hypos in a judicial clerkship interview???!!! Forum

[objctnyrhnr]

I have a state judicial clerkship interview tomorrow. somebody i know did it yesterday and they told somebody else I know that there were hypos, beginning with "what would you do if," but I have no more info.

has anybody experienced this? does anybody have any idea about what kind of hypos might be asked?

[suzige]

I've been asked such hypo questions in a lot of job interviews...usually those are behavioral questions trying to see if you're a problem solver or instead need someone to hold your hand all the time.

[JoeFish]

A common "what would you do" is "what would you do if I asked you to write an opinion that you disagreed with?" I've heard, more specifically, "what if we discuss it and disagree, but I ask you to write it my way anyway, and when researching you become even more certain you're right?"

[objctnyrhnr]

A common "what would you do" is "what would you do if I asked you to write an opinion that you disagreed with?" I've heard, more specifically, "what if we discuss it and disagree, but I ask you to write it my way anyway, and when researching you become even more certain you're right?"

okay that is really helpful. thanks

[A. Nony Mouse]

A common "what would you do" is "what would you do if I asked you to write an opinion that you disagreed with?" I've heard, more specifically, "what if we discuss it and disagree, but I ask you to write it my way anyway, and when researching you become even more certain you're right?"

Yeah, this is the hypo I've come across most often in clerkship stuff. Depending on the state/clerkship, you might get asked what you'd do if you got assigned to a case you had moral issues with (basically if you're in a death penalty state, could you work on a death penalty case, but there might be other issues it could apply to).

[Anonymous User]

I had some crazy hypos in one COA interview. After being asked what my favorite class was in law school, I was given a really challenging hypo involving that subject area. It basically was like a law school exam question. I was totally unprepared and did really poorly.

But I'm sure you'll do great today!

[Anonymous User]

A common "what would you do" is "what would you do if I asked you to write an opinion that you disagreed with?" I've heard, more specifically, "what if we discuss it and disagree, but I ask you to write it my way anyway, and when researching you become even more certain you're right?"

Yeah, this is the hypo I've come across most often in clerkship stuff. Depending on the state/clerkship, you might get asked what you'd do if you got assigned to a case you had moral issues with (basically if you're in a death penalty state, could you work on a death penalty case, but there might be other issues it could apply to).

This.

I'm in my second clerkship (and interviewed for 5 others that I didn't get) and I got asked in so many words how I would handle a case where I disagreed in every interview except one (where I basically just shot the shit with the judge). They want to hear that you (1) will give your most honest and best opinion, because that is your job and (2) that you have no ego, realize you're there to help the judge, and will give your best effort at reaching the conclusion(s) he/she wants. I think a good thing to say is that you will find it very easy to be objective and honest because it's not your signature on the opinion. You are merely there to help someone's decision.

If it's an appellate court, really harp on the standard of review. A lot of people (judges included) really wrangle with how the SOR applies, and it can easily decide a case. Appellate courts/clerks need to understand that they very often are only there to make sure the trial court did not completely mess up (i.e., abuse its discretion). Countless cases at the appellate level are essentially rubber stamping a trial court's decision so long as its not totally wrong.

[roguepawn]

A clerk asked me a hypo during an interview regarding the admissibility of evidence based on the business records exception in a case the clerk was working on. I was studying for the bar at the time though, so it wasn't a big deal. Also, I had externed for the clerk before so that might be why she felt comfortable asking me an offbeat question.

[Anonymous User]

A clerk asked me a hypo during an interview regarding the admissibility of evidence based on the business records exception in a case the clerk was working on. I was studying for the bar at the time though, so it wasn't a big deal. Also, I had externed for the clerk before so that might be why she felt comfortable asking me an offbeat question.

I bet she wasn't sure of the answer and wanted help. I ended up having a substantive talk with one of the clerks when interviewing for my current clerkship because he was struggling with a case and I had worked on a kind of similar case when interning for a judge.