Chances at Federal Clerkship in CA? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I realize CA is competitive and I'm not an ideal candidate. Anything I can do to improve my chances?

Pros:
1st year associate at V30 firm (non-IP in DC)
Published paper (only government bulletin (United Nations), not journal)
CA = home state (family in both norcal and socal)
3 judicial externships (2 federal, 1 published opinion, 1 state)
Recommendations from a professor and 2 CA superior court judges

Con:
Below median @ T6
Currently in DC
Mediocre UG GPA (Decent CA school, minored in chemistry and got some C's)

[Big Dog]

consider magistrates?

- any prof willing to pick up the phone and call on your behalf?

[Anonymous User]

op here. would absolutely clerk for magistrate judge. i don't have any professors willing to make calls, but i have 3 CA superior judges willing to call for me (is it better to have professors)?

[Anonymous User]

If the superior judges know people personally that would be the best thing you could do.

[los blancos]

op here. would absolutely clerk for magistrate judge. i don't have any professors willing to make calls, but i have 3 CA superior judges willing to call for me (is it better to have professors)?

I'm not really "in the know" on this stuff, but I would think T6 grad at a V30 will have a pretty decent shot at magistrate somewhere in CA. I don't know how far below median you were, but I wouldn't really write off D. Ct. either. By first year do you mean you're just finishing up year 1 or you just started?