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Are there any Bristows out there? I'm trying to decide whether to apply, and have a couple questions about the program.

I'm in the same boat. What are you thinking of using as a writing sample?

Anonymous User wrote:I'm in the same boat. What are you thinking of using as a writing sample?

Probs just a chunk of bench memo. Hated my law review work, so that's really all the unedited writing I have.

Bumping as the next term of applications gets underway. Would also be interested in hearing from past applicants even if they were unsuccessful - what did you use as writing samples, how long was it, did you get any advice you thought was particularly helpful? Are you out of the running if you were below #1 in your class?

Anonymous User wrote:Bumping as the next term of applications gets underway. Would also be interested in hearing from past applicants even if they were unsuccessful - what did you use as writing samples, how long was it, did you get any advice you thought was particularly helpful? Are you out of the running if you were below #1 in your class?

Also interested in this, particularly what people used as a writing sample and how long it was. I won't start my clerkship until right before the Bristow deadline, so I guess I'm stuck with my Note. Should I just send the published version? Excerpt? Edit?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Bumping as the next term of applications gets underway. Would also be interested in hearing from past applicants even if they were unsuccessful - what did you use as writing samples, how long was it, did you get any advice you thought was particularly helpful? Are you out of the running if you were below #1 in your class?

Also interested in this, particularly what people used as a writing sample and how long it was. I won't start my clerkship until right before the Bristow deadline, so I guess I'm stuck with my Note. Should I just send the published version? Excerpt? Edit?

I'm a current Court of Appeals clerk and have watched several friends go through the process. My sense is that the importance of phone calls in the Bristow hiring process is underestimated. It's very much a black box -- no interviews, etc. -- and I think it matters a lot if your Court of Appeals judge or perhaps a well-connected professor makes a phone call to the SG in October. (It's not an accident that three of the four incoming Bristows applied after they had already completed their first clerkship.)

Anonymous User wrote: I'm a current Court of Appeals clerk and have watched several friends go through the process. My sense is that the importance of phone calls in the Bristow hiring process is underestimated. It's very much a black box -- no interviews, etc. -- and I think it matters a lot if your Court of Appeals judge or perhaps a well-connected professor makes a phone call to the SG in October. (It's not an accident that three of the four incoming Bristows applied after they had already completed their first clerkship.)

Pretty sure this is all correct.

Historically, it looks like Bristow notifications have come out around this time. Checking back in to see if anyone has heard/when I can begin expecting my thin envelope.

Anonymous User wrote:Historically, it looks like Bristow notifications have come out around this time. Checking back in to see if anyone has heard/when I can begin expecting my thin envelope.

Same boat! Also interviewed with DOJ, so I'm waiting for any news really. Ugh.

Calls have gone out.