What am I doing wrong? Forum

(Seek and share information about clerkship applications, clerkship hiring timelines, and post-clerkship employment opportunities)
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting

Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about clerkship applications and clerkship hiring. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.

Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:48 pm

I have now been through two rounds of clerkship apps without a single interview. I am by no means SCOTUS eligible, and I certainly don't feel entitled to a clerkship, but I think I have put together a decent application and would have expected to have gotten at least an interview by now. I am going to take one final shot and I am hoping to harness TLS wisdom in deciding whether there are any changes I need to make.

I am currently a first-year associate and my application consists of:

1) A strong resume: Fulbright Scholar, T10, V5

2) A good, but certainly not outstanding transcript: I have top 25% or better grades (we don't rank but I have a very plausible basis for making this assumption); I excelled in all of my legal writing courses - including an AmJur in one of them - as well as other clerkship relevant courses, such as constitutional litigation, advanced con law and federal courts.

3) A strong writing sample - I assume it is strong anyway. I received the highest grade possible for it, and I have gotten very positive feedback on it from current/former clerks that I have asked to review it.

4) One outstanding and two good LOR's.

I have so far attributed my lack of success to the following factors: 1) I have connections to virtually no judges; 2) My grades are not alone enough to get me in the door, and may close the door in several chambers; and 3) I am geographically limited (I have a significant other to consider as well as financial considerations - i.e., giving up the efficiencies of cohabitation).

Is that a fair read or might there be something I am doing wrong in addition? I have had former clerks review my cover letters - they are pretty formulaic... it's not like I take any real risks in writing them. I am wondering if there might be something I am overlooking.

I really think I would be a good clerk. I am thorough and hard-working, and genuinely want to participate in the process. I'd just love to get interview so I can explain that to someone and make my case. Any and all tips are welcome. Thanks for reading.
Last edited by Anonymous User on Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

CanadianWolf

Diamond
Posts: 11453
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:54 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by CanadianWolf » Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:56 pm

Repost later.
Last edited by CanadianWolf on Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
ggocat

Gold
Posts: 1825
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:51 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by ggocat » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:35 pm

Is that a fair read or might there be something I am doing wrong in addition?
You didn't say how many judges you've applied to, what types of judges, and where.

You didn't mention law review / journal.

If you're applying for 2015, it's still a little early, especially for many district judges. Some judges follow the plan or their own version of it even though they don't have to.

User avatar
ph14

Gold
Posts: 3227
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by ph14 » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:37 pm

I'm guessing your grades might be holding you back if you are applying for some very competitive districts. My 3L advice would be to get in touch with the LOR writer who wrote you the "outstanding" letter and politely ask if it would be possible for them to call some judges for you. I think that having a professor call judges (even if the professor doesn't know the judge) is very helpful in getting your application pulled from the big stack and perhaps in getting you an interview.

Since you are working at a V5 firm and are geographically limited, I might guess that you are focusing on S.D.N.Y. and E.D.N.Y. judges. It might be smart to broaden that up a bit. Are there any New Jersey or Connecticut judges that you could apply to and deal with a longer commute? They are probably going to be less competitive.

mtn663

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:14 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by mtn663 » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:52 pm

ph14 wrote:I think that having a professor call judges (even if the professor doesn't know the judge) is very helpful in getting your application pulled from the big stack and perhaps in getting you an interview.
Definitely have profs call--this can make a big difference.

If as ph says you're focusing SDNY and EDNY, it's just going to be tough--probably most of the top 20% from C/N are applying, along with Y/H. Plus some judges have specific school connections that they typically hire from (usually lower-ranked NYC schools), and some want a couple years WE, decreasing the slots further.

Point being you may not really be doing anything wrong at all.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:02 pm

Thanks for taking the time to comment - nice of you.
You didn't say how many judges you've applied to, what types of judges, and where.
I have applied to both district and circuit judges, for the most part they have been within a particularly large, but admittedly competitive, district. I have probably submitted 55 applications total so far.

You didn't mention law review / journal.
Sorry - good catch. I had a board position on a secondary journal but no LR. I didn't attempt to write-on. I wanted to focus on mock trial. FWIW, I was a national semi-finalist in the most competitive mock trial tournament in the country.
Definitely have profs call--this can make a big difference.
I have had one of my profs on the phone a few times. I have really tried to limit the extent to which I ask her to do this. I will see about having her call more moving forward.
Last edited by Anonymous User on Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
ph14

Gold
Posts: 3227
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by ph14 » Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:03 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
You didn't say how many judges you've applied to, what types of judges, and where.
I have applied to both district and circuit judges, for the most part they have been within a particularly large, but admittedly competitive, district. I have probably submitted 55 applications total so far.

You didn't mention law review / journal.
Sorry - good catch. I had a board position on a secondary journal but no LR. I didn't attempt to write-on. I wanted to focus on mock trial. FWIW, I was a national semi-finalist in the most competitive mock trial tournament in the country.
Since you're anonymous you might as well post some specific information. The quality of advice will be better if there are more specific details. What district(s) are you applying to?

Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:07 pm

Since you're anonymous you might as well post some specific information. The quality of advice will be better if there are more specific details. What district(s) are you applying to?
That's true - thanks. I am actually not applying to SDNY/EDNY aside from a few exceptions. The large majority of my applications have been to CDCA/DAZ/9th Circuit (in both Phoenix and LA)

User avatar
ph14

Gold
Posts: 3227
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by ph14 » Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:10 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Since you're anonymous you might as well post some specific information. The quality of advice will be better if there are more specific details. What district(s) are you applying to?
That's true - thanks. I am actually not applying to SDNY/EDNY aside from a few exceptions. The large majority of my applications have been to CDCA/DAZ/9th Circuit (in both Phoenix and LA)
Makes sense. Have you considered applying to either E.D. Cal. or S.D. Cal.? They look like they might have some judges in a geographic area that could work for you. I'm not sure if your significant other needs to be in Los Angeles or Phoenix specifically to work. Ninth Circuit is, of course, very competitive, and it might just be that your grades don't cut it there. I think there are a couple judges that strongly prefer work experience/alumni applications. I don't know who these are off the top of my head but you should try and focus them if you cna.

Image

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:18 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Since you're anonymous you might as well post some specific information. The quality of advice will be better if there are more specific details. What district(s) are you applying to?
That's true - thanks. I am actually not applying to SDNY/EDNY aside from a few exceptions. The large majority of my applications have been to CDCA/DAZ/9th Circuit (in both Phoenix and LA)
Clerkship hiring is very random. You're probably not doing anything wrong. You seem to have a competitive application, but when you're geographically limited to mostly desirable districts, you can send out a good application two years in a row and just not get anything. Keep trying, but if you don't get anything, its probably just luck of the draw going against you.

FWIW, I had fairly similar credentials to you but applied as a 2L to about 60 geographically diverse judges, district and CoA. I heard nothing before the plan and got 2 interviews + 1 telephone interview from district judges on the plan --> 2 rejections and one offer. 2 of those, including the offer, were from the small "flyover" district where I grew up. I was told the only reason I got an interview there was because of something in my "interests" section on my resume.

Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:59 pm

LA/AZ 9th Circuit will be very, very difficult with your transcript/background. Doesn't mean that it will be impossible, but most of the judges fill their ranks with HYS and Berkeley kids at or near the tip-top of the class who are having influential professors call judges who they have built "pipelines" with.

CDCA is a tough district - only a small notch below SDNY and NDCA - and a lot of the judges are finicky about who they pull. Some judges there require work experience and several others have similar "pipelines" as the LA 9th judges. I've heard that it's not the most grade-conscious district, but it's still nasty. I also suspect that the non-California and non-HYS T10 schools just don't have as much pull in LA as they do on the east coast - California has a number of highly regarded state schools that probably place one or two clerks with many of these judges each year, it'll be hard to out compete the top-of-the-class at Hastings, Davis, Irvine, UCLA, and USC if you're hovering around top 25% at a school like NYU or Virginia. Keep applying - clerkship hiring is idiosyncratic - but don't be surprised if things don't pan out. And yeah, look into EDCA and SDCA if you can, both are less competitive than CDCA.

I know very little about Arizona.

Good luck!

Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:40 pm

Thanks everyone for the feedback - I genuinely appreciate it. A tough road ahead, but I will give it one more shot.

User avatar
A. Nony Mouse

Diamond
Posts: 29293
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by A. Nony Mouse » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:55 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Clerkship hiring is very random. You're probably not doing anything wrong. You seem to have a competitive application, but when you're geographically limited to mostly desirable districts, you can send out a good application two years in a row and just not get anything. Keep trying, but if you don't get anything, its probably just luck of the draw going against you.
Yeah, unfortunately I think this is very true.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


Anonymous User
Posts: 432502
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:07 pm

No joke you guys I *literally* just got my first interview! Cannot believe this...

User avatar
A. Nony Mouse

Diamond
Posts: 29293
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by A. Nony Mouse » Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:08 pm

Anonymous User wrote:No joke you guys I *literally* just got my first interview! Cannot believe this...
:lol: :lol: :lol: congrats!

User avatar
ph14

Gold
Posts: 3227
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: What am I doing wrong?

Post by ph14 » Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:09 pm

A. Nony Mouse wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:No joke you guys I *literally* just got my first interview! Cannot believe this...
:lol: :lol: :lol: congrats!
:lol: You're welcome! :P

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


Post Reply Post Anonymous Reply  

Return to “Judicial Clerkships”