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Recent grad from a T25. I have two interviews with judges on the Federal Circuit. I've never had an appellate interview before. What's the best way to prepare? I have a demonstrated interest in patent law, am a registered patent agent, and will have two years of patent lit experience from a V10 before the clerkship begins.

The best way to prepare is probably to speak to past clerks. Preferably either alums of your school or attorneys at your firm. Practice interviews can be helpful. I did one with a professor on the clerkship committee and while it was helpful, it was nothing like what my CoA interview ended up being like.

Ask your school's career office if they have records of past interviews. Ours does, and some of them are quite detailed.

You may already be up to speed on the latest CAFC news, but be sure to have a handle on some of the hot-button patent issues before the Court. They're not going to grill you about intricacies of burden shifting in interference actions, but you should have some thoughts on Section 101, for example.