Chances of Clerking Forum

[itsatrappp]

Hello everyone, I have been perusing the forum and have not found a clerkship post with someone with similar qualifications and geographic region.

I am at the University of Utah, a T-50 school and have a 3.7 (just shy of top 10%). I am also on Law Review. If anyone could provide me with a realistic assessment of my options I would greatly appreciate it!

1) I understand that federal district clerkships would be a long shot, is there any geographic region I may be competitive in?

2) In terms of State Courts, would anyone happen to know how competitive the state appellate court clerkships are in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, Virginia, and North Carolina?

Thanks in advance!

[hiima3L]

You might be competitive in Utah.

[Jchance]

never hurt to apply, you'd never know what you might get

[Anonymous User]

I'd blanket district court judges in the 10th Circuit - you never know. I also think you'd be competitive for state stuff in Utah - I don't know how well you'd do in the other jdx, but if you have ties to any of them that would probably help (I think more state judges look for ties than federal judges do, mostly because state appellate clerkships tend to be most valuable for people staying in the same market. Not all, and I think state appellate clerkships are often a very good gig, but the connections you make are more locally-focused.)

- not a Utah grad, but a 10th Cir person

[Anonymous User]

Consider applying broadly, too. I have similar stats from a similarly noncompetitive school for clerkships. After months of slogging and over 100 applications, I finally got a few interviews and ultimately landed a district court clerkship far outside of my school's region. It can feel like a sisyphean task (and could ultimately prove fruitless). But it was worth the hours.

[itsatrappp]

So what geographic regions have the least competitive Federal District Clerkships?

[BVest]

So what geographic regions have the least competitive Federal District Clerkships?

To oversimplify a little bit: Look where the T14 schools are and apply elsewhere. Once you get outside those districts, the competitiveness will be based on specific locations (so the divisions will come into play some) and specific judges.

Like I say, that's oversimplifying it, but the most competitive tend to be DDC, SDNY, EDNY, CD Cal., ND Cal., ND Ill., D.Mass, and ED Va., and they just happen to in very close proximity to (or the same state as) all but Penn, Michigan, and Duke.

[Anonymous User]

I know this is general but does anyone here know how good of stats one needs for a district court clerkship in DC?

[mw115]

In addition to 10th Cir. district judges, I'd also do Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana.

[Elston Gunn]

I know this is general but does anyone here know how good of stats one needs for a district court clerkship in DC?

There are very few D.D.C. judges that hire straight out of LS, FYI.