Top Law Schools

1. T 25, Right at Top 33% (I literally made it at the border) 1L average was right above median, but after 3rd semester, I got huge bump. (If this matters); Secondary Law Review + Moot Court (Does winning matter? I was a finalist) + 1L Mock Trial (Semifinalist, but I don't think Mock Trial adds to clerkship app?) East Asian gay male. 2L summer plaintiff's boutique. 1L summer State App. Ct. Intern.

2. I've already decided to ignore: SDNY EDNY DDC EDVA EDPA DMass CDCA NDCA NDTX EDTX NDIll and all Circuits.

Should I add/subtract certain courts to/from this list? Because lol I can only send 100 apps.
I have no geographic connection nor preference because Fed clerkship is clerkship. Fresh off the boat here. (But citizen)

You don't need to recommend Mag/States because I will apply to them obviously.

Honestly, I wouldn't avoid any district on the basis of your grades.

Clerk hiring is idiosyncratic and largely dependent on the judge's personal leanings. Some judges care about your undergrad or your job exp or maybe you went to same high school as a judge. Some judges like/prefer minority applicants. All these random factors matter too and while grades can be the best predictor, it's absolutely not the end all be all. I can name 3 people off the top of my head with grades below yours at my t25 that got "prestigious" district clerkships.

are you likely going to get SDNY? Probably not, but if you find a judge that shares something in common with you, that might still be a stronger application than a random application to middle district of georgia.

gaddockteeg wrote:Honestly, I wouldn't avoid any district on the basis of your grades.

Clerk hiring is idiosyncratic and largely dependent on the judge's personal leanings. Some judges care about your undergrad or your job exp or maybe you went to same high school as a judge. Some judges like/prefer minority applicants. All these random factors matter too and while grades can be the best predictor, it's absolutely not the end all be all. I can name 3 people off the top of my head with grades below yours at my t25 that got "prestigious" district clerkships.

are you likely going to get SDNY? Probably not, but if you find a judge that shares something in common with you, that might still be a stronger application than a random application to middle district of georgia.

Thanks! I decided to not completely ignore them, and search for some judges that might like me.

Seconded on the don't ignore any district advice. Also, in regard to your statement about only being able to apply to 100 clerkships, I assume that refers to the limit on OSCAR, but you're not limited to applying through OSCAR. You can, and should, send paper applications unless you know for sure that a judge doesn't want them, and there is no limit on how many of those you can send