Clerkship Apps w/COVID semester P/F Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering if anyone thinks 1L spring semester P/F because of COVID will affect clerkship apps? It has to affect GPA, Latin honors, etc for those of us graduating this year. We only had 3 grades 1L first semester and none 1L second semester. Not sure how it will affect clerkship apps through Oscar for our T14.

[Anonymous User]

I'm not quite sure what you're asking by "will affect clerkship apps." At this point, most folks who are graduating in 2022 (and looking to clerk immediately or even in 2023) already have applied & gotten clerkships, and my T14 office hasn't heard of judges being any more or less picky about grades if that's what you're asking. Judges who are highly selective will still be selective if you had 3 semesters of grades instead of 4, and judges who value other things will just check that your GPA is above a certain cutoff (which I doubt they would've changed because of the pandemic).

[Anonymous User]

OP here, guess I was wondering how it affected Latin honors this year. I have my first clerkship set but going thru Oscar in a few months to try for next one.

[Anonymous User]

Not sure what schools you are talking about, but my T6 has a lot of 3Ls getting apps ready for OSCAR this June. There are a lot of feeder COA judges who are hiring a few years ahead so lots of us are looking at applying for 2024 since we are all supposed to abide by OSCAR timeliness, not sure how some are getting them off-cycle.

[Anonymous User]

Stupid question but... if you're a 3L why are you waiting for OSCAR to open in June? Can't you put together your applications now off cycle, since the plan only applies to the current 2Ls? That seems like the major benefit to waiting until your 3L year to apply rather than applying immediately when it opens after your 2L year in June.

[Anonymous User]

Not sure what schools you are talking about, but my T6 has a lot of 3Ls getting apps ready for OSCAR this June. There are a lot of feeder COA judges who are hiring a few years ahead so lots of us are looking at applying for 2024 since we are all supposed to abide by OSCAR timeliness, not sure how some are getting them off-cycle.

Probably 30% of federal judges don’t follow the Plan. If you’re interested in off-plan judges, just apply, your clerkship office won’t stop you—plenty of NYU and CLS students get off-plan clerkships even with technical admin disapproval.

[Anonymous User]

Stupid question but... if you're a 3L why are you waiting for OSCAR to open in June? Can't you put together your applications now off cycle, since the plan only applies to the current 2Ls? That seems like the major benefit to waiting until your 3L year to apply rather than applying immediately when it opens after your 2L year in June.

Many judges only really look at apps in June. There’s no real benefit to waiting for 3L—you’ll likely end up with a clerkship further out, which many people see as more inconvenient, and give your grades more time to fall.

[Anonymous User]

I clerked and was there helping my judge review applications that involved Covid P/F semesters. Actually, some schools allowed the P/F option, while other schools did all classes. The latter wasn't really a big deal, but the former did raise some questions. We didn't disqualify for it, but a higher GPA that had 1 or 2 P/F wasn't considered as strong of a trait. We ended up hiring someone who had one Covid P/F since the rest of their qualifications were fine and they interviewed well, but it was noticed. Key point is make sure the rest of your packet is strong.