Reaching out to new nominees Forum

[Anonymous User]

Is there like some online consensus of in general on how to apply and reach out to new nominees. Do I just find some email for them and send them my apps or is there a better way to do this. I feel like just bombarding these nominees with apps right after they get nominated would be annoying, but what do I know I guess.

[Pneumonia]

You definitely should not send cold emails. They are focused on confirmation right now, not clerks. If you have a connection that can gauge the nominee’s interest in receiving apps right now, that’s fine. But they almost always say to just wait. If you have someone who can and will start lobbying for you behind the scenes, that’s fine too. But again, very unlikely to make a dent just yet.

[Anonymous User]

You definitely should not send cold emails. They are focused on confirmation right now, not clerks. If you have a connection that can gauge the nominee’s interest in receiving apps right now, that’s fine. But they almost always say to just wait. If you have someone who can and will start lobbying for you behind the scenes, that’s fine too. But again, very unlikely to make a dent just yet.

When should you apply? Just wait for them to publicly solicit apps?

[Anonymous User]

Judges generally start thinking about clerks around the time they get out of committee. Many hire via connections for the first two classes or so so work any you have. I don’t think cold apps are as bad of an idea as the previous poster.

[Anonymous User]

Judges generally start thinking about clerks around the time they get out of committee. Many hire via connections for the first two classes or so so work any you have. I don’t think cold apps are as bad of an idea as the previous poster.

Oh to clarify I mean judges that have just been voted on and received their commission. Senate has been moving more quickly recently so I was thinking about these judges because I hear they tend to get less apps. Also to further note I would be more looking at 2025 terms so not like start immediately type apps, but figure some judges in more competitive areas may want to start filling 2025. Again, though, I'm unsure.

[Anonymous User]

I reached out to a judge right after he was confirmed and was hired. So it definitely can work.

I called the courthouse (clerk’s office of local courthouse) and asked for a mailing address for him there. I fedexed my materials (cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample) to his office with a cover letter congratulating him on his confirmation and stating that when he turns to consider clerks, I was happy to submit any additional materials he may need. About a month later, his JA reached out to ask me for letters of recommendation. Then I had an interview and was hired.

[Anonymous User]

I reached out to a judge right after he was confirmed and was hired. So it definitely can work.

I called the courthouse (clerk’s office of local courthouse) and asked for a mailing address for him there. I fedexed my materials (cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample) to his office with a cover letter congratulating him on his confirmation and stating that when he turns to consider clerks, I was happy to submit any additional materials he may need. About a month later, his JA reached out to ask me for letters of recommendation. Then I had an interview and was hired.

Was this for a term to start immediately or a future term?

[Pneumonia]

I agree that cold apps are fine for recently confirmed judges, but being out of committee is the earliest I’d recommend. I took the question to be about recent nominees who weren’t any further in the process than merely having been announced.

[Anonymous User]

I agree that cold apps are fine for recently confirmed judges, but being out of committee is the earliest I’d recommend. I took the question to be about recent nominees who weren’t any further in the process than merely having been announced.

Even for terms as late as 2025+?

[Anonymous User]

FWIW I had a friend do this successfully in the past two years. What they looked for was waiting to reach out until it was clear politically the nominee would be confirmed. So you might wait until at least they're hearing to see whether there are likely an roadblocks, unless there's some reporting that the person will sail through. Otherwise, I think the advice in here on how to reach the nominee seems on point.

[Anonymous User]

Anecdotally, I got both of my clerkships by applying when the judges were in the process (one hadn’t yet made it out of committee). I had personal connections and recommenders reach out on my behalf, but I still applied “early.” It’s more common than you think.

[Anonymous User]

Is there like some online consensus of in general on how to apply and reach out to new nominees. Do I just find some email for them and send them my apps or is there a better way to do this. I feel like just bombarding these nominees with apps right after they get nominated would be annoying, but what do I know I guess.

I did this and got three interviews. So I wouldn’t worry too much about sounding annoying, as long as your email is appropriately worded

[Anonymous User]

Is there like some online consensus of in general on how to apply and reach out to new nominees. Do I just find some email for them and send them my apps or is there a better way to do this. I feel like just bombarding these nominees with apps right after they get nominated would be annoying, but what do I know I guess.

I did this and got three interviews. So I wouldn’t worry too much about sounding annoying, as long as your email is appropriately worded

So literally just look to see if you can scrounge up any possible email or even message them on LinkedIn maybe?

[Anonymous User]

Is there like some online consensus of in general on how to apply and reach out to new nominees. Do I just find some email for them and send them my apps or is there a better way to do this. I feel like just bombarding these nominees with apps right after they get nominated would be annoying, but what do I know I guess.

I did this and got three interviews. So I wouldn’t worry too much about sounding annoying, as long as your email is appropriately worded

So literally just look to see if you can scrounge up any possible email or even message them on LinkedIn maybe?

LinkedIn might be a little weird…

[Anonymous User]

Is there like some online consensus of in general on how to apply and reach out to new nominees. Do I just find some email for them and send them my apps or is there a better way to do this. I feel like just bombarding these nominees with apps right after they get nominated would be annoying, but what do I know I guess.

I did this and got three interviews. So I wouldn’t worry too much about sounding annoying, as long as your email is appropriately worded

So literally just look to see if you can scrounge up any possible email or even message them on LinkedIn maybe?

I’d stick with email. Otherwise yes.

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

And this works? Like they do they actually read it. I guess if I was in their position I'd at least be curious what this package is, idk.

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

This is bad advice IMO. If I were in the position of wanting to apply to one of the nominees, I would do a short, polite email asking if they are accepting applications. Perhaps with a resume attached. And send it to a public email address, if they have one (likely from their current employer).

But honestly, I would probably just wait until they are confirmed.

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

I wouldn’t send a long cover letter for a clerkship app of any sort. I’ve seen far more hurt than help. But you should clearly and succinctly explain your interest, any connection you have, and anything important that is not on your resume (e.g. desire for a similar career path).

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

This is bad advice IMO. If I were in the position of wanting to apply to one of the nominees, I would do a short, polite email asking if they are accepting applications. Perhaps with a resume attached. And send it to a public email address, if they have one (likely from their current employer).

But honestly, I would probably just wait until they are confirmed.

I’m the poster above who managed to snag three interviews. I wouldn’t mail your application. Stick with email. One, it gets your foot in the door sooner. Some noms start looking for clerks much sooner than others; they want to start their new gig running. Two, I wouldn’t even send a cover letter. Just use the email itself as a brief cover letter and attach your resume/grade sheet. That worked for me.

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

This is bad advice IMO. If I were in the position of wanting to apply to one of the nominees, I would do a short, polite email asking if they are accepting applications. Perhaps with a resume attached. And send it to a public email address, if they have one (likely from their current employer).

But honestly, I would probably just wait until they are confirmed.

I’m the poster above who managed to snag three interviews. I wouldn’t mail your application. Stick with email. One, it gets your foot in the door sooner. Some noms start looking for clerks much sooner than others; they want to start their new gig running. Two, I wouldn’t even send a cover letter. Just use the email itself as a brief cover letter and attach your resume/grade sheet. That worked for me.

I got mine by emailing the nominee when they got out of committee. I sniffed around for someone who knew the nominee (this strategy is easiest to pull off when you work in the same market as the nominee--people who get nominated for federal judgeships tend to be broadly connected, so if you talk to enough people you'll find someone who knows them). It's very helpful to have your mutual connection give the nominee a heads up so you aren't completely cold-emailing.

If you don't have any connection to the judge, cold-mailing a paper application to their current place of employment is 100% fine. Some nominees, especially those unfamiliar with the clerkship hiring system, may be surprised by it, but others will be expecting it. I agree on the advice to wait until they are out of committee.

You can also wait until the day they're confirmed and cold-mail your application to the courthouse the judge is going to sit in. The Marshals will bring it from the mailroom up to the judge's new chambers.

[Anonymous User]

As someone who unsuccessfully interviewed with two recently confirmed judges (in January and February) and is interviewing with two others today and early next week, I don't think that it is necessary to do something like this. From what I have seen, all the recently appointed judges are posting openings on OSCAR.

If you really want to do something like this and you are politically inclined, you might want to join ACS and see if you can get some help from them with newly confirmed judges. But, I really don't know if it makes a huge difference.

In my experience, mentors in my professional network have tried moving the needle with judges in two district courts that are technically less competitive than the districts I've interviewed in/am under consideration in. The networking has not produced any results yet.

[Anonymous User]

Cold snail mail package with robust detailed cover letter about who you are and why the eff you’re writing to them, sent to their current (soon to be former) place of employment. Great way to get in the back door IMO.

This is bad advice IMO. If I were in the position of wanting to apply to one of the nominees, I would do a short, polite email asking if they are accepting applications. Perhaps with a resume attached. And send it to a public email address, if they have one (likely from their current employer).

But honestly, I would probably just wait until they are confirmed.

Your opinion is wrong. I am the poster above. I did this. I got 2 interviews in relatively competitive districts by doing it, one of which led to a clerkship. And I got it with (I almost guarantee) worse baseline creds than anybody opining in this thread. No connection to judges of any sort.