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What's the "alum bump" like for those with good not great grades?
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 5:09 pm
by Anonymous User
And what are the biggest factors in getting an "alum bump"? I imagine it can't be actual matters / writing per se unless a super high-profile matter but could be wrong. Is it potentially having an "in" with the right partner(s) who can write / call for you? Is the effect more muted among feeders, who won't flex on grades as much?
Re: What's the "alum bump" like for those with good not great grades?
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 5:15 pm
by Anonymous User
District courts, which are the clerkships most likely to have alum preferences, have a ton of routine docket management stuff that some practice experience helps with. Plus like discovery disputes etc.
Re: What's the "alum bump" like for those with good not great grades?
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 11:42 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Jun 03, 2022 5:09 pm
And what are the biggest factors in getting an "alum bump"? I imagine it can't be actual matters / writing per se unless a super high-profile matter but could be wrong. Is it potentially having an "in" with the right partner(s) who can write / call for you? Is the effect more muted among feeders, who won't flex on grades as much?
It varies enormously judge to judge. For an appeals court, some academic-minded judges will take an alum candidate with lower grades who has published something the judge finds interesting. For district judges, practice experience and a recommendation from a partner in the judge's market who the judge knows and trusts can make a huge difference.
Basically, most judges outside of the top feeders are looking for low-risk clerks who they know can do the work, because a bad clerk can set chambers back by months. If you're hiring a law student, grades are the best predictor available. Once you're out of school, there are a lot more ways you can prove that you'll be able to do great legal analysis while managing a fast-paced docket.