Top Law Schools

Hey all:

Can anyone share their experience in obtaining a clerkship for the Court of Appeals of New York (Highest NY state court), especially regarding the application and interview process.

I know the judges have their own individual timelines for hiring which vary, but there is very little information on the internet for clerking with a judge at the NY Court of Appeals. Thanks.

I applied two years ago, for two separate judges. Applications were solicited from the judge's personal/professional connections, who recommended me and some others at my firm (and a few others from another firm), and there was no public application posted as far as I know. One judge passed on my application, but forwarded it to another judge, who offered me an interview. (I declined because I had already accepted a DC clerkship). I know that at least one judge still gets his/her clerks through this type of closed application process.

They've recently become more transparent about who's hiring and for when: http://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/clrkships.htm

I interviewed with one, and besides for the obvious question (why NY court of appeals) it was pretty much the same as my federal interviews.

Anonymous User wrote:They've recently become more transparent about who's hiring and for when: http://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/clrkships.htm

I interviewed with one, and besides for the obvious question (why NY court of appeals) it was pretty much the same as my federal interviews.

Anon here. Thanks, this was helpful. How competitive are the clerkships in terms of stats and pedigree, with the understanding that judges can be idiosyncratic in hiring? There's not much information to go by, hence I ask. Appreciate any insight.

Two people I know who clerked are not t14 grads, but were at v10 firms.

thelastlaugh wrote:Two people I know who clerked are not t14 grads, but were at v10 firms.

Would you be would you be willing to talk about the interview experience in more detail?

Anonymous User wrote:

thelastlaugh wrote:Two people I know who clerked are not t14 grads, but were at v10 firms.

Would you be would you be willing to talk about the interview experience in more detail?

I can't speak to the interview process because I didn't interview. But my understanding is that it's very similar to federal clerkship interviews.

Bump. Interested in this, namely the interview/selection process.

I can't speak to the process or selectivity etc. but be aware that this is one of the few courts targeted by top foreign students who can't do federal clerkships.

I was just poking around on the Court of Appeals' website and it looks like in addition to the "normal" clerks, they also hire a few 2-year clerks to serve with the Court's Central Legal Research Staff. https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/clrkships.htm