask for undergrad transcripts?

I know scotus does but what about everyone else?

It varies. I'd say about 20% of judges do.

In my experience, 20% is way too low. I'd say 60-70%. This was obnoxious for people like me, so I remember it well.

Yeah I think the basic point is it varies considerably. Gonna depend on your list.

[ndirish2010]

Even judges that ask for it are highly likely not to care.

[Anonymous User]

What's the standard on sending apps to judges who request a list of recommendations but not the letters at first? Is it ok to apply if the professor's aren't finished with the letters yet, but will be in a couple weeks? Or just wait?

[wwwcol]

What's the standard on sending apps to judges who request a list of recommendations but not the letters at first? Is it ok to apply if the professor's aren't finished with the letters yet, but will be in a couple weeks? Or just wait?

Fine to apply now unless you have some reason to believe the judge wants all application materials at once.

[TatteredDignity]

Even judges that ask for it are highly likely not to care.

Sure, if it's good or mediocre. If it's horrible, it's a black mark.

[Chrysogonus]

So, when a judge wants a list of recommenders, do you actually make a separate doc? Or just include the info in the cover letter?

[lawschool22]

OP, it might be nice to copy the following from the 2016–2017 thread:

Please use this thread to post news regarding the 2016-2017 clerkship term, including: rumors regarding when judges will or did being interviewing, rumors regarding which judges have completed hiring, general and specific information regarding judges and the clerkship process, questions regarding the application process, and any other application information relevant to the 2016-2017 term.

Judges Hiring Status
(I will update periodically and include the source next to the name)

Second Circuit:
Katzmann - done (OSCAR)

Third Circuit:
Shwartz - done (anon / OSCAR profile)
Chagares - done (OSCAR)

Fourth Circuit:
Niemeyer - done (anon)
Wilkinson - done (anon)

Fifth Circuit:
Clement - done (OSCAR)

Sixth Circuit:
Sutton - hired at least two (anon)

Ninth Circuit:
Fisher - done (OSCAR)
Fletcher - done (anon)
Ikuta - done (anon)
Nguyen - done (OSCAR)
Reinhardt - done (anon)
Wardlaw - done and has started hiring for 2017-18 (anon)

Tenth Circuit:
Gorsuch - been interviewing for at least one week, but not done (anons)

DC Circuit:
Garland - done (anon)
Griffith - done (anon)
Kavanaugh - done; has 2017-18 posting up (anon / OSCAR)
Tatel - done (anon)
Wilkins - done through 2017-18 (anon / uscourts website)
Williams - done (OSCAR)

SDNY:
Nathan - hired at least one (anon)
Forrest - done (SDNY site)
Oetken - done (OSCAR)

EDNY:
Gleeson - hired at least one already (anon)

DISCLAIMER: Note that some of this information is secondhand and thus may be unreliable. I will do my best to indicate the strength of the tip when possible, but you should not rely on this posting. Get in touch with the judge's chambers, your school's OCS services, or other resources if you want to know whether spots are still open (and please report back via pm or post).

CONFIDENTIALITY: All personal details of posters who private message me a tip about a clerkship opening/filling will be kept completely confidential, and I will do my best to post how the information was received in a general manner so as to protect your privacy.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also, you can use the following template to post stats and where you plan on applying, and others can evaluate chances and give other advice:

School range:
Rank:
LR?:
Published?:
Recs:
2L/3L/Alum?:
Where applying?:
Any other factors:


Previous cycles' threads
2014-2015 cycle
2015-2016 cycle

Credit to ph14, ndirish2010, and jrsheppa, whose work I cannibalized to make this OP.

[nothingtosee]

LS22 - those judges aren't already done for THIS cycle, right?

[lawschool22]

LS22 - those judges aren't already done for THIS cycle, right?

Oh no. I don't mean copy that exactly. Just something like that for this cycle that we can update as hiring progresses.

[Anonymous User]

any other inc 3L, D.Ct. clerks in 2016-17 applying now for 17-18 here, or everyone else an incoming 2L?

[Cicero76]

lol @that judges status list presuming that the 1st and 11th circuits don't exist.

[Anonymous User]

any other inc 3L, D.Ct. clerks in 2016-17 applying now for 17-18 here, or everyone else an incoming 2L?

Fellow rising 3L who is doing D. Ct. in 2016-17 and then circuit for 17-18 (D. Ct. is in the circuit that I will be clerking for).