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or no? specifically trying for NJ.

what school are you at?

T50

what is median or what is your rank? Have you ever worked for a judge? Are you on a journal? Do you have ties to NJ?

I'm at median. Born and raised in NJ and worked for a few firms there as a law clerk. Interned for a judge in the SDNY. but I'm not at Rutgers or seton hall which is why I'm concerned

And yes. Secondary journal. Strong PD resume.

You should be fine. I think the fact that most state clerks are Rutgers or Seton Hall grads is self selection more than anything. The schools push clerkships on the students because they're relatively easy to get, give you some job certainty before graduation, and NJ firms and DA/PD offices have just gotten used to taking students after a clerkship (it's a formal requirement at some places and very much an unspoken rule at others).

Median is competitive for these so long as you have some combo of 1) prior experience working for a judge, 2) journal/moot court, 3) NJ ties, 4) family/personal connection, 5) prof willing to go to bat and make phone calls. Sounds like you'll be fine.

Though I will say some of the state judges only post their listings to Rutgers/Seton Hall simplicity or just email the CSOs at each school. I especially think this is true for judges in Camden and Newark, so you might be at a disadvantage there. But you should have luck looking in North Jersey in Hackensack, Jersey City, Hoboken, Florham Park, and lots of other places just outside NYC. I'm sure plenty of those judges hire NJ natives who go to school in NYC.

I have a similarly poor GPA (above 3.0 but below median) at a T30. I am interested in Court of Common Pleas in Philly. Have strong Philly ties. No journal unfortunately.

I'm clerking for a fed District Judge and I had a 3.25, which put me barely above median at my T50.