Movement Today Forum

[Anonymous User]

What’s the best way to update chambers about accepting another clerkship (at a different level)?

[Anonymous User]

What’s the best way to update chambers about accepting another clerkship (at a different level)?

Updated cover letter on OSCAR, send a letter in the mail, or (though I think best only when you've already had some email contact) send an email.

[Anonymous User]

What’s the best way to update chambers about accepting another clerkship (at a different level)?

Updated cover letter on OSCAR, send a letter in the mail, or (though I think best only when you've already had some email contact) send an email.

Is it going to make any difference?

[Anonymous User]

Any updates on movement today?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone outside of the T14 having any luck? 100+ applications and absolute silence... Reaching the point of emailing every professor or former clerk I've ever interacted with and begging for help

[Anonymous User]

What’s the best way to update chambers about accepting another clerkship (at a different level)?

Updated cover letter on OSCAR, send a letter in the mail, or (though I think best only when you've already had some email contact) send an email.

Is it going to make any difference?

Is this for a different year than the year indicated on OSCAR/that you applied for? If it's the same year, then you'd definitely want to let the judge know that you could only be considered for a subsequent year. However, if there's no conflict, the ideal option would be to have one of your recommenders let the handful of your top target judges know by email, as it will probably make you a stronger candidate to have secured one clerkship already.

Depending on how you vibed with the judge you just accepted with, they might also be willing to reach out to other judges to encourage them to consider you for a second clerkship. It's a not uncommon tactic, and it really moves the needle when one judge is contacted by another judge. I know of several people who secured one clerkship this week and used a combination of their recommenders and the judge they accepted with to get interviews with other judges at the other level within the federal judiciary.

But without knowing more about your situation, it's hard to gauge all of this - it depends on the degree of fanciness of the clerkship you got, the clerkship you're seeking, the judge you're going to be working for, the judge you want to work for, and your recommenders' status, relationship with these judges, and eagerness to push for you.

[Anonymous User]

What’s the best way to update chambers about accepting another clerkship (at a different level)?

Updated cover letter on OSCAR, send a letter in the mail, or (though I think best only when you've already had some email contact) send an email.

Is it going to make any difference?

From a COA perspective, yes--having a district court clerkship is hardly a prerequisite but it's definitely a plus-factor. At this point and into next week, I'm guessing many judges will be circling back to the application pile to take a look at the next tier of resumes--the strong ones that didn't stand out quite enough to be part of this week's rush. If we saw that a candidate in that group had picked up a district court clerkship for 2020 this week (we're hiring for 2021), especially with a district judge our judge is familiar with, that would absolutely help that candidate get the judge's attention.

Remember that the one factor that's not apparent from your application materials is your personality and how well you interview. (We get a little of it from your recommendations, but a professor isn't going to come out and say "This student is brilliant but has no personality.") So the fact that another judge met you and liked you enough to hire you in the past few days makes it more likely that if we bring you in, you're going to interview well and pass the "fit test."

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if CA9 Bay Area judges have been extending offers?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if CA9 Bay Area judges have been extending offers?

Friedland, Berzon, Fletcher

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if CA9 Bay Area judges have been extending offers?

Friedland, Berzon, Fletcher

Thanks. Any idea if they've extended all offers?

[lavarman84]

Jeez this thread has me shook. Submitted like 75 district court apps yesterday to judges across the country and haven't heard a peep. I had no idea that judges would be making decions so quickly. Do people really think that if you don't hear back this week then your shit out of luck for a 2020 clerkship? With a 4.0 at a T25, law review, moot court, a handful of CALIs, lots of government experience, I thought I would be competitive to land at least 1 interview. Damn that would be depressing if after spending all that time on these apps, I couldn't even get a sniff, just having all my apps immeaditley trashed cause I don't go to Harvard or Yale. Haha oh well, mostly just venting at this point. Haven't asked my reccomenders to make calls yet, so guess I will do that tonight and hope for the best. Y'all really know how to freak a guy out

If you don't have a sucky personality, you'll land a clerkship. Just be patient. It's always easier if you have a connection, but your credentials will land you something somewhere if you apply broadly, even if you don't have connections. Personally, I'm surprised your law school isn't pushing you to judges who typically hire from it. I know my law school did. Have you talked to the clerkship committee at your law school?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement in D. of AZ or SDCA?

[Anonymous User]

Any reports from 4th or 7th Circuit judges?

[kiwi50]

Since I got one interview last week but have not heard anything back, I just sent a second wave of applications out through Oscar last night to various D.Cts (about 30 to some of the less competitive districts). Assuming some of those judges have started reviewing applications last week, do any current clerks know if new applications from this weekend will be reviewed at all?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone outside of the T14 having any luck? 100+ applications and absolute silence... Reaching the point of emailing every professor or former clerk I've ever interacted with and begging for help

I've heard absolutely nothing. For point of reference, I've sent out 140+ applications to overwhelmingly "non-competitive" clerkships in D.Ct. and COA (about half and half) and have heard nothing. School is within 15-20 rankings and I'm top 10% of my class. No idea. I'm clueless.

[Anonymous User]

Movement in D.Del today

[Anonymous User]

Anyone outside of the T14 having any luck? 100+ applications and absolute silence... Reaching the point of emailing every professor or former clerk I've ever interacted with and begging for help

I've heard absolutely nothing. For point of reference, I've sent out 140+ applications to overwhelmingly "non-competitive" clerkships in D.Ct. and COA (about half and half) and have heard nothing. School is within 15-20 rankings and I'm top 10% of my class. No idea. I'm clueless.

For the record, many of us at T14 schools also have not heard anything whatsoever. The consensus I've heard from other applicants, OCSs, other reputable sources, is that competitive judges moved quick on the tippy-top candidates... but there's still going to be plenty left over after that dust settles, plus the vast majority of judges haven't moved whatsoever. I'm repeatedly being told not to give up hope by any means. I think we all just thought everything would happen immediately under the plan, and since that hasn't panned out for the vast majority of applicants, there's panic.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone outside of the T14 having any luck? 100+ applications and absolute silence... Reaching the point of emailing every professor or former clerk I've ever interacted with and begging for help

I've heard absolutely nothing. For point of reference, I've sent out 140+ applications to overwhelmingly "non-competitive" clerkships in D.Ct. and COA (about half and half) and have heard nothing. School is within 15-20 rankings and I'm top 10% of my class. No idea. I'm clueless.

For the record, many of us at T14 schools also have not heard anything whatsoever. The consensus I've heard from other applicants, OCSs, other reputable sources, is that competitive judges moved quick on the tippy-top candidates... but there's still going to be plenty left over after that dust settles, plus the vast majority of judges haven't moved whatsoever. I'm repeatedly being told not to give up hope by any means. I think we all just thought everything would happen immediately under the plan, and since that hasn't panned out for the vast majority of applicants, there's panic.

There are more clerkships to go around. Top HYS student here, only got two interviews during first week. A friend at a different HYS but with comparable grades hasn't heard anything yet.

[Wild Card]

According to my JCO's Handbook:

"Given the large number of applicants, many students do not get any interviews, and it is common for students to secure only one to three interviews."

[Anonymous User]

Anyone outside of the T14 having any luck? 100+ applications and absolute silence... Reaching the point of emailing every professor or former clerk I've ever interacted with and begging for help

I've heard absolutely nothing. For point of reference, I've sent out 140+ applications to overwhelmingly "non-competitive" clerkships in D.Ct. and COA (about half and half) and have heard nothing. School is within 15-20 rankings and I'm top 10% of my class. No idea. I'm clueless.

For the record, many of us at T14 schools also have not heard anything whatsoever. The consensus I've heard from other applicants, OCSs, other reputable sources, is that competitive judges moved quick on the tippy-top candidates... but there's still going to be plenty left over after that dust settles, plus the vast majority of judges haven't moved whatsoever. I'm repeatedly being told not to give up hope by any means. I think we all just thought everything would happen immediately under the plan, and since that hasn't panned out for the vast majority of applicants, there's panic.

There are more clerkships to go around. Top HYS student here, only got two interviews during first week. A friend at a different HYS but with comparable grades hasn't heard anything yet.

That's really comforting to hear as someone who's top ~15-20% at HYS and has heard absolutely nothing so far. (Granted, I largely applied to 2, 9, and SDNY, but still.) I'm hoping there's movement this week though. I've forgotten what it feels like for my phone to ring...

[nixy]

According to my JCO's Handbook:

"Given the large number of applicants, many students do not get any interviews, and it is common for students to secure only one to three interviews."

This is absolutely true (clerkship hiring isn’t like OCI). But it doesn’t mean no more activity is forthcoming - it’s just too hard to say at this point. I’d be shocked if there weren’t still a good number of judges out there yet to hire, but no one really knows right now.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone outside of the T14 having any luck? 100+ applications and absolute silence... Reaching the point of emailing every professor or former clerk I've ever interacted with and begging for help

I've heard absolutely nothing. For point of reference, I've sent out 140+ applications to overwhelmingly "non-competitive" clerkships in D.Ct. and COA (about half and half) and have heard nothing. School is within 15-20 rankings and I'm top 10% of my class. No idea. I'm clueless.

For the record, many of us at T14 schools also have not heard anything whatsoever. The consensus I've heard from other applicants, OCSs, other reputable sources, is that competitive judges moved quick on the tippy-top candidates... but there's still going to be plenty left over after that dust settles, plus the vast majority of judges haven't moved whatsoever. I'm repeatedly being told not to give up hope by any means. I think we all just thought everything would happen immediately under the plan, and since that hasn't panned out for the vast majority of applicants, there's panic.

There are more clerkships to go around. Top HYS student here, only got two interviews during first week. A friend at a different HYS but with comparable grades hasn't heard anything yet.

That's really comforting to hear as someone who's top ~15-20% at HYS and has heard absolutely nothing so far. (Granted, I largely applied to 2, 9, and SDNY, but still.) I'm hoping there's movement this week though. I've forgotten what it feels like for my phone to ring...

Anon who had two interviews. My sense is that certain top 5% students had several interviews minutes after the Plan opened (these are students I imagine the clerkship committee pushed prior to the Plan opening, meaning the Plan was violated, no?) and the "rest" of us top 10% had a smattering of interviews. I also only applied to 2/9/DC as did my friend at a different HYS.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, I'm top 5% at HYS + law review/journal, and I had 0 interviews last week.

[Anonymous User]

Meanwhile CCN between median-1/3 range got 2 interviews last week. It's random.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, I'm top 5% at HYS + law review/journal, and I had 0 interviews last week.

Did you apply to only uber competitive judges?