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2L, haven't applied for anything yet. I feel like half my class has clerkships. What the hell? Did I completely miss the boat for 2018 clerkships or what?

Anon because I'm embarrassed that I apparently was supposed to be applying last June or something.

Hiring is getting done earlier and earlier but I think there are still some judges who want to see 3 semesters of grades. Also, clerking a year or two out after graduation is an option, too. Have you talked to your clerkship office? (Admittedly some may not be up on the changing hiring patterns but they really should be.) But you might want to line up recommendations and start getting applications out ASAP.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:Hiring is getting done earlier and earlier but I think there are still some judges who want to see 3 semesters of grades. Also, clerking a year or two out after graduation is an option, too. Have you talked to your clerkship office? (Admittedly some may not be up on the changing hiring patterns but they really should be.) But you might want to line up recommendations and start getting applications out ASAP.

+1

Yeah, some positions are probably filled but some are probably still available. Regardless of whether the filled/available split is closer to 20/80 or 80/20, there's basically no downside (just time and expense) to getting your materials together and applying, particularly if there's any chance that you'd consider clerking during a later term.

No, you haven't missed the boat. There will be plenty of district court clerkships available over the next 10 months. And there will still be quite a few circuit clerkships available in the circuits that move later. You'll have plenty of opportunities if you have a strong enough application.

lawman84 wrote:No, you haven't missed the boat. There will be plenty of district court clerkships available over the next 10 months. And there will still be quite a few circuit clerkships available in the circuits that move later. You'll have plenty of opportunities if you have a strong enough application.

+1

I didn't get my Fed. Dist. Ct. clerkship until the summer after 2L. Your State Supreme Court (or courts that you'd be interested in practicing in) also haven't hired yet in most places.

Many district court judges require their clerks to have work experience and therefore hire no earlier than 2L summer for a start date 2-3 years out. Still plenty of time for you.

I got my dist. ct. clerkship in the fall of 3L , and started in September after graduation. There are definitely fewer slots available, but there is still time.