Please Chance Me for Federal Clerkships Forum

[Anonymous User]

I graduated from a T30 law school that doesn't rank last year. My gpa likely falls within the top 25%-33% if I had to guess. I am currently a clerk for a state supreme court (not from a crazy impressive state like NY), and I LOVE IT. I wasn't on law review, but I was on the executive board of another journal. I also participated in moot court, and I won an award for having one of the top 5 best briefs. When I was in law school, I worked in mid-law firms over the summer. I know my GPA and lack of law review is not ideal, but I'm hoping my state supreme court clerkship makes up for it. I don't want to clerk in any competitive states and would honestly prefer clerking in a flyover state. I'm also open to magistrate clerkships. I would just like any advice at all (my school's career services is not helpful). Should I even bother with federal district court clerkships or should I focus solely on magistrate clerkships? Is there anything I can do to better my chances? Right now, I'm open to clerking any year.

[Anonymous User]

I graduated from a T30 law school that doesn't rank last year. My gpa likely falls within the top 25%-33% if I had to guess. I am currently a clerk for a state supreme court (not from a crazy impressive state like NY), and I LOVE IT. I wasn't on law review, but I was on the executive board of another journal. I also participated in moot court, and I won an award for having one of the top 5 best briefs. When I was in law school, I worked in mid-law firms over the summer. I know my GPA and lack of law review is not ideal, but I'm hoping my state supreme court clerkship makes up for it. I don't want to clerk in any competitive states and would honestly prefer clerking in a flyover state. I'm also open to magistrate clerkships. I would just like any advice at all (my school's career services is not helpful). Should I even bother with federal district court clerkships or should I focus solely on magistrate clerkships? Is there anything I can do to better my chances? Right now, I'm open to clerking any year.

Your SSC experience should be attractive to district judges in that state. Assuming you're only clerking for one year, you're in a tough spot for 2021-2022 district court clerkships, however. In your position, I would be blanketing district judges in your state, and then branching out to all district judges within the circuit.

[Anonymous User]

I graduated from a T30 law school that doesn't rank last year. My gpa likely falls within the top 25%-33% if I had to guess. I am currently a clerk for a state supreme court (not from a crazy impressive state like NY), and I LOVE IT. I wasn't on law review, but I was on the executive board of another journal. I also participated in moot court, and I won an award for having one of the top 5 best briefs. When I was in law school, I worked in mid-law firms over the summer. I know my GPA and lack of law review is not ideal, but I'm hoping my state supreme court clerkship makes up for it. I don't want to clerk in any competitive states and would honestly prefer clerking in a flyover state. I'm also open to magistrate clerkships. I would just like any advice at all (my school's career services is not helpful). Should I even bother with federal district court clerkships or should I focus solely on magistrate clerkships? Is there anything I can do to better my chances? Right now, I'm open to clerking any year.

Your SSC experience should be attractive to district judges in that state. Assuming you're only clerking for one year, your in a tough spot for 2021-2022 district court clerkships, however. In your position, I would be blanketing district judges in your state, and then branching out to all district judges within the circuit.

Credited. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

[Anonymous User]

I'm the original poster. Thank you both! My state is in the 9th Circuit, so I'll be targeting every state in that circuit for sure. I'd like to clerk in 2021, but I'm open to 2022 and 2023 too.

[Anonymous User]

I'm the original poster. Thank you both! My state is in the 9th Circuit, so I'll be targeting every state in that circuit for sure. I'd like to clerk in 2021, but I'm open to 2022 and 2023 too.

You should be closely following Biden's (eventual) judicial nominees if you want a chance to clerk in 2021. Outside of those potential openings, I have to imagine nearly every clerk slot has been filled. Good luck!

[Jchance]

I graduated from a T30 law school that doesn't rank last year. My gpa likely falls within the top 25%-33% if I had to guess. I am currently a clerk for a state supreme court (not from a crazy impressive state like NY), and I LOVE IT. I wasn't on law review, but I was on the executive board of another journal. I also participated in moot court, and I won an award for having one of the top 5 best briefs. When I was in law school, I worked in mid-law firms over the summer. I know my GPA and lack of law review is not ideal, but I'm hoping my state supreme court clerkship makes up for it. I don't want to clerk in any competitive states and would honestly prefer clerking in a flyover state. I'm also open to magistrate clerkships. I would just like any advice at all (my school's career services is not helpful). Should I even bother with federal district court clerkships or should I focus solely on magistrate clerkships? Is there anything I can do to better my chances? Right now, I'm open to clerking any year.

Echo-ing the above posters.

Once you become comfortable with your SSC judge, have you asked the judge whether s/he knows any district court judge and would be comfortable making a call for you (after you express how much you love clerking and would like to continue to do so in the future)?

[Anonymous User]

I'm the original poster. Thank you! I will definitely ask my judge if she knows any federal judges. She's really into helping her clerks and externs get a state clerkships, but I haven't heard anything about federal clerkships yet.