2021-2022 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

With 2L "grades" coming out now and OSCAR apps being released on the 15th, it seems like it is a good time to get this off the ground and try and centralize some of the clerkship discussions. Can confirm a few 2nd Circuit judges have informally reached out to some students to encourage that they apply.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L applying heavy to district courts throughout the country and especially the South. anyone else sort of torn between starting work at a firm and then applying and applying straight out?

[Anonymous User]

I just graduated so I'm not directly impacted by the new hiring plan, but I've applied to several judges who are following it for all candidates. I'm definitely a bit nervous applying to 2021/2022 given how many firms are pushing start dates back for my class. My firm hasn't said anything, but if we get pushed back to Jan/Feb., I'm really worried about the ramifications of leaving 7 months later.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L applying heavy to district courts throughout the country and especially the South. anyone else sort of torn between starting work at a firm and then applying and applying straight out?

A little, but luckily I think the judges will solve that for me.

[Anonymous User]

With 2L "grades" coming out now and OSCAR apps being released on the 15th, it seems like it is a good time to get this off the ground and try and centralize some of the clerkship discussions. Can confirm a few 2nd Circuit judges have informally reached out to some students to encourage that they apply.

How does this work/what do they say? Very curious about how a judge phrases an email like that lol

[Anonymous User]

primarily reach out through clerks and professor connections.

[Anonymous User]

With 2L "grades" coming out now and OSCAR apps being released on the 15th, it seems like it is a good time to get this off the ground and try and centralize some of the clerkship discussions. Can confirm a few 2nd Circuit judges have informally reached out to some students to encourage that they apply.

How does this work/what do they say? Very curious about how a judge phrases an email like that lol

Previous comment should be a reply to this.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L applying heavy to district courts throughout the country and especially the South. anyone else sort of torn between starting work at a firm and then applying and applying straight out?

A little, but luckily I think the judges will solve that for me.

Very. It is a weird feeling. Part of me feels like I'm getting ahead of myself though.

[Anonymous User]

With 2L "grades" coming out now and OSCAR apps being released on the 15th, it seems like it is a good time to get this off the ground and try and centralize some of the clerkship discussions. Can confirm a few 2nd Circuit judges have informally reached out to some students to encourage that they apply.

How does this work/what do they say? Very curious about how a judge phrases an email like that lol

What’s the point of doing this? Presumably anyone who was serious about CA2 would apply to them anyway. Trying to get students thinking about the judge as a good option?

[Anonymous User]

With 2L "grades" coming out now and OSCAR apps being released on the 15th, it seems like it is a good time to get this off the ground and try and centralize some of the clerkship discussions. Can confirm a few 2nd Circuit judges have informally reached out to some students to encourage that they apply.

How does this work/what do they say? Very curious about how a judge phrases an email like that lol

What’s the point of doing this? Presumably anyone who was serious about CA2 would apply to them anyway. Trying to get students thinking about the judge as a good option?

I guess the idea is that any student that is worth reaching out to is a superstar and can presumably narrow their list down to a very select few judges? Makes more sense to me that a judge would reach out to professors to gauge who they think are the best candidates, but maybe some judges are just aware of certain students they need to have

[Anonymous User]

Joining in! Rising 3L applying on the plan to district court judges.

Any advice on how to prep for interviews?

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L applying heavy to district courts throughout the country and especially the South. anyone else sort of torn between starting work at a firm and then applying and applying straight out?

A little, but luckily I think the judges will solve that for me.

Very. It is a weird feeling. Part of me feels like I'm getting ahead of myself though.

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L applying heavy to district courts throughout the country and especially the South. anyone else sort of torn between starting work at a firm and then applying and applying straight out?

A little, but luckily I think the judges will solve that for me.

Very. It is a weird feeling. Part of me feels like I'm getting ahead of myself though.

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

This is ABSOLUTELY the right attitude. (Current clerk). Be flexible, be resilient, be open-minded, try your best. At the end of the day, clerking is super fun, but you can and will have a successful career and life (separate things) without one.

Getting a clerkship is 20% skill and 80% luck, tbh. I just dropped in to really emphasize and underscore the bolded.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L applying heavy to district courts throughout the country and especially the South. anyone else sort of torn between starting work at a firm and then applying and applying straight out?

A little, but luckily I think the judges will solve that for me.

Very. It is a weird feeling. Part of me feels like I'm getting ahead of myself though.

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

This is ABSOLUTELY the right attitude. (Current clerk). Be flexible, be resilient, be open-minded, try your best. At the end of the day, clerking is super fun, but you can and will have a successful career and life (separate things) without one.

Getting a clerkship is 20% skill and 80% luck, tbh. I just dropped in to really emphasize and underscore the bolded.

It also requires 15% concentrated power of will (See Fort Minor).

[Anonymous User]

I just graduated so I'm not directly impacted by the new hiring plan, but I've applied to several judges who are following it for all candidates. I'm definitely a bit nervous applying to 2021/2022 given how many firms are pushing start dates back for my class. My firm hasn't said anything, but if we get pushed back to Jan/Feb., I'm really worried about the ramifications of leaving 7 months later.

I wouldn’t worry. I graduated last year, and I have classmates who left their firms to start clerking in the winter/spring. Firms honestly count on some people leaving within the first year, the only time timing really comes into play is when you return and get the clerkship bonus (i.e. you return in October, collect a bonus, leave again to clerk in January)

[Anonymous User]

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

This is ABSOLUTELY the right attitude. (Current clerk). Be flexible, be resilient, be open-minded, try your best. At the end of the day, clerking is super fun, but you can and will have a successful career and life (separate things) without one.

Getting a clerkship is 20% skill and 80% luck, tbh. I just dropped in to really emphasize and underscore the bolded.

Yeah, but it's been easier said than done, even as I'm trying to stay zen. My best friend and I are both applying now (my friend is graduating and i'm on the Plan), and it's stressful as hell. 8-9 days from now it'll get a lot worse, b/c I don't expect to be in the caliber of applicants who get a 12:01 phone call.

[Anonymous User]

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

This is ABSOLUTELY the right attitude. (Current clerk). Be flexible, be resilient, be open-minded, try your best. At the end of the day, clerking is super fun, but you can and will have a successful career and life (separate things) without one.

Getting a clerkship is 20% skill and 80% luck, tbh. I just dropped in to really emphasize and underscore the bolded.

Yeah, but it's been easier said than done, even as I'm trying to stay zen. My best friend and I are both applying now (my friend is graduating and i'm on the Plan), and it's stressful as hell. 8-9 days from now it'll get a lot worse, b/c I don't expect to be in the caliber of applicants who get a 12:01 phone call.

I’m pretty sure they can’t start reviewing until that day, so you have a day before it’s time to start worrying.

[Anonymous User]

I’m pretty sure they can’t start reviewing until that day, so you have a day before it’s time to start worrying.

Yeah, I meant 12:01 on the 16th. I'm not getting calls right when the judges can make them.

[ayylmao]

I just graduated so I'm not directly impacted by the new hiring plan, but I've applied to several judges who are following it for all candidates. I'm definitely a bit nervous applying to 2021/2022 given how many firms are pushing start dates back for my class. My firm hasn't said anything, but if we get pushed back to Jan/Feb., I'm really worried about the ramifications of leaving 7 months later.

I wouldn’t worry. I graduated last year, and I have classmates who left their firms to start clerking in the winter/spring. Firms honestly count on some people leaving within the first year, the only time timing really comes into play is when you return and get the clerkship bonus (i.e. you return in October, collect a bonus, leave again to clerk in January)

I would imagine that's frowned upon, no?

[ayylmao]

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

This is ABSOLUTELY the right attitude. (Current clerk). Be flexible, be resilient, be open-minded, try your best. At the end of the day, clerking is super fun, but you can and will have a successful career and life (separate things) without one.

Getting a clerkship is 20% skill and 80% luck, tbh. I just dropped in to really emphasize and underscore the bolded.

Yeah, but it's been easier said than done, even as I'm trying to stay zen. My best friend and I are both applying now (my friend is graduating and i'm on the Plan), and it's stressful as hell. 8-9 days from now it'll get a lot worse, b/c I don't expect to be in the caliber of applicants who get a 12:01 phone call.

I’m pretty sure they can’t start reviewing until that day, so you have a day before it’s time to start worrying.

Whether they can't start reviewing or "can't start reviewing" till 6/15, I can tell you that last year my more gilded classmates got calls within minutes or a couple hours of the formal release of applications. [shrug emoji]

[floatie]

Either some judge in some random place will hire me and I'll delay going to a firm, or they won't, and I'll start off at a firm and try again 1-2 years in when maybe I'm a better candidate. I'm trying to be zen about it.

This is honestly a great strategy. More judges now are leaning towards hiring clerks with at least a year of post-law school experience, and it also gives you time your 3L year to gain relevant experience (like a LR board position, judicial externship, publishing something, etc.) I applied last year as a rising 3L and did not get any interview requests from anyone. I'm applying again now (as a recent graduate) and have already had a few interview requests from DCT/COA judges.

[desiperc]

Just venting about stress, not necessarily adding anything of value.

Spent most of my time off work this past week filling out OSCAR apps (after about a hundred applications via email or mail.) I had a couple professors make calls/emails to chambers early on. But because I don't go to a T6, I'm just telling myself to not expect anything, and we'll see what happens.

[Anonymous User]

Was just looking at my list of judges, and it's currently at ~75. This is...not going to be fun.

[Anonymous User]

For hiring-plan judges who want email submissions, should you schedule the email to be sent at 12:00 on Monday or send now and indicate it should only be considered at that time?

[Anonymous User]

How do we find out if judges want calls to their chambers or not? Also how do we find out their email contact information?