Moot Court Forum

[Anonymous User]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

[kellyfrost]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

I don't know much about clerkships, so take this with a grain of salt.

Moot Court is a gigantic waste of time.

[Lavitz]

It depends. Some judges will care about this. I know one judge who likes hiring executive bench editors from my school because he's an alum and knows what they do. If I had to guess, I'd say most judges won't care that much. Even if they care, it depends on what you did. Did you win a competition or just participate? Would you have some sort of board position? Would said position allow you to interact with judges who visit your school to judge competitions and regularly hire from your school?

In my experience, most of the benefits came from the increased networking with judges and fodder for interviews. Grades and phone calls from recommenders were much more important for getting noticed by judges who didn't come to judge competitions.

[LeeAllen]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

I don't know much about clerkships, so take this with a grain of salt.

Moot Court is a gigantic waste of time.

I disagree.

It is useful to the extent that you have another chance to become a better writer. Firms like to see if because it indicates teamwork; judges like to see it because it shows initiative, teamwork, and (again) that you're pushing yourself to become a better writer. The judges that I interviewed with either asked me about it or spoke about it in passing.

[kellyfrost]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

I don't know much about clerkships, so take this with a grain of salt.

Moot Court is a gigantic waste of time.

I disagree.

It is useful to the extent that you have another chance to become a better writer. Firms like to see if because it indicates teamwork; judges like to see it because it shows initiative, teamwork, and (again) that you're pushing yourself to become a better writer. The judges that I interviewed with either asked me about it or spoke about it in passing.

I think the key word there is "chance." You have a chance to become a better writer. It doesn't mean you will, or that anyone will, but the chance is always there, I guess.

[RustyRyan]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

Solely for the purpose of helping with clerkships, it is not much of a factor if you already have law review. It gets a little better if you don't have the main law review or any journal, and a little better if you win. Even for judges who like to see it, though, it is unlikely to make or break you if you also have good grades and LR. That role will probably fall to recommenders, which have a much bigger impact.

Grades, LR, and recommendations are the only factors that are "significant" make-or-breaks with many judges. Moot court is nice but just not that important, and many (maybe even most) clerks every year don't have it. It might help offset a slightly weaker part of an application, but it alone is unlikely to push you over the edge with most judges.

[rpupkin]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

I don't know much about clerkships, so take this with a grain of salt.

Moot Court is a gigantic waste of time.

If you don't know much about clerkships, why do you continue to offer advice in the "Judicial Clerkships" forum?

[Anonymous User]

D. Ct. clerk currently hiring my replacement.

Judge and us clerks don't care if it's not there. But it can be a plus if you win a brief award or if it's from my alma mater because then I can get the dirt from the department. If you do well at oral arguments, it also shows that you can talks about law meaningfully with us, so that's a plus too.

I would strongly recommend doing it regardless. It was the best thing I did in law school.

[Anonymous User]

^ also the best thing I did in law school. And my experience is consistent with the above re: perceived value of moot court

[Anonymous User]

I'd do it again. I didn't get past the first round, so obviously I didn't put it on my resume. But if you are a quarterfinalist or better, I know for instance at my school that is considered to be very prestigious. So if you suck like I did no harm no foul (not a large time commitment). But if you actually do well, then that is a very nice line for the resume.

I also think it is good for networking, because sometimes US appellate court judges judge some rounds, so that could be a very good first impression.

[kellyfrost]

How big of a factor in clerkship hiring is moot court? I know it is considered, but trying to gauge the importance of this to judges. In particular, how important is it if someone already has law review on their resume?

I don't know much about clerkships, so take this with a grain of salt.

Moot Court is a gigantic waste of time.

If you don't know much about clerkships, why do you continue to offer advice in the "Judicial Clerkships" forum?

This was my one and only comment posted in the "Judicial Clerkship" forum. Your suggestion that I am "continuing" to offer advice in this forum is misplaced. I don't persist to offer clerkship advice nor have I recommenced or resumed giving clerkship advice after an interruption.

[rpupkin]

Kellyfrost,

It took me 10 seconds to find this:

You didn't take a few critically important classes that most clerks will have taken and are extremely important to your duties as a clerk.
Crim Pro
14th amendment
Civil litigation.
Good luck!

[kellyfrost]

Kellyfrost,

It took me 10 seconds to find this:

You didn't take a few critically important classes that most clerks will have taken and are extremely important to your duties as a clerk.
Crim Pro
14th amendment
Civil litigation.
Good luck!

How is that advice? That is merely a general statement of fact. I see the point you are trying to make, you just aren't making it very effectively.

[Auxilio]

Kellyfrost,

It took me 10 seconds to find this:

You didn't take a few critically important classes that most clerks will have taken and are extremely important to your duties as a clerk.
Crim Pro
14th amendment
Civil litigation.
Good luck!

How is that advice? That is merely a general statement of fact. I see the point you are trying to make, you just aren't making it very effectively.

"This was my one and only comment posted in the "Judicial Clerkship" forum."

Him posting another comment is pretty clearly a strong response to "one and only comment"

[kellyfrost]

Kellyfrost,

It took me 10 seconds to find this:

You didn't take a few critically important classes that most clerks will have taken and are extremely important to your duties as a clerk.
Crim Pro
14th amendment
Civil litigation.
Good luck!

How is that advice? That is merely a general statement of fact. I see the point you are trying to make, you just aren't making it very effectively.

"This was my one and only comment posted in the "Judicial Clerkship" forum."

Him posting another comment is pretty clearly a strong response to "one and only comment"

Nice use of anon, dumb ass.

[Auxilio]

Kellyfrost,

It took me 10 seconds to find this:

You didn't take a few critically important classes that most clerks will have taken and are extremely important to your duties as a clerk.
Crim Pro
14th amendment
Civil litigation.
Good luck!

How is that advice? That is merely a general statement of fact. I see the point you are trying to make, you just aren't making it very effectively.

"This was my one and only comment posted in the "Judicial Clerkship" forum."

Him posting another comment is pretty clearly a strong response to "one and only comment"

Nice use of anon, dumb ass.

That was accidental, you are right sorry.

[kellyfrost]

Removed post...