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

[Anonymous User]

How long does it take for judges to respond?

If we do not hear in a week or so, should we assume it's a rejection?

After you submit your app or after you interview? I got three interviews a month after submitting my apps, so some judges take their time.

[Anonymous User]

You mean call the district court's chambers and tell the JA that I have an interview scheduled after with COA judge X?

No. Go on the district court interview. Don't mention the COA interview. You probably won't get an offer before it (either because you don't get an offer, or you do but the judge doesn't decide for a bit). If you do get an offer before the COA interview, explain to the district court judge that you have a COA interview scheduled, and you'd like to see what happens there. S/he might say OK, s/he might say no. If s/he says no, I'd probably accept the district court offer (bird in the hand and all). Then -- and only then -- call the COA chambers and explain that you accepted a clerkship with the district court judge but would like to be considered for the following term. Again, they might still want to interview and they might not.

Incidentally, for those wondering about numbers of interviewees and spots, we just finished interviewing six people for two spots.

Thank you, exactly what I was wondering. Since you appear to be a clerk, do you have any idea about my second question?

Also, has anyone ever gotten a "statement of interest" call? JA called and said my application had been set aside for further review by the judge, and to send my second semester 2L grades as soon as I get them. Obviously, this is good news, but its also not an interview. Has anyone had this happen or know of any judges that typically do this, and if so, thoughts on chances of getting an interview?

[theaccidentalclerk]

Thank you, exactly what I was wondering. Since you appear to be a clerk, do you have any idea about my second question?


Anonymous User wrote:

Also, has anyone ever gotten a "statement of interest" call? JA called and said my application had been set aside for further review by the judge, and to send my second semester 2L grades as soon as I get them. Obviously, this is good news, but its also not an interview. Has anyone had this happen or know of any judges that typically do this, and if so, thoughts on chances of getting an interview?

We don't do anything like that. That said, when I was applying for clerkships, I had three situations like this. The first was an impromptu screening interview-by-phone. I apparently didn't pass the test because they didn't call back. The second was something more along the lines you suggest. Chambers asked for more info. I didn't follow up because I accepted another clerkship. (I should have called back, so don't do what I did.) The third is a chambers that did two-round interviews. After the first round, they scheduled a second round interview but I cancelled because I accepted another offer.

[Anonymous User]

Boudin (1st cir) has finished hiring.

Are you sure about this info? I heard last week that he hadn't even started looking at apps.

Curious to know more about this. Anyone mind sharing their (general type of) source?

For the record, I called a few weeks ago and was told chambers didn't know when he would being reviewing apps.

[Tyrion Lannister]

Boudin (1st cir) has finished hiring.

Are you sure about this info? I heard last week that he hadn't even started looking at apps.

Curious to know more about this. Anyone mind sharing their (general type of) source?

For the record, I called a few weeks ago and was told chambers didn't know when he would being reviewing apps.

I called last week and got the same info from his JA.

[Guy123452]

School range: HYS
Rank: No idea (75% H's, but took a light courseload)
LR?: No, secondary journal
Published?: Yes, two articles published after law school
Recs: Solid
2L/3L/Alum?: Alum - 2013 D. Ct. clerkship in SDNY
Where applying?: 2nd Cir. COA
Any other factors: Interesting/unique military experience

I'm hoping to clerk on the 2nd Circuit sometime after my SDNY clerkship. Not sure how likely that dream is. I've had one 2nd Cir. interview (didn't get an offer), and declined an interview with another 2nd Cir. judge (the start date and location were problematic for me). Any idea what my chances are for getting a 2nd Circuit clerkship after my district court clerkship? The one thing I'm self-conscious about is that I took a relatively light courseload in law school.

[Anonymous User]

School range: HYS
Rank: No idea (75% H's, but took a light courseload)
LR?: No, secondary journal
Published?: Yes, two articles published after law school
Recs: Solid
2L/3L/Alum?: Alum - 2013 D. Ct. clerkship in SDNY
Where applying?: 2nd Cir. COA
Any other factors: Interesting/unique military experience

I'm hoping to clerk on the 2nd Circuit sometime after my SDNY clerkship. Not sure how likely that dream is. I've had one 2nd Cir. interview (didn't get an offer), and declined an interview with another 2nd Cir. judge (the start date and location were problematic for me). Any idea what my chances are for getting a 2nd Circuit clerkship after my district court clerkship? The one thing I'm self-conscious about is that I took a relatively light courseload in law school.

You might do best to wait until a few months into your SDNY clerkship, at which point you could ask your judge to make calls on your behalf.

[Anonymous User]

Has there been lull in interviews lately because of finals? Curious if anyone has anything to share.

[Anonymous User]

Has there been lull in interviews lately because of finals? Curious if anyone has anything to share.

Got a call/ did my first stage interview for a 9th circuit judge in the last couple of days. This was more than 2 months after I'd submitted to them and was my first interview of the cycle, so pretty stoked. So, briefly: not on my end.

[Anonymous User]

Care to share anonymously the 9th Circuit judge pp? Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Care to share anonymously the 9th Circuit judge pp? Thanks!

One of the ones in a remote location. Not comfortable being more specific.

[Anonymous User]

Likewise, just got a tenth circuit call.

[Anonymous User]

Bump.

[Anonymous User]

Care to share anonymously the 9th Circuit judge pp? Thanks!

It was Kleinfeld, don't be shy. This is totally his M.O.

[Anonymous User]

Does Kleinfeld interview a lot of students? What does his interview process look like, and are there multiple stages to it?

[Anonymous User]

Does Kleinfeld interview a lot of students? What does his interview process look like, and are there multiple stages to it?

Curious about the first half of this question. There are multiple stages via phonecall for Kleinfeld..

[Anonymous User]

Are they just multiple normal interviews with different people? What are the different stages via phone call? How many of them, and are they over a long period of time?

[Anonymous User]

If a judge doesn't specify that letters of recommendation can be sent separately, how bad is it to do that? (Note though, they don't say that you have to send everything all together).

To specify, I want to get a few apps out ASAP, but I'm leaving town on Friday and know my school won't have letters processed and prepared by then. They also don't mail apps on our behalf (they either send the letters directly or allow us to pick them up to drop in our packets). Is it better to delay sending my apps and find a friend to pick up my letters and mail them to me, so I can mail everything together in one packet? Or better to send my portion of the app and indicate in it that letters will be coming directly from the school?

[Anonymous User]

What LSAT score is Kleinfeld looking for? Anyone know how much weight the judges that ask for scores give to it?

[Tangerine Gleam]

Kleinfeld asks for LSAT scores? That's pretty rare. I have maybe heard of one other judge doing that, but I don't remember who.

I have no idea what he's looking for, but I hope it's something that he wouldn't weigh heavily.

[Anonymous User]

Kleinfeld asks for LSAT scores? That's pretty rare. I have maybe heard of one other judge doing that, but I don't remember who.

I have no idea what he's looking for, but I hope it's something that he wouldn't weigh heavily.

Judge Smith on the 5th also does.

[Anonymous User]

Kleinfeld asks for LSAT scores? That's pretty rare. I have maybe heard of one other judge doing that, but I don't remember who.

I have no idea what he's looking for, but I hope it's something that he wouldn't weigh heavily.

Judge Smith on the 5th also does.

Judge Ebel on the 10th does too. My candidacy with him went nowhere after that.

(I have no idea if he asks everyone for LSAT score or if it's a quality check for schools below a certain rank or something - I went to a lower T1, he might not ask HYS students for their LSATs!)

[Anonymous User]

Curious which Oscar judges besides Kleinfeld are currently interviewing?

[lolwat]

Kleinfeld asks for LSAT scores? That's pretty rare. I have maybe heard of one other judge doing that, but I don't remember who.

I have no idea what he's looking for, but I hope it's something that he wouldn't weigh heavily.

Graber asks for it too.

I'd personally guess it's the reason anon above posted--for lower ranked schools they might just be looking to see whether you could have attended a better school but didn't for whatever reasons.

[Anonymous User]

Updates? Who is moving?