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Does anyone have insight on when to apply for a Colorado SSC clerkship? I am a rising 2L, so I am interested in 2022-2023 term. I've heard that you need four semesters of grades to apply, but the website shows all the 2021-2022 slots are full. This seems a fast turnaround if rising 3L's only applied in June. Can you apply earlier but the judges won't interview until after four semesters of grades?

On another note, any insight into my chances? Top 15-20% at a T20, Law Review, planning on moot court, decent regional ties.

No insight about CO specifically, but the timeline you describe is not particularly fast. Some judges fill all their spots within like 2 weeks of apps opening.

Your stats look pretty good.

I don't think you need to have 4 semesters of grades to apply (at least, you didn't back when I was applying). If you look at the state clerkship guide, it just says that justices begin hiring the summer after 2L year and to check on availability starting mid-spring of 2L year. I would definitely err on the side of applying earlier and updating with grades if needed.

You probably have a reasonable chance, depending on your ties. Pretty sure Gabriel only hires from the T14 though (that was his stance on the COA so I can't imagine it's changed now). SC clerks tended to be either Order of the Coif from CU/DU, or T14 students (though I couldn't tell you what kinds of grades the T14ers had).

It's usually February - March.

As an aside, you should work on building up your ties. Almost all CO SSC clerks are from local schools or HYS. I've seen a few from T14 but never T20. Not saying it's impossible, but definitely strengthen your ties as much as possible.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:18 pm

It's usually February - March.

As an aside, you should work on building up your ties. Almost all CO SSC clerks are from local schools or HYS. I've seen a few from T14 but never T20. Not saying it's impossible, but definitely strengthen your ties as much as possible.

Eid hired very heavily from Chicago when she was on it. I think things like this probably depend more on idiosyncrasies of specific judges than on the court.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 23, 2020 11:50 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:18 pm

It's usually February - March.

As an aside, you should work on building up your ties. Almost all CO SSC clerks are from local schools or HYS. I've seen a few from T14 but never T20. Not saying it's impossible, but definitely strengthen your ties as much as possible.

Eid hired very heavily from Chicago when she was on it. I think things like this probably depend more on idiosyncrasies of specific judges than on the court.

That's fair and probably accurate. Just pointing out that top 15% at a T20 is an uphill battle.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 23, 2020 11:50 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:18 pm

It's usually February - March.

As an aside, you should work on building up your ties. Almost all CO SSC clerks are from local schools or HYS. I've seen a few from T14 but never T20. Not saying it's impossible, but definitely strengthen your ties as much as possible.

Eid hired very heavily from Chicago when she was on it. I think things like this probably depend more on idiosyncrasies of specific judges than on the court.

Eid had a very specific policy to hire one Chicago grad, one CU grad, and one DU grad (at least part of her time on the court she had three clerks and one did JA stuff as well as clerk stuff). I don’t know if she does the same now, which is moot of course wrt the CO SSC.

Overall I agree that most clerks are top local/at least T14 with ties. There are going to be individual exceptions, but ties or other connections will be paramount.