Chancery Court: Competitiveness+Bonuses Forum

[Lm10]

I am top 10% at a T14 and am interested in clerking on DE's Court of Chancery.

Does anyone know (1) how competitive the application process is (as compared to Federal Circuit or District) and/or (2) what type/amount of clerkship bonuses Chancery clerks get from biglaw firms (I have seen a lot about how much federal clerkship bonuses are but nothing really specific or recent about chancery court clerkships).

TIA!

[Anonymous User]

1. Your stats make you competitive, but to cinch an interview you will likely need (1) a good professor contacting a judge for you; and (2) a writing sample that demonstrates interest in what the Court of Chancery does. Chancery court clerkships require more specific skillset and subject-matter familiarity than most other clerkships. Something (or someone) that can show you know what you're getting into and will be good at it can go a long way.
2. Firm policies on state court clerkship bonuses are not as uniform as they are for federal clerkships, but plenty of big firms give bonuses for well-regarded state court clerkships like the Court of Chancery. If your firm doesn't have that policy, you should be able to negotiate one (especially if you get an offer from another firm that does give bonuses for state court clerkships). Bonus amount is the same as for federal clerkships.

[Anonymous User]

I'll be clerking on Chancery this fall and the above poster's points match my impressions. You're definitely competitive in terms of grades and could probably get some interviews on that alone. However, the relevant writing sample + prof. going to bat (especially if they're someone the judge knows/respects) can be what moves the needle. Also worth noting that applications for 2023-24 are closed and that Chancery judges tend to interview/hire in a coordinated process once per year. Their website says they'll start accepting 2024-25 applications in November.

As for bonuses, almost every major firm will give a market bonus + class year bump for a Chancery clerkship (to the point that I've never heard of someone not getting one). I'm did purely transactional work my 2L summer and my firm still offered the bonus/class year no questions asked.

[Anonymous User]

Recent CLS alum here - didn't clerk on chancery but well connected in DE.

Agree with others. Your stats are competitive. Bigger issues (listed in order of importance): professors with relationships who will go to bat for you (at CLS, this would be Talley, Gordon, Goshen and maybe the WLRK litigation partners who teach a DE lit class every year), understanding/background knowledge/interest in the specific work that DE chancery does, and (distant third) ties to the mid-atlantic region. Spending a significant amount of your life within a 90 minute drive of DE will help, even moreso if you actually have real DE ties. DE ties are definitely not necessary but absolutely a thing I would suggest you focus on if you have them.

[Lm10]

1. Your stats make you competitive, but to cinch an interview you will likely need (1) a good professor contacting a judge for you; and (2) a writing sample that demonstrates interest in what the Court of Chancery does. Chancery court clerkships require more specific skillset and subject-matter familiarity than most other clerkships. Something (or someone) that can show you know what you're getting into and will be good at it can go a long way.
2. Firm policies on state court clerkship bonuses are not as uniform as they are for federal clerkships, but plenty of big firms give bonuses for well-regarded state court clerkships like the Court of Chancery. If your firm doesn't have that policy, you should be able to negotiate one (especially if you get an offer from another firm that does give bonuses for state court clerkships). Bonus amount is the same as for federal clerkships.

I'll be clerking on Chancery this fall and the above poster's points match my impressions. You're definitely competitive in terms of grades and could probably get some interviews on that alone. However, the relevant writing sample + prof. going to bat (especially if they're someone the judge knows/respects) can be what moves the needle. Also worth noting that applications for 2023-24 are closed and that Chancery judges tend to interview/hire in a coordinated process once per year. Their website says they'll start accepting 2024-25 applications in November.

As for bonuses, almost every major firm will give a market bonus + class year bump for a Chancery clerkship (to the point that I've never heard of someone not getting one). I'm did purely transactional work my 2L summer and my firm still offered the bonus/class year no questions asked.

Recent CLS alum here - didn't clerk on chancery but well connected in DE.

Agree with others. Your stats are competitive. Bigger issues (listed in order of importance): professors with relationships who will go to bat for you (at CLS, this would be Talley, Gordon, Goshen and maybe the WLRK litigation partners who teach a DE lit class every year), understanding/background knowledge/interest in the specific work that DE chancery does, and (distant third) ties to the mid-atlantic region. Spending a significant amount of your life within a 90 minute drive of DE will help, even moreso if you actually have real DE ties. DE ties are definitely not necessary but absolutely a thing I would suggest you focus on if you have them.

Thank you all so much for these comments. They are very helpful and certainly appreciated!

I literally just received (and accepted) a clerkship offer from the Court of Chancery, so I am very excited to be heading there after I take the bar.