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should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:13 pm
by jotarokujo
given that it's covid time, i'm hesitant to use snail mail. should I just send unsolicited clerkship apps via chambers email?
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:18 pm
by basileus59
Given everything going on, I would tend towards using email. I'd imagine many chambers are partially or fully remote (if you look at CA9 on youtube, a lot of judges seem to be in their homes), so snail mail might lie around for a while, if someone has to go into chambers to pick it up.
Also, see if your CDO has non-generic email addresses on file, i.e. a dedicated clerkships email address for that chambers.
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:56 pm
by Iowahawk
Do whatever it says on OSCAR. For judges not on OSCAR (if that's what "unsolicited" means), do your best to figure it out (you can try an anonymous phone call to chambers) and paper is probably safer.
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:21 pm
by jotarokujo
my hesitance with paper apps stems from many courthouses being closed due to the pandemic. in light of that, would email be more prudent?
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:55 pm
by InvisiblePineapple
Some of the OSCAR postings (e.g. Gerard Lynch's that just went up) say not to send snail mail because they are not regularly checking it. Email is safer if you have a good email address.
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:58 pm
by Anonymous User
InvisiblePineapple wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:55 pm
Some of the OSCAR postings (e.g. Gerard Lynch's that just went up) say not to send snail mail because they are not regularly checking it. Email is safer if you have a good email address.
Got it. Would chambers email/email on leadership connect qualify as "good"?
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2020 12:07 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:58 pm
InvisiblePineapple wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:55 pm
Some of the OSCAR postings (e.g. Gerard Lynch's that just went up) say not to send snail mail because they are not regularly checking it. Email is safer if you have a good email address.
Got it. Would chambers email/email on leadership connect qualify as "good"?
Yes, although if the email address is for a term clerk, it might not be up to date (if the clerk has left, for example).
Re: should I send unsolicited applications via snail mail or email
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2020 8:39 pm
by The_MJ
FWIW, even though OSCAR says to apply through the program, there are some judges will call in a fair number of applicants for an interview if they either emailed them directly or managed to get a law professor to email chambers directly praising the student. I recommend the second approach if you are particularly close with a professor or adjunct whom you know well.
It's a high-risk, high-reward situation. It may turn off some folks, but I think others will appreciate the initiative and moxy. Please don't go overboard and begin to shotgun an unlimited number to random judges throughout the country -- that will not turn out well. You should maybe target a 3-5 judges and personalize the email. This will not be enough to compensate for mediocre grades, but it might help get your application pulled from the bottomless pile, get a serious look, and get called in for an interview.
There are of course exceptions to the rule. If the judge's OSCAR written profile says "Do not email chambers" or "ONLY use OSCAR," then you should of course follow this mandate. If it says "MAIL ONLY," but it hasn't been updated post-COVID -- circa March 2020 -- then I think it's fair game to call chambers and ask whether the rule applies.