Clerkship Interview for Someone with Sub-Par Stats Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have an upcoming interview for a dist. ct. clerkship in a very competitive district for 2015. I do not have ANYWHERE NEAR the stats of previous clerks and have no idea why I was chosen. Previous clerks were magna at T14, exec-level editors on LR, had multiple years of big law work experience, etc. I graduated cum laude, had the lowest ranking editor position on LR, and am still unemployed. I'm very grateful to be able to interview, but I imagine there are people with much better stats who are also interviewing. Any advice on helping myself stand out and impress the judge and current clerks?

[Anonymous User]

I had a similar feeling going into an interview with the circuit court judge I'll be clerking for this fall. I had nowhere near the stats that my judge listed as requiring on OSCAR (I did not apply through OSCAR) or of the other students from my school that interviewed. I went into the interview figuring I had no shot (I was surprised even to get the interview), but somehow I got the job. I think because I felt I had nothing to lose, I was more relaxed and more honest than I had been in a lot of previous interviews. And I guess it worked, or I got lucky somehow, I don't really know.

If you got an interview, you are legitimately in the running. I don't think federal judges just interview people for fun. My advice is to be yourself and don't try too hard to impress the judge or current clerks. You've got nothing to lose.

[Holly Golightly]

Obviously there is something the judge liked about you or you wouldn't have gotten the interview. Don't belittle your stats or your LR position-it's entirely possible people don't know that it's the lowest position at your school. Be ready for some hardball questions but mostly just be yourself and try to relax--in my experience, clerkship interviews are more about fit than anything else.

[Anonymous User]

So I had very good stats but from an admittedly awful law school (nowhere near T14), and I ended up getting a federal appellate interview in an area not around my law school. Initially, I had the same "WTF" reaction as you, but I decided that I would just forget about qualifications, go in and be myself. It ended up working out great.

Think of it like this: competitive judges don't waste time on people they don't see things in (unless it's a connection courtesy interview). So obviously, you have something that makes you stand out. From here, just go in, be comfortable, prepare as best as you can, and nail the interview. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks, everyone. I will just go in and be myself. I feel like because I have fairly low expectations, I am less nervous about this interview.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats. I had worse stats than you did (secondary journal, no honors) and got a district court clerkship in a prestigious district. No idea why the judge pulled me until he told me after he made the offer. The advice everyone is giving you is spot-on. Be prepared, but at-ease -- they don't ask you in unless they like you, and they're looking for a reason to say "yes" again (or for a reason to say "no" based on bad demeanor/lack of fit).

[Anonymous User]

I was in a similar position, but ended up getting the job. You have no idea what the judge is looking for, but obviously he/she liked something about your application.

Because your credentials are now not necessarily important, you have to act like a normal human being. My judge and his clerks really, really emphasize fit because all of us are here for at least 2 years, we work collaboratively, and its a social courthouse. Just try to come across as a nice, likable person who would be great to work with. I think that is hands down the most important thing to do in an interview.

[Anonymous User]

Below median at t30, secondary journal. my stats were probably worse than all of yours, but I still somehow got an interview in a competitive district (only one interview total) without connections. i went into it with passion and enthusiasm and connected with the judge. just be so excited to be there, interviewing for a position at that high of a level, and you'll have a good shot. put any lack of qualifications you think you may have out of your mind. good luck

[BVest]

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