Am I wasting time with Circuit Courts? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi All, sorry for such a simplistic question, but I'm just now getting into the clerkship process (I'm a 2L), and I want to know whether 1. I'd be wasting my time with less competitive circuits (6, 8, 10...maybe 5/11) and 2. whether I'm too late at this point to get in the game. I have two recommenders ready to go who I think will provide strong recs.

Other stats:
MVP ~top 25%
Ties to the mountain west
100% flexible w/ location
A couple years of paralegal experience
Secondary journal
Moot Court

I know this is general and tough to predict, but any advice would be better than what I've been getting from the school. If should focus on district courts and forget about circuits, that's fine. I just want to know.

[daleearnhardt123]

It would be a true coup for you to come away with a federal appellate clerkship with those stats, but if you're targeting the absolutely least desirable circuits/cities, and have legitimate ties, you may have a chance.

[VulcanVulcanVulcan]

Hi All, sorry for such a simplistic question, but I'm just now getting into the clerkship process (I'm a 2L), and I want to know whether 1. I'd be wasting my time with less competitive circuits (6, 8, 10...maybe 5/11) and 2. whether I'm too late at this point to get in the game. I have two recommenders ready to go who I think will provide strong recs.

Other stats:
MVP ~top 25%
Ties to the mountain west
100% flexible w/ location
A couple years of paralegal experience
Secondary journal
Moot Court

I know this is general and tough to predict, but any advice would be better than what I've been getting from the school. If should focus on district courts and forget about circuits, that's fine. I just want to know.

What's the harm in applying? You have nothing to lose. People with much worse stats than you have bagged COA.

[Anonymous User]

Hi All, sorry for such a simplistic question, but I'm just now getting into the clerkship process (I'm a 2L), and I want to know whether 1. I'd be wasting my time with less competitive circuits (6, 8, 10...maybe 5/11) and 2. whether I'm too late at this point to get in the game. I have two recommenders ready to go who I think will provide strong recs.

Other stats:
MVP ~top 25%
Ties to the mountain west
100% flexible w/ location
A couple years of paralegal experience
Secondary journal
Moot Court

I know this is general and tough to predict, but any advice would be better than what I've been getting from the school. If should focus on district courts and forget about circuits, that's fine. I just want to know.

What's the harm in applying? You have nothing to lose. People with much worse stats than you have bagged COA.

I know multiple folks at my MVP who scored interviews and actual COA clerkships with similar stats. It doesn't hurt to apply. YOLO my friend.

[Anonymous User]

Swooping in slightly. Top 2-4% at borderline T1/2 (45-55ish), Law Review, Moot Court, prestigious judicial extern experience and V10 major market job lined up for summer. Is this feasible to get COA? Been told I should just give up thinking I could get one but wanted some TLS advice.

[A. Nony Mouse]

For the T1/2 person, you might try finding out whether/which judges have hired from your school before and what those students' stats have been - this will give you a better sense of where you have a shot. It also may depend what number person you are in the class (single digits? double?). It's not going to be easy by any means, but the top students at my lower T1 have landed COA, usually with alums or at least local judges. But top generally is single-digit rank if not #1 (so very very few a year and not every year). I know more people who've gone to COA after doing district court first, though.

Tl;dr - COA isn't likely enough to count on in any way but there's no reason not to apply, if you're sending out apps anyway.

Also, "prestigious" judicial internship really doesn't mean anything unless the (presumably connected) judge can speak highly of you, and is willing to be a reference/make some calls for you.

[Anonymous User]

For the T1/2 person, you might try finding out whether/which judges have hired from your school before and what those students' stats have been - this will give you a better sense of where you have a shot. It also may depend what number person you are in the class (single digits? double?). It's not going to be easy by any means, but the top students at my lower T1 have landed COA, usually with alums or at least local judges. But top generally is single-digit rank if not #1 (so very very few a year and not every year). I know more people who've gone to COA after doing district court first, though.

Tl;dr - COA isn't likely enough to count on in any way but there's no reason not to apply, if you're sending out apps anyway.

Also, "prestigious" judicial internship really doesn't mean anything unless the (presumably connected) judge can speak highly of you, and is willing to be a reference/make some calls for you.

Thank you! I am ranked a number that can be counted on a single hand and I have started checking with connections with alums/current clerks from my school to get some advice and they said the same. Judge would (hopefully) speak highly of me and was eager to be a reference.

[Anonymous User]

Swooping in slightly. Top 2-4% at borderline T1/2 (45-55ish), Law Review, Moot Court, prestigious judicial extern experience and V10 major market job lined up for summer. Is this feasible to get COA? Been told I should just give up thinking I could get one but wanted some TLS advice.

Very similar profile, slightly higher ranked school (30-40) with a CoA for next year. A friend of mine with same basic profile does as well. For me I think the key was applying literally everywhere (200+ CoA judges) and applying early. It's a total crapshoot. I had a couple interviews, my friend had one, a friend of ours with similar stats got no interviews, but if you want to do it, it is certainly worth trying.

Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

People telling you not to apply are flat-out wrong. Maybe they misunderstood the poll as being a prediction re: whether you'd actually get one?

You look about right for a 10th/8th circuit clerk; convert that secondary journal to an L. Rev. and I'd give you better than even odds at getting one.

FWIW, I was at your grade level at a T25 (but with L. Rev.) and I got a couple COA interviews and am working as a D. Ct. clerk.