2021-2022 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if updating OSCAR applications actually ever gets your application a second look? I have an updated resume with info that I think makes me a stronger candidate, but it seems implausible to me that judges who already looked at my app would look a second time just because my OSCAR app was updated.

I collect applications for my judge; I see updates and I don't care, because anyone can update anytime for any reason. I might take a second look if I already flagged you as a very desirable candidate.

In other words, you should send directly to chambers.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if updating OSCAR applications actually ever gets your application a second look? I have an updated resume with info that I think makes me a stronger candidate, but it seems implausible to me that judges who already looked at my app would look a second time just because my OSCAR app was updated.

I collect applications for my judge; I see updates and I don't care, because anyone can update anytime for any reason. I might take a second look if I already flagged you as a very desirable candidate.

In other words, you should send directly to chambers.

Seems like a poor policy as the most common reason to update is probably securing a new clerkship. In any case how would we send a resume directly to chambers assuming there's no email address, which is true for the vast majority of judges?

[Anonymous User]

Any idea if Lamberth or Nichols (both DDC) are full? I know Lamberth hired one quite a while ago so he probably is but I haven't seen or heard anything about Nichols moving.

[Anonymous User]

Just got invited to V. Roberts's (EDMI) writing test. I heard its brutal...any insight?

Also interested in any insight on this! What do you mean by brutal btw - what have you heard?

Have you gotten an interview offer from Judge Roberts?

[nixy]

Does anyone know if updating OSCAR applications actually ever gets your application a second look? I have an updated resume with info that I think makes me a stronger candidate, but it seems implausible to me that judges who already looked at my app would look a second time just because my OSCAR app was updated.

I collect applications for my judge; I see updates and I don't care, because anyone can update anytime for any reason. I might take a second look if I already flagged you as a very desirable candidate.

In other words, you should send directly to chambers.

Seems like a poor policy as the most common reason to update is probably securing a new clerkship. In any case how would we send a resume directly to chambers assuming there's no email address, which is true for the vast majority of judges?

Snail mail always gets looked at, although not as quickly these days b/c people may not be in chambers as frequently. (It may get tossed the next moment, but it'll be looked at.)

[nononono24]

Just got invited to V. Roberts's (EDMI) writing test. I heard its brutal...any insight?

Also interested in any insight on this! What do you mean by brutal btw - what have you heard?

Have you gotten an interview offer from Judge Roberts?

Also curious to see if anyone has gotten an interview with her/has a sense of what her timeline is like after the writing test

[Anonymous User]

Just got invited to V. Roberts's (EDMI) writing test. I heard its brutal...any insight?

Also interested in any insight on this! What do you mean by brutal btw - what have you heard?

Have you gotten an interview offer from Judge Roberts?

Is she sending out interview requests already? The writing test was just Monday.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement in EDNY at all lately?

[Anonymous User]

Just got invited to V. Roberts's (EDMI) writing test. I heard its brutal...any insight?

Also interested in any insight on this! What do you mean by brutal btw - what have you heard?

Have you gotten an interview offer from Judge Roberts?

Is she sending out interview requests already? The writing test was just Monday.

I don't know of anyone who has gotten an interview from either Monday's round or the one she had a few weeks ago. Rejections after the first round went out about a week after the writing test. Between the two rounds, almost 100 people did that writing test so I imagine it'll take a while for her clerks to go through everyone's samples. Plus, she's participating in JTB so she might just plan to interview through that in mid-August.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if updating OSCAR applications actually ever gets your application a second look? I have an updated resume with info that I think makes me a stronger candidate, but it seems implausible to me that judges who already looked at my app would look a second time just because my OSCAR app was updated.

I collect applications for my judge; I see updates and I don't care, because anyone can update anytime for any reason. I might take a second look if I already flagged you as a very desirable candidate.

In other words, you should send directly to chambers.

Seems like a poor policy as the most common reason to update is probably securing a new clerkship. In any case how would we send a resume directly to chambers assuming there's no email address, which is true for the vast majority of judges?

I've admittedly never checked, because like the other clerk I rarely note whether an application is marked "updated." But I seriously doubt the most common reason to update is securing a new clerkship. (My guess would be LoRs moving from "pending" to "submitted.") For reference, my judge opened applications in June and we already have well over 100 "updated" applications.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if updating OSCAR applications actually ever gets your application a second look? I have an updated resume with info that I think makes me a stronger candidate, but it seems implausible to me that judges who already looked at my app would look a second time just because my OSCAR app was updated.

I collect applications for my judge; I see updates and I don't care, because anyone can update anytime for any reason. I might take a second look if I already flagged you as a very desirable candidate.

In other words, you should send directly to chambers.

Seems like a poor policy as the most common reason to update is probably securing a new clerkship. In any case how would we send a resume directly to chambers assuming there's no email address, which is true for the vast majority of judges?

I've admittedly never checked, because like the other clerk I rarely note whether an application is marked "updated." But I seriously doubt the most common reason to update is securing a new clerkship. (My guess would be LoRs moving from "pending" to "submitted.") For reference, my judge opened applications in June and we already have well over 100 "updated" applications.

Re: LoRs, absent some special relationship between the judge and the letter writer, do you usually wait to receive those before deciding whether the applicant is worth considering, or are they just icing on the cake?

[Anonymous User]

Re: LoRs, absent some special relationship between the judge and the letter writer, do you usually wait to receive those before deciding whether the applicant is worth considering, or are they just icing on the cake?

When I was screening applications, we absolutely considered LORs when deciding whether to interview someone, but we only looked closely at them if the rest of the application was strong. (I'd say I looked at LORs and writing samples for, say, a third of applicants, which is actually quite a lot). If we hadn't received LORs yet, I don't think we would have interviewed the applicant at all (*maybe* if one letter was outstanding, but if they just didn't have letters, we would probably have not considered that candidate).

[Anonymous User]

Just got invited to V. Roberts's (EDMI) writing test. I heard its brutal...any insight?

Also interested in any insight on this! What do you mean by brutal btw - what have you heard?

Have you gotten an interview offer from Judge Roberts?

Is she sending out interview requests already? The writing test was just Monday.

I don't know of anyone who has gotten an interview from either Monday's round or the one she had a few weeks ago. Rejections after the first round went out about a week after the writing test. Between the two rounds, almost 100 people did that writing test so I imagine it'll take a while for her clerks to go through everyone's samples. Plus, she's participating in JTB so she might just plan to interview through that in mid-August.

Do you know if she sent everyone that applied to her an offer to complete the writing assignment? I do know she is hiring for the 2020-2021 term and 2021-2022 term.

[Anonymous User]

Just got invited to V. Roberts's (EDMI) writing test. I heard its brutal...any insight?

Also interested in any insight on this! What do you mean by brutal btw - what have you heard?

Have you gotten an interview offer from Judge Roberts?

Is she sending out interview requests already? The writing test was just Monday.

I don't know of anyone who has gotten an interview from either Monday's round or the one she had a few weeks ago. Rejections after the first round went out about a week after the writing test. Between the two rounds, almost 100 people did that writing test so I imagine it'll take a while for her clerks to go through everyone's samples. Plus, she's participating in JTB so she might just plan to interview through that in mid-August.

Does anyone know her timeline for sure? Also, does the writing test serve as some sort of a cut off? Or will Roberts view all application materials holistically?

[Anonymous User]

Re: LoRs, absent some special relationship between the judge and the letter writer, do you usually wait to receive those before deciding whether the applicant is worth considering, or are they just icing on the cake?

When I was screening applications, we absolutely considered LORs when deciding whether to interview someone, but we only looked closely at them if the rest of the application was strong. (I'd say I looked at LORs and writing samples for, say, a third of applicants, which is actually quite a lot). If we hadn't received LORs yet, I don't think we would have interviewed the applicant at all (*maybe* if one letter was outstanding, but if they just didn't have letters, we would probably have not considered that candidate).

+1. LoRs are pretty important, and are not just icing on the cake. Our chambers wouldn't pass along an app to the judge unless it had two strong letters.

[Anonymous User]

Re: LoRs, absent some special relationship between the judge and the letter writer, do you usually wait to receive those before deciding whether the applicant is worth considering, or are they just icing on the cake?

When I was screening applications, we absolutely considered LORs when deciding whether to interview someone, but we only looked closely at them if the rest of the application was strong. (I'd say I looked at LORs and writing samples for, say, a third of applicants, which is actually quite a lot). If we hadn't received LORs yet, I don't think we would have interviewed the applicant at all (*maybe* if one letter was outstanding, but if they just didn't have letters, we would probably have not considered that candidate).

+1. LoRs are pretty important, and are not just icing on the cake. Our chambers wouldn't pass along an app to the judge unless it had two strong letters.

Ok thanks to both of you. I don't have any concerns about the quality of my letters; I just ask because my law school has been frustratingly slow about getting them uploaded as I've sent in new apps. I did have one judge give me an interview with only 2/3 letters, but I was wondering if that was the exception to the rule.

[Anonymous User]

This isn't a question about movement or a specific judge but....was anyone else interviewed by a judge during the first week of the plan, and then outright ghosted (like, never rejected or given an update)?! I haven't heard a peep, and it's bizarre.

[Anonymous User]

This isn't a question about movement or a specific judge but....was anyone else interviewed by a judge during the first week of the plan, and then outright ghosted (like, never rejected or given an update)?! I haven't heard a peep, and it's bizarre.

Yes, and I feel your pain. The judge's post is still open on Oscar so I have a modicum of hope, but after he told me he'd get back to me "by the end of the week," I don't feel much encouraged.

[Anonymous User]

This isn't a question about movement or a specific judge but....was anyone else interviewed by a judge during the first week of the plan, and then outright ghosted (like, never rejected or given an update)?! I haven't heard a peep, and it's bizarre.

Yep. I interviewed that first Thursday with a judge's clerks, and I was explicitly told that I was moving on to the second round for an interview with a judge. And it's been crickets since, so I don't even know if I'm still in the running and they're just extremely behind, or if I've just been ghosted.

[Anonymous User]

Any other movement this week (besides V. Roberts)?

[Anonymous User]

Any news on Judge Hazel? He recently posted a position.

I noticed as well. Does anyone know Judge Hazel's timeline.

[Anonymous User]

Any other movement this week (besides V. Roberts)?

Are there other Judges that do writing tests like V. Roberts? A friend of mine got invited to do hers and she said it was something that no applicant without clerkship experience would know how to do.

[Anonymous User]

Any other movement this week (besides V. Roberts)?

Other than V. Roberts has anyone heard back from any judge participating in the Just The Beginning program?

[Anonymous User]

Any update on the DDC judges whose positions remain open on OSCAR? As of today that is Judge Friedrich, Judge Kelly, Judge Moss, and Judge Nichols. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous User]

Any update on the DDC judges whose positions remain open on OSCAR? As of today that is Judge Friedrich, Judge Kelly, Judge Moss, and Judge Nichols. Thanks in advance.

Moss has already hired at least one clerk for 2023, which I suspect means he's done for 2022.