Top Law Schools

Hi folks,

I'm a 3L at a lower T20 (think UCLA/Vandy/USC/Texas) who is in the process of throwing in for clerkships. I was hoping you guys could rank my competitiveness and evaluate my game plan. My grades are just beneath top 25 percent. I have an exec position on an old and fairly esteemed secondary journal, and a published student note. I am a K-JD, and my other extracurriculars are weak -- I have focused on grades and journal pretty much to the exclusion of everything else. However, I have taken mainly tough black-letter classes. Work experience-wise, I have two judicial internships (what can I say, I like working for judges). From what I've been able to glean from my research, I think that I should be competitive for federal magistrate positions, and have a decent shot at federal district courts. I'd been planning to throw in for 30-40 federal district judges and magistrates, focusing on really remote rural areas that (I think) many other clerkship candidates won't look at.

Anyway -- is my gut feeling right, and am I pursuing the right strategy? Thanks, and be brutal.

--Anon.

Anonymous User wrote:throw in for 30-40 federal district judges and magistrates, focusing on really remote rural areas
--Anon.

30-40 will net u cricket. Try 100+

Unfortunately, there aren't any areas that not many clerkship applicants look at.

That's what I figured, Mouse. I will apply to more judges.

*edit* How do you guys feel about state supreme courts?

I think SSC clerkships are great. They're also much more attainable from my school than federal clerkships are, so we may have been trained to have an optimistic view of them. That said, the people I know who did them pretty much have all had good outcomes, though admittedly, some of them went into the clerkships with offers at firms being held open for them. I can't say the clerkships invariably lead directly into biglaw, but that's mostly because my law school state has only a tiny biglaw market; I know people who ended up in biglaw - both local and national offices - and others who went to good local firms.

I do think they're a little more valued/valuable if you want to practice in the state in question - it's not that doing a SSC ever looks bad, but you'll be working with state law and justices' connections (as well as those of their former clerks) tend to be stronger in the state courts/in-state (though not invariably).

What are your post-clerkship plans? That's really important for assessing whether certain clerkships are a good idea or not.

OP here -- I'm interested in government work, particularly criminal prosecution. Although I am probably revealing my school by saying this, my state has a separate criminal court of last resort, which is definitely on my list. There are no longer any 2015 clerkship positions on the supreme court, which is of less interest to me anyway. I'm unsure of the usefulness of other state SSC positions, although the Court of Criminal Appeals in the other state that has one might be an option.

If I have a pie-in-the-sky, dreamboat job, it's probably working as an AUSA, though I'm sure I'd need other prosecution experience before I could get that.

Definitely paper the border and stress your crim interest. There are a number of WDTX judges still hiring and they might as well be criminal courts for as few civil cases as hit their dockets. I know the saw that the judges keep the crim stuff to themselves and use clerks for civil only, but when you see a total of 10 civil cases in a year that's not possible.

why, oh, why are you starting so late? stop posting on boards looking for advice and just get your app into every mail/OSCAR slot that will have it.

Seizmaar, I'm currently waiting for letters of recommendation. I only decided recently that I wanted to do this. I know it puts me at a disadvantage, and I'm moving as quickly as possible.

Anonymous User wrote:Seizmaar, I'm currently waiting for letters of recommendation. I only decided recently that I wanted to do this. I know it puts me at a disadvantage, and I'm moving as quickly as possible.

have them send under separate cover--get your apps out in the meantime.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here -- I'm interested in government work, particularly criminal prosecution. Although I am probably revealing my school by saying this, my state has a separate criminal court of last resort, which is definitely on my list. There are no longer any 2015 clerkship positions on the supreme court, which is of less interest to me anyway. I'm unsure of the usefulness of other state SSC positions, although the Court of Criminal Appeals in the other state that has one might be an option.

If I have a pie-in-the-sky, dreamboat job, it's probably working as an AUSA, though I'm sure I'd need other prosecution experience before I could get that.

0L, but work closely with AUSAs and RLSOs.

Consider military JAG programs for AUSA work. Bonus: They'll pay off your loans.

tennactitans wrote:
0L, but work closely with AUSAs and RLSOs.

Consider military JAG programs for AUSA work. Bonus: They'll pay off your loans.

Not bad advice, but JAG positions are still ultra competitive and actual give significant weight to extracurriculars and other "softs" (which OP said he doesn't really have). Those positions aren't like enlisting where you can walk into a recruiter's office and sign on the dotted line that day. Also, not really as relevant but only the AF and Army have any loan repayment programs, and they're capped at $65k.

Hey folks, OP here -- just thought I'd give you guys an update. I accepted a one-year clerkship with a state court of appeals in my home market. I am personally VERY pleased to have landed this opportunity -- I have past experiences with this court and this judge, and know that it will be a great experience. It also buys me a year to apply broadly for 2016-term federal clerkships. This is good news, since it was beginning to look like slim pickings for 2015.

Thanks, as always, for the advice. It's good to have knowledgeable people to serve as a sounding board for these things.

Anonymous User wrote:Hey folks, OP here -- just thought I'd give you guys an update. I accepted a one-year clerkship with a state court of appeals in my home market. I am personally VERY pleased to have landed this opportunity -- I have past experiences with this court and this judge, and know that it will be a great experience. It also buys me a year to apply broadly for 2016-term federal clerkships. This is good news, since it was beginning to look like slim pickings for 2015.

Thanks, as always, for the advice. It's good to have knowledgeable people to serve as a sounding board for these things.

You should start applying immediately if you're looking for 2016 district courts.