2021-2022 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone want to wildly speculate as to how many judges have not moved? My clerkship office has provided next to no information, so just sitting in the dark here. Already given up, but willing to get my hopes up if some anonymous person wants to jump in and tell me there's more to go lol

My sense is a *lot*, probably even the majority, of District judges have not moved yet. Absolutely no reason to give up hope, although I understand the impulse 1000%. Districts move at their own pace and tend to be slower than Circuits. Best advice I have (as someone in a similar boat) is to remember that, and remember it only takes one offer even if that offer comes in August or later, and remember that you can always apply again.

I'll add that even at my HYS school, a lot of CoA judges haven't moved (at least not from my school).

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if it's unusual to receive just one interview request throughout an application cycle? I applied to about 80 judges, got one interview request immediately and have had nothing since. Did not get an offer from the judge I interviewed with and have seen most of the judges I applied to fill up or extend interview invites to other people. I know I am lucky to have gotten interviewed at all, but I'm confused about what that one judge might have found appealing about my application when I've been passed over by everyone else.

I think being competitive "on paper" isn't enough for most judges. Especially during the deluge of applications on the Plan, if you don't have a special connection with the judge like a recommender call (or another idiosyncratic quality, you're not making the interview cut because for every slot, there are multiple people who *do* have those things.

FWIW, I was told by my recommender and clerkship office that I was in the running for almost all non feeder COAs (HYS with 3/4 Hs and LR) but have gotten only one COA interview so far, from a judge who grew up in the same (smaller) metro area that I did. Coincidence? Maybe. And I got the job. But I think the point still stands that being minimally qualified is almost never enough to get an interview slot on its own.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard updates on any of the WDPA judges, especially Judge Hornak?

Unfortunately seems like Hornak interviews would have already gone out. From his OSCAR page:

I hire from OSCAR submitted applications only, and will likely interview for the 2021 group the week of June 15, 2020.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard updates on any of the WDPA judges, especially Judge Hornak?

Unfortunately seems like Hornak interviews would have already gone out. From his OSCAR page:

I hire from OSCAR submitted applications only, and will likely interview for the 2021 group the week of June 15, 2020.

Our clerkship office said he hasn't moved yet; he might be running behind.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if it's unusual to receive just one interview request throughout an application cycle? I applied to about 80 judges, got one interview request immediately and have had nothing since. Did not get an offer from the judge I interviewed with and have seen most of the judges I applied to fill up or extend interview invites to other people. I know I am lucky to have gotten interviewed at all, but I'm confused about what that one judge might have found appealing about my application when I've been passed over by everyone else.

I think being competitive "on paper" isn't enough for most judges. Especially during the deluge of applications on the Plan, if you don't have a special connection with the judge like a recommender call (or another idiosyncratic quality, you're not making the interview cut because for every slot, there are multiple people who *do* have those things.

FWIW, I was told by my recommender and clerkship office that I was in the running for almost all non feeder COAs (HYS with 3/4 Hs and LR) but have gotten only one COA interview so far, from a judge who grew up in the same (smaller) metro area that I did. Coincidence? Maybe. And I got the job. But I think the point still stands that being minimally qualified is almost never enough to get an interview slot on its own.

100% co-sign. I am top 5% at MVP who was going in with a COA gig in-hand. I applied exclusively to district courts in largely non-competitive districts and received exactly one interview and offer. I attribute this to underdeveloped cover letters (basic transmittal letter instead of expressing interest in judge, district) and *perhaps* judges seeing my GPA and assuming I was COA bound (without realizing I had a COA clerkship lined up already). I also didn't line Professors up to advocate for me, which I now regret.

[3rdamendmentscholar]

Anyone heard updates from Judge Wu or Judge Wilson (C.D. Cal.)? I feel like I've got intel on movement for every on-plan judge in LA except those two!

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if it's unusual to receive just one interview request throughout an application cycle? I applied to about 80 judges, got one interview request immediately and have had nothing since. Did not get an offer from the judge I interviewed with and have seen most of the judges I applied to fill up or extend interview invites to other people. I know I am lucky to have gotten interviewed at all, but I'm confused about what that one judge might have found appealing about my application when I've been passed over by everyone else.

I think being competitive "on paper" isn't enough for most judges. Especially during the deluge of applications on the Plan, if you don't have a special connection with the judge like a recommender call (or another idiosyncratic quality, you're not making the interview cut because for every slot, there are multiple people who *do* have those things.

FWIW, I was told by my recommender and clerkship office that I was in the running for almost all non feeder COAs (HYS with 3/4 Hs and LR) but have gotten only one COA interview so far, from a judge who grew up in the same (smaller) metro area that I did. Coincidence? Maybe. And I got the job. But I think the point still stands that being minimally qualified is almost never enough to get an interview slot on its own.

100% co-sign. I am top 5% at MVP who was going in with a COA gig in-hand. I applied exclusively to district courts in largely non-competitive districts and received exactly one interview and offer. I attribute this to underdeveloped cover letters (basic transmittal letter instead of expressing interest in judge, district) and *perhaps* judges seeing my GPA and assuming I was COA bound (without realizing I had a COA clerkship lined up already). I also didn't line Professors up to advocate for me, which I now regret.

Current clerk in a competitive district here. Cover letters are largely irrelevant in our district; I spend maybe 5 seconds looking at them. Though they could play more of a role if the districts you're applying for are seeking geographic ties. And district judges wouldn't count you out for being "COA bound"; if anything, that will pique their interest. Not having any profs making calls/sending emails, though, is a biggie. Anyone who got a call or email got at least a look from us. That could mean the difference between interview / no interview, given we had more than 1000 applications. And if the judge knows the recommender, and trusts her, it's a big boon.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know of recent movement with Judge Hendrix in N.D. Tex. or Judge Jordan in E.D. Tex.?

Hendrix is full for '21.

[Anonymous User]

https://www.law.com/2020/06/23/the-pand ... -liked-it/

Looks like Chicago continues to kill it in the clerkship market

[Anonymous User]

Have any EDVA judges started interviewing? I know Brinkema hired for 21, but that was already done a few months ago.

[JimComeyGhost]

https://www.law.com/2020/06/23/the-pand ... -liked-it/

Looks like Chicago continues to kill it in the clerkship market

Any chance there's a non-paywalled version of this?

[Anonymous User]

https://www.law.com/2020/06/23/the-pand ... -liked-it/

Looks like Chicago continues to kill it in the clerkship market

Any chance there's a non-paywalled version of this?

Basically it says that Chicago students received more interviews than usual but the school's clerkship office was not sure if it was because Chicago was having a good year or if more interviews were going out in general since they are easier to schedule.

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

Try being at Chicago and not having anything.

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

You can just say you're at Columbia lol.

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

I think we all know which Columbia University School of Law you're talking about

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

You can just say you're at Columbia lol.

Lmao didn't know about the quality of NYU's clerkship office, but I guess CLS' clerkship office may be uniquely bad

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard updates from Judge Wu or Judge Wilson (C.D. Cal.)? I feel like I've got intel on movement for every on-plan judge in LA except those two!

Are any CD Cal judges still interviewing?

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

You can just say you're at Columbia lol.

Lmao didn't know about the quality of NYU's clerkship office, but I guess CLS' clerkship office may be uniquely bad

I'll say this for the Dean, she tries. It was way worse 3 years ago when the office basically didn't exist. We just have a shocking lack of connections or professors not named Gillian or Ginsburg who have any sway.

[Anonymous User]

Anybody have info on McHugh (EDPA)?

[Anonymous User]

Cardone is full, per a form email.

[Anonymous User]

Other clerkship offices have mentioned that there were more interviews than normal this year as well.

COOL this makes interview-less me feel so much better lol ugh

Yeah at a non-Chicago CCN and this makes me feel terrible, but I also knew going in that my clerkship office was horrible.

You can just say you're at Columbia lol.

Lmao didn't know about the quality of NYU's clerkship office, but I guess CLS' clerkship office may be uniquely bad

I'll say this for the Dean, she tries. It was way worse 3 years ago when the office basically didn't exist. We just have a shocking lack of connections or professors not named Gillian or Ginsburg who have any sway.

Seconded. Current clerkships dean at CLS puts in a ton of work and deserves a lot of credit, it was way way worse before she came

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard updates from Judge Wu or Judge Wilson (C.D. Cal.)? I feel like I've got intel on movement for every on-plan judge in LA except those two!

Are any CD Cal judges still interviewing?

Yes and a few as far as I know haven’t started yet