Grade My Clerkship Chances Forum

[Anonymous User]

T-40 Law School
5th in Class (Summa Cum Laude, Order of the Coif)
Law Review
Undergrad major was writing intensive = Summa Cum Laude
Associate at mid-size law firm (by choice)
Highest honors in 1L writing classes (as well as TA)

Looking at clerking for Federal District Court in Chicago or State Appellate Court in Illinois.

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Is your T40 school in Chicago/neighboring to NDIL? Do you have professors who will make calls on your behalf?

[Anonymous User]

Can I play too?

CCN
Graduated with honors (maybe top 25%)(never took Fed Courts)
TA'd a few classes
Currently at a V10 Lit department
Secondary Journal - no leadership, no publication

Want to clerk after 2 years in practice in a non NY, CA, DC, Chi district, in places where I have strong ties (do ties matter?). Think Portland/Nashville sized cities.

Will practice make up for the no LR, no publication, no fed courts holes in the resume?
tyia

[Anonymous User]

Sorry to hijack the thread, OP. But I was hoping to get a clerkship chances thread going.

UCLA/USC, about top 6-7 percent (2L)
Law Review (no publications yet)
Circuit Court Judge who has agreed to serve as reference, and strong letters and references all around
Looking to clerk for CD Cal and apply to circuit courts in multiple circuits-- including of course the 9th, which would be a dream (but also less competitive circuits)

[Anonymous User]

Bump

[Anonymous User]

T-40 Law School
5th in Class (Summa Cum Laude, Order of the Coif)
Law Review
Undergrad major was writing intensive = Summa Cum Laude
Associate at mid-size law firm (by choice)
Highest honors in 1L writing classes (as well as TA)

Looking at clerking for Federal District Court in Chicago or State Appellate Court in Illinois.

Thanks!

Very hard to answer this question without knowing your ties to Chicago (law school or otherwise), but your chances of landing a clerkship would seem to be very good if you're willing to broaden your search. Grade and experience-wise, you seem to be in good position for a lot of district court or magistrate type positions, and could even snag COA with some of the less school snobby judges. Sadly, I think a lot of it will come down to luck, as it does for almost all clerkships. But with perseverance I'd say you should be successful.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry to hijack the thread, OP. But I was hoping to get a clerkship chances thread going.

UCLA/USC, about top 6-7 percent (2L)
Law Review (no publications yet)
Circuit Court Judge who has agreed to serve as reference, and strong letters and references all around
Looking to clerk for CD Cal and apply to circuit courts in multiple circuits-- including of course the 9th, which would be a dream (but also less competitive circuits)

If the Circuit Judge will call her colleagues on your behalf, your chances should be very, very high. Even without that, you should be in good shape for CD Cal, and 9th Circuit is also in the realm of possibility. IMO you'll be fine with a broad enough search.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry to hijack the thread, OP. But I was hoping to get a clerkship chances thread going.

UCLA/USC, about top 6-7 percent (2L)
Law Review (no publications yet)
Circuit Court Judge who has agreed to serve as reference, and strong letters and references all around
Looking to clerk for CD Cal and apply to circuit courts in multiple circuits-- including of course the 9th, which would be a dream (but also less competitive circuits)

I'm a clerk at a Cal. fed court. Your chances are very good. Some C.D. Cal. judges hire almost exclusively from UCLA/USC, so look into them.

Don't rule out other Cal. districts, btw. All of them are highly respected.

[Anonymous User]

Again, don't mean to hijack, but...

Lower T-14
Top 25% (Current 2L)
Law Review, Moot Court, Mock Trial
Looking to clerk anywhere really on the east coast, preferably southeast.

[Lincoln]

Again, don't mean to hijack, but...

Lower T-14
Top 25% (Current 2L)
Law Review, Moot Court, Mock Trial
Looking to clerk anywhere really on the east coast, preferably southeast.

People at my lower T14 in my year with these stats were competitive for clerkships even in fairly selective districts (SDNY, EDNY, DMass, etc.) so my guess is you have a very good shot if you apply broadly and otherwise do the things that are needed to get your app looked at. Add a publication to stand out a bit.