Interview Details and Odds Forum

[Anonymous User]

Awaiting results of a clerkship interview, and I'm over-analyzing how it went. I understand that any responses would be anecdotal, but I'm still interested.

How long do judges typically spend interviewing each candidate? How many interviews do they typically conduct for each vacancy when they hire off-plan?

I interviewed for a position with a district judge, in case that changes answers at all.

[Anonymous User]

We really can't give you answer because it is sooooo judge-specific. All I can really give you is a range. some judges hire basically 100% of the people they interview and on the other extreme maybe a judge will hire 1 for every 4 they interview (or maybe more). As far as interview time, I would say 1.5 hours is like the median. Some judges (Kozinski famously), have intense 8 to 10 hours interview and I heard of one judge who does literally 10 minute interviews.

I clerked for two judges. One was a 30 minute conversation with just the judge that ended in an offer and the other was a 3 hour conversation that involved the judge for half the time and then the clerks the other half that I got an offer later that day.

[Anonymous User]

Awaiting results of a clerkship interview, and I'm over-analyzing how it went. I understand that any responses would be anecdotal, but I'm still interested.

How long do judges typically spend interviewing each candidate? How many interviews do they typically conduct for each vacancy when they hire off-plan?

I interviewed for a position with a district judge, in case that changes answers at all.

It varies extremely widely. I clerked for a judge that interviewed many candidates and made sure to complete all interviews before making any offers. It took weeks to hear from him because he had so many interviews and I was one of the first. I also clerked for a judge that gave me an offer ten minutes into the interview and then chatted with me for another thirty. It's very idiosyncratic. Both of my clerkships were off-plan hires.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, there's no way to generalize about this. Even if you could find out what "most" judges do, you need to know about this particular judge. Your best source of info would be their previous clerks (that said, don't reach out and ask any of this unless it's someone you already know - it would not be a good look).