2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[RightorRight]

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

It only posted from judges from whom there was information.

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

Earliest feeders (usual suspects) should be filled by end of the week. This is the earliest we have ever seen the clerkship wave.

[otherwise]

Earliest feeders (usual suspects) should be filled by end of the week. This is the earliest we have ever seen the clerkship wave.

UChicago won't even have grades for 2 weeks...

[AT9]

Alright, rising 2L here with some dumb questions:

1) What's a feeder judge?

2) I'm top 5% at a 30's-40's school, small/mid sized market, will have LR, have ties in several small-mid sized markets, and am interning for a federal magistrate judge this summer in a neighboring district. What are my odds at getting a district or COA clerkship?

3) In light of the above, how do you develop an application strategy? I.e....Where should you apply? How do you match up with judges who generally align with your judicial philosophy (if that's even possible)? What's a reasonable number of applications?

[Anonymous User]

Earliest feeders (usual suspects) should be filled by end of the week. This is the earliest we have ever seen the clerkship wave.

Are we just talking the "old guard" feeders like Garland, Wilkinson, Kavanaugh, Kozinski, etc., or does this include any of the newer feeders like Srinivasan and Watford?

Alright, rising 2L here with some dumb questions:

1) What's a feeder judge?

2) I'm top 5% at a 30's-40's school, small/mid sized market, will have LR, have ties in several small-mid sized markets, and am interning for a federal magistrate judge this summer in a neighboring district. What are my odds at getting a district or COA clerkship?

3) In light of the above, how do you develop an application strategy? I.e....Where should you apply? How do you match up with judges who generally align with your judicial philosophy (if that's even possible)? What's a reasonable number of applications?

I can't answer #2 or #3, but as for #1-a feeder judge is a judge whose clerks go on to clerk for the Supreme Court.

[swampman]

3) In light of the above, how do you develop an application strategy? I.e....Where should you apply? How do you match up with judges who generally align with your judicial philosophy (if that's even possible)? What's a reasonable number of applications?

Professors are your best resource (assuming your school doesn't have a competent clerkship office). You'll need to ask them for recommendations anyway, and they will probably have connections to judges in the region. Find a professor who shares your judicial philosophy and they'll know the relevant judges. Otherwise you can get an idea by which president appointed them.
My school limits us to around 100 applications.

[AT9]

Thanks to both the above posters!

[A. Nony Mouse]

Honestly, I would not limit applications based on judicial philosophy, if by that you mean political stance. Maybe at the elite COA/feeder level. Most of what the average district court judge does is not at influenced by judicial philosophy. Much more significant to your experience is the judge's work ethic and expectations for clerks, and the culture in chambers.

[AT9]

Honestly, I would not limit applications based on judicial philosophy, if by that you mean political stance. Maybe at the elite COA/feeder level. Most of what the average district court judge does is not at influenced by judicial philosophy. Much more significant to your experience is the judge's work ethic and expectations for clerks, and the culture in chambers.

Sort of what I guessed. I can work with a judge that doesn't align with my political/judicial philosophy, I just prefer not to work with one that's at the extreme opposite.

Edit: How valuable are magistrate judge clerkships relative to district court judge clerkships?

[Anonymous User]

Out of curiosity, how does a school like Uchicago (where grades come out so late) deal with the trend toward earlier and earlier hiring?

[Anonymous User]

You dont. Part of the trend toward earlier hire is also the trend toward wanting people with experience. For example, right now a sizeable portion of SDNY is filled through 2017, or will be soon. Rising 2Ls then apply for 2018, which makes sure they have a year of experience before starting. Thats the new model (obviously a generalization)

[Anonymous User]

Judges hiring this early will be overwhelmingly taking HYS students.

[Anonymous User]

Earliest feeders (usual suspects) should be filled by end of the week.

Where are you getting this from? I've heard that a few are interviewing, but not that they're all filling up within the next week.

[Anonymous User]

There was a flurry of interview offers last week. I've got a few lined up and I'm not HYS. Some feeders some not feeders. I think now is the time to get your apps out for COA.

[Anonymous User]

There was a flurry of interview offers last week. I've got a few lined up and I'm not HYS. Some feeders some not feeders. I think now is the time to get your apps out for COA.

Any 9th Circuit?

[Anonymous User]

No 9th Circuit. All quiet on the western front.

[Anonymous User]

There was a flurry of interview offers last week. I've got a few lined up and I'm not HYS. Some feeders some not feeders. I think now is the time to get your apps out for COA.

What about the 4th?

[Anonymous User]

I've heard of at least two 9th Circuit judges who are interviewing.

Any movement from DC that anyone knows of?

[Anonymous User]

DC Cir. interviews and offers this week.

[laws6034]

Movement from Moore (6th)? Either interviews or offers?

[Anonymous User]

Can confirm DC Cir and 9th (less so) are moving on applicants
Are these interviews/offers going to rising 2Ls (hard to believe because it's prior to LR for atleast the T6)?

[Anonymous User]

Movement from Moore (6th)? Either interviews or offers?

haven't heard of movement from Moore

[Anonymous User]

Flurry offers OP here.

Are these interviews/offers going to rising 2Ls (hard to believe because it's prior to LR for atleast the T6)?

I'm a rising 3L with a district court clerkship.

[Anonymous User]

Reinhardt interview Thursday.