2018-2019 Clerkship Application Thread

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with an EDNY judge once in October. He asked me for a grade update the following February...

[Anonymous User]

I am waiting to hear back about an SDNY clerkship. I had an interview last week. It is agonizing! Is there a common length of time that people hear after interviews? A week and a half seems long/not good but maybe I am just paranoid. I want this so badly!

so... my experience has been

1 month = rejection
on-the-spot = offer
2 months = "still deciding"

[mjb447]

I am waiting to hear back about an SDNY clerkship. I had an interview last week. It is agonizing! Is there a common length of time that people hear after interviews? A week and a half seems long/not good but maybe I am just paranoid. I want this so badly!

Varies judge to judge and cycle to cycle. A longer wait probably means that the judge wasn't head-over-heels for you, but a week and a half isn't a very long wait yet (if the judge is preparing for or on trial, it goes by very fast).

[Anonymous User]

It is just so crushing because my interview was 1.5 hours and it seemed to go so well. He asked me what terms I could start and now radio silence. I am just praying all hope is not lost because I would love to work for someone that wonderful.

[mjb447]

It is just so crushing because my interview was 1.5 hours and it seemed to go so well. He asked me what terms I could start and now radio silence. I am just praying all hope is not lost because I would love to work for someone that wonderful.

There's still hope, then. I mean, it's often hard to tell if an interview went really well or the judge is just a nice person, but the wait itself isn't troublingly long yet. Try to think about something else (I've been there - had a circuit judge rejection after four months of silence - so I know it's really hard).

[Anonymous User]

4 months? Whoa! That is a very long time.

The office said I'd hear back in the next week or so, so I imagine it'll be any day now.

During your waiting, did you send any additional letters of rec? Or anything else?

[A. Nony Mouse]

I really don't think sending additional materials is going to do any good, unless there's something REALLY REALLY significant (and I can't even think what that would be). They already decided you were qualified and they interviewed you; they're not worried about your qualifications. I know it's frustrating, but you really just need to wait and see.

(I suppose if you know someone who knows the judge personally and can call up and say "hire this person," maybe. But I still think post-interview the only thing you can do is wait.)

[Anonymous User]

The only thing I thought of is that I had another job between the six months that I applied and now that was fairly significant. I thought about having my boss from that job write an additional letter. I hadn't asked them previously because I had just started when I submitted my app. But I don't want to push it, you're right but I am still debating on this last one.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I don't think an additional letter is going to make a difference, honestly. You already submitted letters saying you're wonderful, and I don't think a judge is going to want to look at more materials, it's going to be much more about the interview itself, which you can't change.

[Anonymous User]

Good point. This is honestly like going on a great first date with a guy and then he never calls :/

[Anonymous User]

The longer I don't hear, the more likely it is that I don't get the clerkship, right?

It has been two weeks

[mjb447]

Somehow I missed this thread for a few days. I agree with Nony that it's not worth submitting anything - if anything, it's so unusual that it'll look weird.

I'd focus on not reading tea leaves at this point. There's really nothing you can do, and it's just going to drive you crazy.

[Anonymous User]

Easier said than done! He was my first choice judge so I am beating myself up over messing it up if I don't get it.

I find it so strange that he seemed so interested in finding out what terms I was free, he was like I am wide open for 2018 if that would work for you.

But I take someone's point that I might be confusing with him being nice vs. really liking me.

[Anonymous User]

The longer I don't hear, the more likely it is that I don't get the clerkship, right?

It has been two weeks

FWIW, my interview to offer was over a month. It's possible the judge has interviews set up with others and wants to follow through with those before making a decision.

[Anonymous User]

That makes me hopeful! I would happily wait a month for an offer.

[Anonymous User]

For the person who got an offer after a month, did you do anything in the interim?

[Anonymous User]

For the person who got an offer after a month, did you do anything in the interim?

Yeah, I had three other clerkship interviews and set up two that I ultimately had to cancel. I casted a wide net and they all started to come in at once.

[lolwat]

Two weeks isn't really that much time in terms of waiting for a clerkship offer, especially if the judge isn't one who tends to make on-the-spot offers.

It could feel like an eternity though. Good luck.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, I'm studying for the bar so I'm not going to apply to more right now but will after.

The waiting is agony!

I feel like if you're going to reject me, do it sooner rather than later to put me out of my misery.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, during an interview a clerk told me that his judge sometimes waits up to four months before giving offers to interviewees.

[Anonymous User]

My goodness, 4 months is a really long time!

His judicial assistant told me I'd hear "possibly in the next week or so" and this is 2 weeks and 2 days now

[mjb447]

FWIW, during an interview a clerk told me that his judge sometimes waits up to four months before giving offers to interviewees.

Try to think about something else (I've been there - had a circuit judge rejection after four months of silence - so I know it's really hard).

Huh. Apparently waiting that long is more common than I thought.

[Anonymous User]

My goodness, 4 months is a really long time!

His judicial assistant told me I'd hear "possibly in the next week or so" and this is 2 weeks and 2 days now

I mean it just really depends on the judge. I received an offer an hour or two after my interview ended, for example.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any info on whether Judge Wilkins (D.C. Circuit) has started notifying people of interviews?

[HeedMyWarning]

Anyone have any info on whether Judge Wilkins (D.C. Circuit) has started notifying people of interviews?

Wilkins has already hired at least one person for 18-19.