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What clerkships would I be competitive for (cold applications on OSCAR)
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:06 pm
by Anonymous User
School: GW/BU
Grades: top 1 percent
Journal: Law review (published)
Work experience: 2 AIII internships, and job at regional lawfirm during 2L. K-JD
Average recommendation letters.
Mainly interested in knowing if I'm competitive for COA anywhere. I know a lot of clerkships is about who you know, so I'm interested what I would get without an insider. Thanks.
Re: What clerkships would I be competitive for (cold applications on OSCAR)
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:23 pm
by Anonymous User
Good news and bad news:
Good news: if you are a 2L and applying for 2021 starting now, I think your app is likely to get read for any COA where you have ties to the area or a good reason for applying to that judge/court. Some judges won't hire straight out of law school; some will only hire straight out. You also have a great shot at any district judge (outside of the most competitive districts and the most prestigious judges) that doesn't have an Easterbrook-esque policy of preferring a particular school or only looking at the top N schools (where N is a higher rank than your GW/BU).
Bad news: If you're applying now for a 2020 clerkship, the bad news is that most COA judges hired months (or years) ago. Many judges hired in line with the Plan, so they locked in 2020 this past summer. Others ("free market" judges and Fed Soc judges especially) hire two years out, so they're full through 2021. Currently, only 16 COA judges have an open clerkship position listed on OSCAR for 2020, and some of those judges are 2/9/DC, which may be categorically out of reach.
Re: What clerkships would I be competitive for (cold applications on OSCAR)
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:29 pm
by texanslimjim
Yes, you're competitive for COAs anywhere. Doesn't guarantee you'll get one; apply widely and you have a decent shot.
Other anon is correct that if you're a 3L it's a little late for 2020.