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

[Anonymous User]

Not sure if this is has been discussed much, but is there any real downside to applying to a 2-year district clerkship as compared to a 1-year one, other than the obvious foregone biglawl income? Say 5 years down the road from now, will you be considered a less attractive lateral hire as someone with 2 years clerking + 3 years practice than someone with 1 year clerking + 4 years practice, or is it pretty much a wash?

Also, when you do start practice afterward, do firms pay you with your class?

[Anonymous User]

Per OCS email, Judge Berzon (9th Circuit) is done hiring for 2014.

Am curious--what school's OCS is this? My school's clerkship office doesn't give any up-to-date information like this and it is very frustrating. Am curious how much other schools' clerkship offices/OCS are active in informing their students.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Per OCS email, Judge Berzon (9th Circuit) is done hiring for 2014.

Am curious--what school's OCS is this? My school's clerkship office doesn't give any up-to-date information like this and it is very frustrating. Am curious how much other schools' clerkship offices/OCS are active in informing their students.

Mine certainly didn't.

[Anonymous User]

Just confirming that Smith in 5th is done. Got a second letter in mail today from his chambers saying he has finished hiring for the term.

[Anonymous User]

Jon Tigar (N.D. Cal) full per email from Chambers.

[Anonymous User]

Glad to not be the only one who just got that!

[Anonymous User]

School range: HYS
Rank: idk. 10H (one DS), 5P
LR?: secondary journal, ed board
Published?: nah brah
Recs: well known professor, lesser known lecturer (who loves me but is kind of forgetful and may not have actually written my rec yet... smh), employer from last summer
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: blanketing the east coast, and a few midwest/southern states where I have family. almost all district courts. I applied to a few CoA judges but not expecting much on that front.
Any other factors: resume screams liberal?

[Anonymous User]

School range: HYS
Rank: idk. 10H (one DS), 5P
LR?: secondary journal, ed board
Published?: nah brah
Recs: well known professor, lesser known lecturer (who loves me but is kind of forgetful and may not have actually written my rec yet... smh), employer from last summer
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: blanketing the east coast, and a few midwest/southern states where I have family. almost all district courts. I applied to a few CoA judges but not expecting much on that front.
Any other factors: resume screams liberal?

I had nearly identical stats as this clerkship applicant. Sent over 125 applications to pretty much every district court judge in the northeast and California, as well as several COA. Three district court interviews and several hundred dollars of airfare later, I missed the clerkship train during my 3L year.

However, I performed well my 3L fall (not phenomenally, but strong enough to bolster my profile somewhat), and more importantly, I asked a professor in whose class I'd earned a class award to write me a recommendation. This recommendation replaced an earlier letter I'd used from a very well-known professor who didn't know me at all but in whose class I'd performed well. While I didn't know the class award professor well either, I sat down with him and he clearly made an effort to write me a strong, personalized letter.

In the spring of my 3L year, I sent out more applications, this time focusing only on SDNY/EDNY/DDC. A couple of interviews later, I landed a great 1-year district court clerkship.

[golfnut15]

School range: T60s
Rank: Just outside of top-10%
LR?: Yes - 2013/2014 Executive Articles Editor (Exec Board)
Published?: No
Recs: Legal Writing Prof now tenure-track faculty at T20, clerk from Fed Ct I externed at last summer (judge doesn't write recommendations), Moot Court Coach/Fed Courts Prof
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: Blanketing district courts. IL and OH SSCs.
Any other factors: Moot Court, Externed for Fed Dist. Judge summer after 1L, professional experience

[Flips88]

School range: T60s
Rank: Just outside of top-10%
LR?: Yes - 2013/2014 Executive Articles Editor (Exec Board)
Published?: No
Recs: Legal Writing Prof now tenure-track faculty at T20, clerk from Fed Ct I externed at last summer (judge doesn't write recommendations), Moot Court Coach/Fed Courts Prof
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: Blanketing district courts. IL and OH SSCs.
Any other factors: Moot Court, Externed for Fed Dist. Judge summer after 1L, professional experience

I would imagine your chances are pretty slim.

[golfnut15]

School range: T60s
Rank: Just outside of top-10%
LR?: Yes - 2013/2014 Executive Articles Editor (Exec Board)
Published?: No
Recs: Legal Writing Prof now tenure-track faculty at T20, clerk from Fed Ct I externed at last summer (judge doesn't write recommendations), Moot Court Coach/Fed Courts Prof
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: Blanketing district courts. IL and OH SSCs.
Any other factors: Moot Court, Externed for Fed Dist. Judge summer after 1L, professional experience

I would imagine your chances are pretty slim.

I figured as much. Is it worth the time and effort?

[Anonymous User]

School range: MVP
Rank: Top 20%
LR?: Secondary, Non Exec Board
Published?: No
Recs: 3 Professors that I knew decently well but are not particularly well known. 2 said they would make calls for me but neither called the judge for whom I will be clerking.
2L/3L/Alum?: 3L
Where applied?: Pretty much all district court clerkships that popped up on oscar.
Any other factors: Recently accepted a clerkship with a district judge for 2014-15 in a major market (SDNY, DDC, NDCA, EDNY). Applied as a rising 3L to over 100 district judges and didn't get any interviews. Applied to about 25 judges for 2014-2015 and got 3 interviews. Seems like chances are much better for people in my stats range who will have at least a year of experience under their belts.

[Anonymous User]

School range: T60s
Rank: Just outside of top-10%
LR?: Yes - 2013/2014 Executive Articles Editor (Exec Board)
Published?: No
Recs: Legal Writing Prof now tenure-track faculty at T20, clerk from Fed Ct I externed at last summer (judge doesn't write recommendations), Moot Court Coach/Fed Courts Prof
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: Blanketing district courts. IL and OH SSCs.
Any other factors: Moot Court, Externed for Fed Dist. Judge summer after 1L, professional experience

I would imagine your chances are pretty slim.

I figured as much. Is it worth the time and effort?

At some point you have to say, "Odds be damned," and just apply if you want to do it. If you don't apply, you are guaranteed a no. If you do, you have a shot. Who knows. Depends on how much you want to clerk whether the juice is worth the squeeze.

[Anonymous User]

Foolishly let off the gas with applications while I was waiting to hear back from an interview. Did not get the offer. Now behind and too bummed out to get back on the horse.

[Anonymous User]

Foolishly let off the gas with applications while I was waiting to hear back from an interview. Did not get the offer. Now behind and too bummed out to get back on the horse.

Keep your chin up. Clerkship hiring is insanely competitive, even from my school (HYS), and a lot of times you don't get the job not because you were bad but because it's just such a random process and lots of random things figure into it.

[Anonymous User]

Foolishly let off the gas with applications while I was waiting to hear back from an interview. Did not get the offer. Now behind and too bummed out to get back on the horse.

Keep your chin up. Clerkship hiring is insanely competitive, even from my school (HYS), and a lot of times you don't get the job not because you were bad but because it's just such a random process and lots of random things figure into it.

Thanks, bro(ette). I need that perspective.

[Anonymous User]

Foolishly let off the gas with applications while I was waiting to hear back from an interview. Did not get the offer. Now behind and too bummed out to get back on the horse.

Completely with you. I'm going through the same exact thing.

[Anonymous User]

Foolishly let off the gas with applications while I was waiting to hear back from an interview. Did not get the offer. Now behind and too bummed out to get back on the horse.

Completely with you. I'm going through the same exact thing.

At least ya'll have had interviews.

[Anonymous User]

School range: Transferred to HYS from T20;
Rank: Even H/P split (4.0 at 1L school)
LR?: Exec. bd. secondary journal (LR at 1L school)
Published?: No
Recs: Three profs. from HYS (two decent, one strong); one very strong from 1L school.
2L/3L/Alum?: Started applying 2L on-plan, continued now into 3L; finally done as of last week.
Where applying?: Only to target northeastern city.

Result: clerking for SSC 2013-14, and fed. D. Ct. 2014-15, both in target market. Received approx. 10 d. ct. interviews over 1.5yr+ application process, and 1 circuit interview. Very happy with outcome -- word of advice: stick with it, be persistent, do not shy away from asking for help, and recognize that this will likely entail multiple waves of application and effort. Best of luck to all.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in. Glad this forum popped up.

School range: HYS
Rank: Good but not perfect. Probably top 1/4 to 1/3 but it's hard to tell.
LR?: Secondary - Likely EIC come elections.
Published?: No.
Recs: 1 well-connected professor who will call. 1 medium/strong from a famous professor. Strong summer work.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: 9th > Cir > Dist - Primarily by judge. Choosing judges by reputation for not being an asshole, not by prestige/feeder status. Slight geographic preference for West > Midwest > South > East Coast >>>> DC.
Any other factors: Advanced degree, strong clinical work, "prestigious" 2L summer firm.

-Nino

I know I'm a bit behind, but I'm just now getting my recs/applicaiton in order. Hopefully this won't screw me over.

FWIW, I landed a COA clerkship in a large "flyover" city.

[fredflint299]

I'm in. Glad this forum popped up.

School range: HYS
Rank: Good but not perfect. Probably top 1/4 to 1/3 but it's hard to tell.
LR?: Secondary - Likely EIC come elections.
Published?: No.
Recs: 1 well-connected professor who will call. 1 medium/strong from a famous professor. Strong summer work.
2L/3L/Alum?: 2L
Where applying?: 9th > Cir > Dist - Primarily by judge. Choosing judges by reputation for not being an asshole, not by prestige/feeder status. Slight geographic preference for West > Midwest > South > East Coast >>>> DC.
Any other factors: Advanced degree, strong clinical work, "prestigious" 2L summer firm.

-Nino

I know I'm a bit behind, but I'm just now getting my recs/applicaiton in order. Hopefully this won't screw me over.

FWIW, I landed a COA clerkship in a large "flyover" city.

Congrats, do you mind sharing what circuit?

[Anonymous User]

UT person just reported clerkship to school. Going to Judge Jones on the 5th circuit.

[Anonymous User]

Wesley (2d) is full.

[Anonymous User]

Per Oscar, Milan Smith on the 9th is done.

[Anonymous User]

School: CCN
Rank: 20%
Journal: 2ndary
Published: a couple

A few years ago, I applied as a rising 3L to virtually every federal clerkship in the country. I got zero interviews. I practiced for a couple of years, garnered some strong recommendations, and applied to a select few district court clerkships in my city (DC/SF/LA/NY) Got an interview and accepted a 2014 position about a month ago. Message: if you really want to clerk, keep plugging.