Third Tier Clerkship Longshot Forum

[UnderDogClerk]

Hi all. Looking for odds and advice of securing a federal clerkship for the 2022 term. A little bit about me. I'm a current 3L at a tier 3 law school and am in the top 3% of my class. I'm a board member on law review, am on one of the school's top moot court teams, and externed for a federal district court judge. Next year I'll be clerking for a state supreme court in the PNW, and I'm looking for federal clerkships the following year.

Clerking for the Ninth Circuit is the dream, but it seems a little far fetched. Unfortunately, my school is not very well-connected and I've had to scrap to make connections. I essentially got my state supreme court clerkship all on my own. Is a circuit court clerkship a possibility for someone like me? Is it attainable if I'm able to make some connections? All thoughts are welcome. Thanks y'all.

[nixy]

I’ve seen people parlay local success + state clerkships to federal clerkships, but I think it might be tougher to go from state SSC directly to COA - I’ve mostly seen people go SSC —> federal DCt —> COA. I think a lot will depend on your SSC justice and how connected they are? Previous clerkship experience definitely helps; if your judge can tell another judge that you’re an awesome clerk, that helps a ton.

[Anonymous User]

If you're not at a T14, Ninth Circuit is a long shot if you're not #1 in your class (and even then it's an uphill battle). See if the federal judge you externed for is willling to help in any way (even just by serving as a reference).

A non-CA magistrate or district court clerkship will be much more attainable, and very valuable if you intend to stay in the PNW. There are some great magistrate and district judges in Oregon and Washington, so don't count that out.

[UnderDogClerk]

If you're not at a T14, Ninth Circuit is a long shot if you're not #1 in your class (and even then it's an uphill battle). See if the federal judge you externed for is willling to help in any way (even just by serving as a reference).

A non-CA magistrate or district court clerkship will be much more attainable, and very valuable if you intend to stay in the PNW. There are some great magistrate and district judges in Oregon and Washington, so don't count that out.

The federal judge I externed for is one of my references. And I've been looking at both WD-WA and ED-WA.

[ieveko]

Depending on your politics and the outcome of the election, W.D. Wash. will probably see a ton of new judges in a Biden presidency, so I would watch closely for new nominees for those seats, especially because it sounds like the timing might work for you to start with them shortly after they’re confirmed.