Mailing Applications to Court Forum

[patriot888]

All,

When mailing an application to the court, do you send CC RRR? (Certified mail return receipt requested)? Or simply first-class mail? Do you call chambers to confirm receipt? Does chambers confirm receipt?

Thank you.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I just sent it with delivery confirmation (so I guess priority mail - you can get those flat rate 8.5x11" envelopes). Chambers may or may not confirm receipt, but more likely not. And I would NOT call chambers to confirm receipt.

[lolwat]

No, yes, no, no.

I think Federal Circuit asks you to send via FedEx or something because of screening USPS mail, but every other place I just sent either priority flat-rate envelope (tracking is free) or first-class in a large envelope (this option was cheaper when I mailed out a lot more).

[patriot888]

How do you deal with the recommendations? Do you normally have your recommenders send them directly to the judge?

[patriot888]

In other words, to what extent can I mail unsolicited applications?

[A. Nony Mouse]

You can either have the recommenders give you the letters in sealed envelopes for you to include with your application, or you can have the recommenders send directly to the judge (some judges do prefer to get everything in one package, but if they do, they'll probably say so in the application).

As for unsolicited applications, do you mean where the judge doesn't have a position post on OSCAR? I did that - I just mailed applications to all the judges in the circuit I was targeting. It's not going to hurt you, if they're not hiring they'll just toss the application. Just be prepared to get a bunch of "sorry, we're not hiring" letters and to have a bunch more of the applications vanish into a black hole. (To save money/time on mailing, you could call the chambers you're thinking about applying to and ask if they're hiring - a lot of places say "no calls" but it's not like you even have to identify yourself.)

[lolwat]

Better to have everything in one package, if possible, than separately sent.

Mail in applications pretty much whenever as long as (1) the judge doesn't express a desire for OSCAR-only applications (if that's still a thing) and (2) it's not obviously way too early.

[patriot888]

You can either have the recommenders give you the letters in sealed envelopes for you to include with your application, or you can have the recommenders send directly to the judge (some judges do prefer to get everything in one package, but if they do, they'll probably say so in the application).

As for unsolicited applications, do you mean where the judge doesn't have a position post on OSCAR? I did that - I just mailed applications to all the judges in the circuit I was targeting. It's not going to hurt you, if they're not hiring they'll just toss the application. Just be prepared to get a bunch of "sorry, we're not hiring" letters and to have a bunch more of the applications vanish into a black hole. (To save money/time on mailing, you could call the chambers you're thinking about applying to and ask if they're hiring - a lot of places say "no calls" but it's not like you even have to identify yourself.)

When calling, do you ask for the courtroom deputy? or the law clerk?

[A. Nony Mouse]

You can either have the recommenders give you the letters in sealed envelopes for you to include with your application, or you can have the recommenders send directly to the judge (some judges do prefer to get everything in one package, but if they do, they'll probably say so in the application).

As for unsolicited applications, do you mean where the judge doesn't have a position post on OSCAR? I did that - I just mailed applications to all the judges in the circuit I was targeting. It's not going to hurt you, if they're not hiring they'll just toss the application. Just be prepared to get a bunch of "sorry, we're not hiring" letters and to have a bunch more of the applications vanish into a black hole. (To save money/time on mailing, you could call the chambers you're thinking about applying to and ask if they're hiring - a lot of places say "no calls" but it's not like you even have to identify yourself.)

When calling, do you ask for the courtroom deputy? or the law clerk?

The person who answers will likely be the judicial assistant (unless they're out, in which case it might be the CRD or a law clerk), and that's probably who you want to talk to. But just ask whoever answers the phone. (Assuming you're calling chambers directly. If you don't have the chambers number, call the courthouse and ask to be connected to Judge Whoever's chambers, and then ask whoever answers the phone.)

[bruinfan10]

You can either have the recommenders give you the letters in sealed envelopes for you to include with your application, or you can have the recommenders send directly to the judge (some judges do prefer to get everything in one package, but if they do, they'll probably say so in the application).

As for unsolicited applications, do you mean where the judge doesn't have a position post on OSCAR? I did that - I just mailed applications to all the judges in the circuit I was targeting. It's not going to hurt you, if they're not hiring they'll just toss the application. Just be prepared to get a bunch of "sorry, we're not hiring" letters and to have a bunch more of the applications vanish into a black hole. (To save money/time on mailing, you could call the chambers you're thinking about applying to and ask if they're hiring - a lot of places say "no calls" but it's not like you even have to identify yourself.)

When calling, do you ask for the courtroom deputy? or the law clerk?

The person who answers will likely be the judicial assistant (unless they're out, in which case it might be the CRD or a law clerk), and that's probably who you want to talk to. But just ask whoever answers the phone. (Assuming you're calling chambers directly. If you don't have the chambers number, call the courthouse and ask to be connected to Judge Whoever's chambers, and then ask whoever answers the phone.)

I called 100+ chambers last cycle, I can say that a number of JA's do ask you to identify yourself. Consequently a number of my friends called from Google Voice numbers (since their phone numbers were listed on their resumes). I've also had judges pick up the phone on two separate occasions, which is ALL KINDS of awkward. Especially if they've posted a "don't call chambers" notice on OSCAR. Just something to keep in mind. Obviously I still felt it necessary to make the calls.