Can Young K-JDers do COA or SCOTUS right after graduating? Forum

[Anonymous User]

1L Here. Anon because I've posted other things about myself, and I will mention age in this post. Although there are a few other K-JDers in my section/class, I'm probably the youngest one out of all of them. That piece of info, in conjunction with some other things, may expose my identity.

I'll be 24 at the time I graduate from law school. I know that judges have moved up their timetables, so if I apply during 2L year and interview that same year, I'll be 22.

Obviously no work experience. One Capitol Hill internship one summer with a big-name Senator but that doesn't mean anything.

I'm a little concerned that my young age will hurt me because I can see COA and SCOTUS judges not wanting a 24 year old running around in their chambers.

I know SCOTUS might be getting ahead of myself but I'm at HYS so if that means anything, it's not totally out of the imagination. I haven't been one of the people many suspect are gunning for SCOTUS clerkships but may secretly start doing that next semester. I think this semester's profs are a lost cause as far as clerkship-worthy recommendations go, but I think I can still make good grades this semester.

Next semester, how should I go about things in terms of professor relations to secure recommendations? To the extent I was allowed, I chose my profs by researching who they've clerked for or whether they might hold sway.

They were clerks for big name judges at the COA level (e.g., Reinhardt, Easterbrook, but not necessarily those 2). One of them was a SCOTUS clerk. One is a current or former Dean of my school so he probably knows some people.

[Mal Reynolds]

Best way to prepare for a SCOTUS clerkship is to tell all of your friends about your aspirations ASAP.

[BVest]

Nobody can do SCOTUS right after graduating. Source

And are you sure you're the youngest? I had two in my 1L section who didn't turn 21 until exam week... of spring semester.

[GOATlawman]

And are you sure you're the youngest? I had two in my 1L section who didn't turn 21 until exam week... of spring semester.

wtf?? I don't think we had anyone like that... I don't even see how it would be logistically possible to not be 21 what with all the free booze poured down your throat. Brb law school guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor

[Tangerine Gleam]

Plenty of K-JDers go on to great clerkships. Just work on getting really killer grades and don't worry so much about this stuff yet. Cart before horse etc

[mephistopheles]

Best way to prepare for a SCOTUS clerkship is to tell all of your friends about your aspirations ASAP.

i never understood this

i have friends who have told me that's what they're gunning for. is that supposed to make me dislike them?

[fats provolone]

for you, no. beggars can't be choosers

[Kimikho]

My KJD friend just got a COA clerkship. Not a feeder judge though.

[BVest]

And are you sure you're the youngest? I had two in my 1L section who didn't turn 21 until exam week... of spring semester.

wtf?? I don't think we had anyone like that... I don't even see how it would be logistically possible to not be 21 what with all the free booze poured down your throat. Brb law school guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Much like the 15 and 16 year-old freshmen I knew in college, they were by far not the least mature members of the class.

[Shaggier1]

Plenty of K-JDers go on to great clerkships. Just work on getting really killer grades and don't worry so much about this stuff yet. Cart before horse etc

Yep. /thread.

[GOATlawman]

And are you sure you're the youngest? I had two in my 1L section who didn't turn 21 until exam week... of spring semester.

wtf?? I don't think we had anyone like that... I don't even see how it would be logistically possible to not be 21 what with all the free booze poured down your throat. Brb law school guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Much like the 15 and 16 year-old freshmen I knew in college, they were by far not the least mature members of the class.

w0t???

what kind of schools have these child nerd prodigy kids srs I have never seen one in my entire life

[jbagelboy]

I haven't heard of any notable correlation between age and clerkship prospects, except to the extent that some judges prefer work experience but usually thats legal work experience that comes after law school anyway. A friend a year above me is going to one of the cushiest feeder COA judges and she's on the young side of k-jd.

As far as SCOTUS is concerned, you wouldn't be 24 when you started, you'd be 26 at a minimum since you would have to complete your prior clerkships/fellowships/other WE first. But as someone else said, as a fall 1L this is definitely cart before horse. Unless you're at Yale, worry about your exams first.