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3L at bottom rung t-14 (GULC/Cornell); Top 10%; e-board on secondary journal; recommenders will be mixed from average to very strong; will be working at v10 firm in the fall. Applying to mix of d.ct's on east coast (think d.ct/edny/edpa/ddc/edva/dmd) and COA judges in flyover circuits. Chances at landing interviews?

Chances are not great for COA right off the bat, unless one of your profs has an in with a judge and is willing to call on your behalf. I think D Ct chances are better. EDNY and DDC will be tough, but the other districts you list are much more plausible. Do you have ties to any of these jurisdictions? If so, you should mention them in your cover letter. Also, do good work at your v10 firm. Chances are the partners know judges, and they can call or write letters for you. Also, the v10 will probably have former clerks of various judges, and they can guide you and maybe even support your application.

If you really want COA, I think the way to do it is to clerk for D Ct first, kill it, and then have your D Ct judge push you to COA judges s/he knows.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu May 28, 2020 4:53 pm

3L at bottom rung t-14 (GULC/Cornell); Top 10%; e-board on secondary journal; recommenders will be mixed from average to very strong; will be working at v10 firm in the fall. Applying to mix of d.ct's on east coast (think d.ct/edny/edpa/ddc/edva/dmd) and COA judges in flyover circuits. Chances at landing interviews?

Those districts are probably five of the ten most competitive in the country. I'd say it's not worth using up OSCAR slots on DDC and probably not the Arlington EDVA judges either. It seems that you're geographically unconstrained so you should apply to district courts more broadly (unless you would rather wait a few years and try again than clerk in a less competitive district). I think you've got a non-negligible shot at a flyover COA, especially if you're willing to work outside of cities. You should be sure not to waste apps on COA judges you probably have no shot with as every flyover circuit has some highly competitive and/or highly FedSocy judges. Ties to or a demonstrable interest in practicing in anywhere besides the Acela corridor would increase your chances.