2023-2024 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L in T14 (not YSH or CCN). Two interviews so far but otherwise nothing. Does anyone have an idea of how many federal appellate judges interview during the school year? Do most hold off on current 3L applications until the Plan opens up? I realize how idiosyncratic the process is---just trying to get a sense of if I should give up until next June.

[Anonymous User]

Any word from the 6th?

Bump

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L in T14 (not YSH or CCN). Two interviews so far but otherwise nothing. Does anyone have an idea of how many federal appellate judges interview during the school year? Do most hold off on current 3L applications until the Plan opens up? I realize how idiosyncratic the process is---just trying to get a sense of if I should give up until next June.

I'm a recent grad of a non HYS/CCN T14. Getting two interviews is great, and do you even know that you've been ruled out from consideration in those cases? I do not have a number of how many federal appellate judges interview during the school year, but I know I had an interview with one and so did several of my friends. I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to continue applying throughout the school year. It costs you nothing—you must already have your materials ready to go if you're applying right now—and (I don't have any data to back this up other than anecdotally) but it seems like it can be easier to get your app in front of the judge's eyes since only 3Ls/graduates are applying and you don't have to compete with the rush of 2Ls like you do in mid-June. So if you really want a COA clerkship, I would continue applying throughout your 3L year.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L in T14 (not YSH or CCN). Two interviews so far but otherwise nothing. Does anyone have an idea of how many federal appellate judges interview during the school year? Do most hold off on current 3L applications until the Plan opens up? I realize how idiosyncratic the process is---just trying to get a sense of if I should give up until next June.

I just graduated from mid- T2 school. I applied to almost every circuit judge available in Oscar (and outside) and got 4-7 interviews before finally getting one. I will say a about half (maybe a little less than half) of the judges hadn’t even hired by the time I got hired.

Here’s the point: it’s a crapshoot. Some judges legit follow the plan to the T. They are not going to hire you unless you have 4 semesters of grades. Some follow the plan loosely (e.g. they may make exceptions or may reach out to candidates before the plan expressing interest but not actually do the interview until later).

And seemingly mostly, and most frustratingly, they don’t follow the plan at all. They may hire you early 2L, late 3L or even 1L. I was personally hired in Jan-Mar by a non-plan judge. but some of the judges I interviewed with did hire over the summer.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous User]

Recent movement from Larsen and Murphy on the 6th Circuit for 23-24.

[Anonymous User]

Recent movement from Larsen and Murphy on the 6th Circuit for 23-24.

Readler, Nalbandian, and Sutton all also interviewing.

[Anonymous User]

On the 11th Brasher and Pryor are also moving. I know Luck and Branch are already full.

[Anonymous User]

On the 11th Brasher and Pryor are also moving. I know Luck and Branch are already full.

Jill or William Pryor?

[Anonymous User]

On the 11th Brasher and Pryor are also moving. I know Luck and Branch are already full.

Jill or William Pryor?

As far as I know, W. Pryor was full for 2023–24 back in the spring.

[Anonymous User]

W. Pryor is full for 2023-24. I have heard of movement for 2024-25.

[Anonymous User]

On the 11th Brasher and Pryor are also moving. I know Luck and Branch are already full.

Brasher is full for 2023 to 2024.

[Anonymous User]

For those discussing CLS professors earlier in the thread, thank you, that was very informative. I am a rising 3L and am considering applying, but candidly am not a strong candidate. Was not Stone 1L (straight B+s) and only made Stone for 2L (overall GPA ~3.56). Is it worth still reaching out to one of the professors listed above (e.g., one of Richman, Greene, Waxman) if I got only A-s in their classes? If I were to apply, I would be very flexible with year/geography. Just not sure if it is worth putting in the work if I would be shut out anyway.

Yes. I know people at CLS who were in the exact same position as you 1L (and a similar position 2L) who got very solid clerkships. Even if you may not be the best candidate right now, another year on the 2/3L curve should really help you. In your position, professor recs are pretty important, so I would 100% reach out. There is literally zero downside to reaching out and seeing what they have to say.

Agree with the above. I think all three of them would be candid with you about your odds, where you would be competitive, etc. There is no downside to talking to them; after that conversation you will have enough information to decide about applying.

This is also off-market advice, but the one thing our clerkship dean seems to be good at is finding positions for "marginal" clerkship candidates. She is (allegedly) well connected with NY CoA / NJ & CT equivalents, has made a point of getting to know magistrate judges, etc. Whether you want those is a different question that she won't help with because she aggressively pushes everyone who comes to her to a clerkship.

Re: "being flexible with year and geography," think hard about what a clerkship will actually do for you and how it will fit in your life. It's not life-or-death to have one.

Thanks for this advice. I'll connect with them and see what they have to say. Ideally, would like to shoot for AUSA down the road, but given my family/ties considerations, it would have to be in a competitive/semi-competitive district). This is the only reason I am considering applying, which I recognize is not the best reason.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement? It's been radio silence it seems

[Anonymous User]

Abrams (SDNY) full through 2024 term

(admin posting anon on behalf of user)

[Anonymous User]

Have most of the judges on the Federal Circuit already hired for 2023? I applied before the plan opened and have only heard from one judge via a kind rejection letter.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement? It's been radio silence it seems

Friend of mine on 2d Cir. says Sack is full thru 2023, Livingston still moving for 2023.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement? It's been radio silence it seems

Friend of mine on 2d Cir. says Sack is full thru 2023, Livingston still moving for 2023.

Is Livingston looking to fill up 2023 completely?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement? It's been radio silence it seems

Friend of mine on 2d Cir. says Sack is full thru 2023, Livingston still moving for 2023.

Is Livingston looking to fill up 2023 completely?

Same anon as above. Not sure, sorry.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if Ketanji Brown Jackson is filled up until 2025?

[Anonymous User]

Anybody have any information on if Judges Tiffany Cunningham or Candace Akiwumi-Jackson have filled up 2022 or 2023 slots?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know what Bumatay is hiring for now? He has Oscar listings up to 2026.

[Anonymous User]

Have most of the judges on the Federal Circuit already hired for 2023? I applied before the plan opened and have only heard from one judge via a kind rejection letter.

Haven't heard anything yet though I applied late. Which judge did you hear from/was it just a rejection or did he say he had already finished hiring? What is your school/stats range?

[freecheese]

Anybody have any information on if Judges Tiffany Cunningham or Candace Akiwumi-Jackson have filled up 2022 or 2023 slots?

I've heard Akiwumi-Jackson will post on OSCAR when ready

[Anonymous User]

Have most of the judges on the Federal Circuit already hired for 2023? I applied before the plan opened and have only heard from one judge via a kind rejection letter.

Haven't heard anything yet though I applied late. Which judge did you hear from/was it just a rejection or did he say he had already finished hiring? What is your school/stats range?

I am the anon you quoted. The rejection did not say anything about whether the judge was finished hiring. That may have been the case. It was phrased along the lines of “we have your resume and may consider it in the future,” rather than “you did not make the cut.”

[Anonymous User]

Have most of the judges on the Federal Circuit already hired for 2023? I applied before the plan opened and have only heard from one judge via a kind rejection letter.

Haven't heard anything yet though I applied late. Which judge did you hear from/was it just a rejection or did he say he had already finished hiring? What is your school/stats range?

I am the anon you quoted. The rejection did not say anything about whether the judge was finished hiring. That may have been the case. It was phrased along the lines of “we have your resume and may consider it in the future,” rather than “you did not make the cut.”

I know Judge Dyk has hired already for '23.