Top Law Schools

Hey all, thought it could be helpful to have a thread about state court clerkships, especially state supreme courts. Has anyone heard from any?

This is going to depend entirely on the state - some hire spring of 2L, some fall of 3L, some in between. So for some states you're too late, for others you're way too early.

Well, in New York State, only two Judges of the COA appear to still be hiring for the 2021-22 term.

Chief Judge Fiore may still be looking for a clerk to start in Feb. 2021, and Judge Garcia may still be looking for a clerk to start in Aug. 2021.

All of the NJ Supreme Court justices are full. Although Pierre-Louise, who Gov. Murhpy intends to nominate this fall, will likely be looking to hire soon.

Any word on Mass SJC?

Any word on Mass SJC?

McLeese (D.C.) is hired through 2022-2023, and isn't hiring yet for 2023-2024.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:21 pm

Any word on Mass SJC?

I have not heard anything

Any word on Colorado timeline? Looks like they're full for 2021-2022. When did successful applicants submit?

For Alaska Supreme Court and the email that went out last week (if you didn't opt in to sharing)-- does it look bad if you don't allow sharing?
(for those who don't know, they ask if they can share your application with other Alaska judges if you aren't chosen by the Supreme Court).

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:51 am

For Alaska Supreme Court and the email that went out last week (if you didn't opt in to sharing)-- does it look bad if you don't allow sharing?
(for those who don't know, they ask if they can share your application with other Alaska judges if you aren't chosen by the Supreme Court).

Can you say more about what this is? Is there some kind of email list we should have been on if we were serious about applying by now?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 06, 2020 2:34 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:51 am

For Alaska Supreme Court and the email that went out last week (if you didn't opt in to sharing)-- does it look bad if you don't allow sharing?
(for those who don't know, they ask if they can share your application with other Alaska judges if you aren't chosen by the Supreme Court).

Can you say more about what this is? Is there some kind of email list we should have been on if we were serious about applying by now?

I already applied, so it was just a follow-up about my application since I did not opt in to sharing. I think it went to everyone who already applied, so I wouldn't worry. They will still accept apps for awhile, I believe.

Has Alaska started interviewing yet or is it not too late to submit?

Does anyone know how hard it is to get a staff attorney job with state courts? I'm coming off a federal COA and think it'd be a fun career.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:40 pm

Does anyone know how hard it is to get a staff attorney job with state courts? I'm coming off a federal COA and think it'd be a fun career.

State COA staff attorney here. If you clerked for a federal COA, you'd likely be able to get hired at my court, though (1) the positions rarely open (we all love our jobs) and (2) most, but not all of the judges want attorneys with a decent amount of experience. Almost all of the staff attorneys at my court took the job after 5-10 years of practice, several with even more experience.

As for trial court positions, it varies widely in my state, but I think you'd be highly competitive. I would really look into the positions though. I had a friend who took a trial court staff attorney to escape big law and he ended up quitting because it was almost as many hours for less than half the pay. He was totally blindsided. I interned at a state trial court in law school and the judge's career clerk really did not like the job aside from the 9-5 hours. It required a ton of tedium, administrative work, and basically being a secretary for the judge.

I would think you would have a good shot, if you have the stats for a federal COA. I knew a couple of people who did this (in a desirable but insular secondary market), and I clerked for a state COA, so had some exposure to the staff attorneys there. The two specific people I knew were good grads of the local law school (state flagship). One had clerked on the state SC before working as staff counsel to the court, one was top 5% of their class and had a DCt clerkship and did private practice for a bit before working as a staff attorney for the state COA. I'm not sure how often the jobs came open, but I did see a posting for a COA staff attorney job and I remember the requirements weren't *that* stringent.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:47 pm

Has Alaska started interviewing yet or is it not too late to submit?

It's not too late to submit! https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/hr ... clerks.pdf

Anybody heard anything from the Mass. SJC?

Any intel on Maine SJC / if it's a good stepping stone to D.Ct. clerkships?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:20 pm

I would think you would have a good shot, if you have the stats for a federal COA. I knew a couple of people who did this (in a desirable but insular secondary market), and I clerked for a state COA, so had some exposure to the staff attorneys there. The two specific people I knew were good grads of the local law school (state flagship). One had clerked on the state SC before working as staff counsel to the court, one was top 5% of their class and had a DCt clerkship and did private practice for a bit before working as a staff attorney for the state COA. I'm not sure how often the jobs came open, but I did see a posting for a COA staff attorney job and I remember the requirements weren't *that* stringent.

Credentials definitely won't be a problem for a federal COA clerk. I think the bigger issue would be convincing the judge that you want to stay long term. Often they are looking for someone who views the position as a career job. They don't want to hire someone they are going to have to replace in a year or three.

Haven't heard from either Mass or Maine SJC but accepted a 2021 state supreme court clerkship position elsewhere, so withdrawing soon. For the person asking above, my sense is that SJC/State SC are helpful to then land DCt.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:03 am

Haven't heard from either Mass or Maine SJC but accepted a 2021 state supreme court clerkship position elsewhere, so withdrawing soon. For the person asking above, my sense is that SJC/State SC are helpful to then land DCt.

Congrats! And thanks for the info.

Bumping the question about Mass. SJC... Anyone heard anything?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 28, 2020 5:31 pm

Bumping the question about Mass. SJC... Anyone heard anything?

Still haven't heard anything. As a data point, top 30% MVP, LRev Board, note published, geographic ties to Northeast.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:53 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 28, 2020 5:31 pm

Bumping the question about Mass. SJC... Anyone heard anything?

Still haven't heard anything. As a data point, top 30% MVP, LRev Board, note published, geographic ties to Northeast.

Also haven't heard anything yet -- not sure when interviews usually start. Top 40% at DCG, EIC of secondary journal, prior graduate degree, SA at V20 firm, geographic ties to MA.