2021-2022 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know at this point in the cycle when judges post 21-22 spots how competitive they are? Like I know people say on plan judges get hundreds of apps even in flyover places, but I am curious if people have a late open spot if there are fewer applicants at all or if it is still mobs of people applying.

Just my own experience as an applicant, but in the last cycle I had much less luck getting interviews for late open spots than regular cycle. My guess is late open spots are more likely to get referrals from connections given the urgency, and not look as carefully at what comes in through OSCAR? But who knows. Curious if anyone can compare them from the inside.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know at this point in the cycle when judges post 21-22 spots how competitive they are? Like I know people say on plan judges get hundreds of apps even in flyover places, but I am curious if people have a late open spot if there are fewer applicants at all or if it is still mobs of people applying.

Just my own experience as an applicant, but in the last cycle I had much less luck getting interviews for late open spots than regular cycle. My guess is late open spots are more likely to get referrals from connections given the urgency, and not look as carefully at what comes in through OSCAR? But who knows. Curious if anyone can compare them from the inside.

My experience has been the opposite. My grades, WE, and recs are good but not enough for me to be confidently competitive for the most competitive districts (DDC/EDNY/NDCA etc). Despite this, I managed to nab a clerkship in one of those districts.

Of course, clerkship hiring can be such an incredibly idiosyncratic process, so I’m not sure how much mine and your data points can be generalized to other judges’ hiring preferences this cycle.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear back from either D. Haw. judges that have recently opened applications for Sept. 2021 start date?

[nonamelawstudent]

Does anyone know at this point in the cycle when judges post 21-22 spots how competitive they are? Like I know people say on plan judges get hundreds of apps even in flyover places, but I am curious if people have a late open spot if there are fewer applicants at all or if it is still mobs of people applying.

Just my own experience as an applicant, but in the last cycle I had much less luck getting interviews for late open spots than regular cycle. My guess is late open spots are more likely to get referrals from connections given the urgency, and not look as carefully at what comes in through OSCAR? But who knows. Curious if anyone can compare them from the inside.

My experience has been the opposite. My grades, WE, and recs are good but not enough for me to be confidently competitive for the most competitive districts (DDC/EDNY/NDCA etc). Despite this, I managed to nab a clerkship in one of those districts.

Of course, clerkship hiring can be such an incredibly idiosyncratic process, so I’m not sure how much mine and your data points can be generalized to other judges’ hiring preferences this cycle.

The second answer is what I was hoping, but would love input from current clerks. I understand that it may be more competitive because it is probably more people with work experience and more connections based, but I would also assume fewer applications total.

[Anonymous User]

In line with the posters above, I'd be interested to hear if anyone has started interviewing with judges that posted recently, whether it's for the 2021 term or after

[Anonymous User]

In line with the posters above, I'd be interested to hear if anyone has started interviewing with judges that posted recently, whether it's for the 2021 term or after

Not sure how helpful this is in giving a picture of the market generally, but I’m currently clerking for a judge in a flyover state who’s already filled their 2021 slots. Not interested in going back to the firms I summered at, but have been having difficulty getting any interviews for other more coveted firms (and other firms generally). Thus, when another judge in the state opened their 2021 slots, I thought I’d apply and have my judge call them on my behalf since they’re very good friends. Met with my judge two days ago and learned that the judge I applied for has “never had a more competitive pool of applicants,” and that “most of their applicants are also previous clerks” like me.

If people are like me (FWIW: CCN 2020 grad, who thought they’d clerk once just to get it on their resume, but are now struggling to land a decent post-clerkship position), and are now throwing applications back into the clerkship market, I think these off the plan/late 2021 openings are looking to be much more competitive than is typical. But, of course, this is all speculation and I may just be projecting my fears and uncertainty from my situation, and am very interested in hearing from others.

[Anonymous User]

In line with the posters above, I'd be interested to hear if anyone has started interviewing with judges that posted recently, whether it's for the 2021 term or after

Not sure how helpful this is in giving a picture of the market generally, but I’m currently clerking for a judge in a flyover state who’s already filled their 2021 slots. Not interested in going back to the firms I summered at, but have been having difficulty getting any interviews for other more coveted firms (and other firms generally). Thus, when another judge in the state opened their 2021 slots, I thought I’d apply and have my judge call them on my behalf since they’re very good friends. Met with my judge two days ago and learned that the judge I applied for has “never had a more competitive pool of applicants,” and that “most of their applicants are also previous clerks” like me.

If people are like me (FWIW: CCN 2020 grad, who thought they’d clerk once just to get it on their resume, but are now struggling to land a decent post-clerkship position), and are now throwing applications back into the clerkship market, I think these off the plan/late 2021 openings are looking to be much more competitive than is typical. But, of course, this is all speculation and I may just be projecting my fears and uncertainty from my situation, and am very interested in hearing from others.

Ah that's super unfortunate. 3L at CCN here that was hoping for one of those positions, but based on your account, I'd figure former clerks are going to be dominating those positions then

[Anonymous User]

Anyone get any movement as of late?

[Anonymous User]

Current 3L, wanted to add my data point that I was hired (district) pretty recently, and even more recently I got "are you still interested?" calls/emails from two others chambers that ostensibly have not hired or begun interviewing yet. I really thought it would not happen for me, but persistence paid off. Even though it is late in the cycle, there is still movement to be had.

[Anonymous User]

Current 3L, wanted to add my data point that I was hired (district) pretty recently, and even more recently I got "are you still interested?" calls/emails from two others chambers that ostensibly have not hired or begun interviewing yet. I really thought it would not happen for me, but persistence paid off. Even though it is late in the cycle, there is still movement to be had.

Congrats from another 3L still on the market!! Hoping things look up for me soon, too.

Relatedly, still no word from Gerard Lynch for anyone? I guess "in February" could mean a lot of things.

[Anonymous User]

Current 3L, wanted to add my data point that I was hired (district) pretty recently, and even more recently I got "are you still interested?" calls/emails from two others chambers that ostensibly have not hired or begun interviewing yet. I really thought it would not happen for me, but persistence paid off. Even though it is late in the cycle, there is still movement to be had.

Congrats from another 3L still on the market!! Hoping things look up for me soon, too.

Relatedly, still no word from Gerard Lynch for anyone? I guess "in February" could mean a lot of things.

Oscar says the position has been filled.

[Anonymous User]

Current 3L, wanted to add my data point that I was hired (district) pretty recently, and even more recently I got "are you still interested?" calls/emails from two others chambers that ostensibly have not hired or begun interviewing yet. I really thought it would not happen for me, but persistence paid off. Even though it is late in the cycle, there is still movement to be had.

Congrats from another 3L still on the market!! Hoping things look up for me soon, too.

Relatedly, still no word from Gerard Lynch for anyone? I guess "in February" could mean a lot of things.

Oscar says the position has been filled.

That's the 2021 term. His 2022 term app says expired.

[Anonymous User]

Current 3L, wanted to add my data point that I was hired (district) pretty recently, and even more recently I got "are you still interested?" calls/emails from two others chambers that ostensibly have not hired or begun interviewing yet. I really thought it would not happen for me, but persistence paid off. Even though it is late in the cycle, there is still movement to be had.

Congrats from another 3L still on the market!! Hoping things look up for me soon, too.

Relatedly, still no word from Gerard Lynch for anyone? I guess "in February" could mean a lot of things.

Oscar says the position has been filled.

That's the 2021 term. His 2022 term app says expired.

I see. Then I’d inquire in the 2022-23 thread, not this one.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about Borman's spot in EDMI? Heard that interviews might be happening but have heard nothing since.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard of movement for Consuelo Marshall in C.D. Cal?

[Anonymous User]

While we're at it, anyone hear back from Chin?

[Anonymous User]

While we're at it, anyone hear back from Chin?

Listing expires today, right? I was assuming movement would start after today, but that might be wishful thinking.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about Borman's spot in EDMI? Heard that interviews might be happening but have heard nothing since.

Jumping off of this, are there any other EDMI judges interviewing for a 2021 start recently? A couple of judges I applied to a while ago aren't listed as "filled" on OSCAR yet but maybe it just hasn't been updated there.

[Anonymous User]

Looks like Chin’s posting expired today. Here’s to hoping for a quick turnaround, given how close out the start date for the position is.

[Anonymous User]

Everyone else get that Cote email? I assume it went to everyone that applied, but thought I'd check

[Anonymous User]

Everyone else get that Cote email? I assume it went to everyone that applied, but thought I'd check

I got the email and there's no chance that I'm competitive for Cote's clerkship. So I'd say everyone got it.

[Anonymous User]

Everyone else get that Cote email? I assume it went to everyone that applied, but thought I'd check

Yeah I got it even though I withdrew a long time ago

[Anonymous User]

Everyone else get that Cote email? I assume it went to everyone that applied, but thought I'd check

Yeah I got it even though I withdrew a long time ago

Ouch. Then that clerk is going to get his Inbox flooded ....

[Anonymous User]

Did people get the Flaum email? (I figure it was sent to everyone that applied.)

[Anonymous User]

Did people get the Flaum email? (I figure it was sent to everyone that applied.)

Yes, assuming it was sent a few days ago.