2024 Clerkship Hiring Movement Forum

[Anonymous User]

Has Chutkan moved for 25-26? Assuming she has, but no one from my school seems to have an interview so would be nice to confirm.

[Anonymous User]

Any week 2 movement, or are things already looking bleak for those who didn’t get interviews last week?

[Anonymous User]

Top 10% at a T14, appellate clerkship lined up, and received no interviews from competitive district courts (DDC, NDCA) last week. Is this normal given the targets or am I right to be disappointed?

Similar stats, similar situation, albeit one year out of law school. Since getting my COA clerkship, I have had one interview with a competitive district court (and one with a slightly less competitive district court prior to getting the COA clerkship). So I think the answer is (1) normal and (2) you are within your rights to be disappointed (I know I am). If you think about how there are relatively few "competitive" districts there are (off the top of my head, ND Cal, ND Ill, DDC, SDNY, EDNY, EDVA are the classic list; you might have others on your personal list), you probably have better odds of getting a COA clerkship than getting a clerkship in a competitive district. That said, I'm still surprised with how much trouble I have had even getting an interview with these district court judges. A whole lotta silence.

[Anonymous User]

Top 10% at a T14, appellate clerkship lined up, and received no interviews from competitive district courts (DDC, NDCA) last week. Is this normal given the targets or am I right to be disappointed?

Similar stats, similar situation, albeit one year out of law school. Since getting my COA clerkship, I have had one interview with a competitive district court (and one with a slightly less competitive district court prior to getting the COA clerkship). So I think the answer is (1) normal and (2) you are within your rights to be disappointed (I know I am). If you think about how there are relatively few "competitive" districts there are (off the top of my head, ND Cal, ND Ill, DDC, SDNY, EDNY, EDVA are the classic list; you might have others on your personal list), you probably have better odds of getting a COA clerkship than getting a clerkship in a competitive district. That said, I'm still surprised with how much trouble I have had even getting an interview with these district court judges. A whole lotta silence.

Similarish stats and situation (appellate clerkship), no interviews for me as well. Silence even from (slightly) less competitive districts (think D Mass., etc) and even from judges where I know a call or two has been put in. I think it's fair to be disappointed, but it is just the way it goes I suppose.

[Anonymous User]

Any week 2 movement, or are things already looking bleak for those who didn’t get interviews last week?

Looks quiet on our tracker. I wouldn't be surprised if Juneteenth throws a bit of a wrench into this week.

We've seen very little from non-SDNY/EDNY/DDC districts. Just Chang and Seeger on NDIL, and a bit more (but not much) on NDCA. Things seem quiet.

[Anonymous User]

Any week 2 movement, or are things already looking bleak for those who didn’t get interviews last week?

Looks quiet on our tracker. I wouldn't be surprised if Juneteenth throws a bit of a wrench into this week.

We've seen very little from non-SDNY/EDNY/DDC districts. Just Chang and Seeger on NDIL, and a bit more (but not much) on NDCA. Things seem quiet.

Has EDNY moved that much? My school tracker has really only shown SDNY and like Komitee/Kovner on EDNY moving. Tho I'm probably also only selectively remembering this to hold out hope I could still get something in the area after week 1 lol.

[HarveyS714]

Top 10% at a T14, appellate clerkship lined up, and received no interviews from competitive district courts (DDC, NDCA) last week. Is this normal given the targets or am I right to be disappointed?

Similar stats, similar situation, albeit one year out of law school. Since getting my COA clerkship, I have had one interview with a competitive district court (and one with a slightly less competitive district court prior to getting the COA clerkship). So I think the answer is (1) normal and (2) you are within your rights to be disappointed (I know I am). If you think about how there are relatively few "competitive" districts there are (off the top of my head, ND Cal, ND Ill, DDC, SDNY, EDNY, EDVA are the classic list; you might have others on your personal list), you probably have better odds of getting a COA clerkship than getting a clerkship in a competitive district. That said, I'm still surprised with how much trouble I have had even getting an interview with these district court judges. A whole lotta silence.

COA clerkship (2/9/DC) near top of a T-20. I applied off-plan early this year and got nothing out of the most competitive districts (think SDNY, ND Cal, DDC). Switched my strategy and went application to offer in under 2 weeks in a less competitive district (not a flyover by any means but not DDC/SDNY caliber). I'm sure a lot of people will say that it's just difficult to get a serious look if you're not T6 in a the ultra-competitive districts. Not sure if I would've had more bites at the apple if I applied on-plan, but I also think you're within your rights to be disappointed.

My two cents are these: if you have a COA clerkship lined up, think about a less-competitive district in a place you'd like to live. Or try again next year. It's also worth reaching out to your judge – I didn't try this personally, but many COA judges (especially if they came from a competitive district) have friends on the bench and can get you an interview. Regardless, good luck!

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know of movement among COA judges for 2027-28 positions? Some judges posted close to the open of the hiring plan (Sullivan, Ambro, Chagares, Hardiman, etc.) but all have deadlines for application that are far in the future. Are interviews being scheduled or applications even being read now?

[Anonymous User]

Has Chutkan moved for 25-26? Assuming she has, but no one from my school seems to have an interview so would be nice to confirm.

She did interviews for 24-25 last August. I don't know if she only filled for one term or multiple at that time.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Judge Readler (6th Circuit) for 26-27?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know how quick Moore (6th Cir.) moves? Applied to her on the 10th and haven't heard back. Feeling cooked

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know how quick Moore (6th Cir.) moves? Applied to her on the 10th and haven't heard back. Feeling cooked

Moore is full for 2026–2027. She interviewed on Tuesday afternoon last week and, as expected, those offered accepted immediately.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on Heytens? He said he plans to interview next Monday and Tuesday, so I imagine calls went out this week.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know how quick Moore (6th Cir.) moves? Applied to her on the 10th and haven't heard back. Feeling cooked

Someone at my HYSC accepted an offer with Moore for 2026-27. :/

[Anonymous User]

Any word from the NJ Supreme Court? Interviewed with some justices this week but haven’t heard anything else.

[Anonymous User]

Boom (ED&WDKY) movement today.

[Anonymous User]

Any week 2 movement, or are things already looking bleak for those who didn’t get interviews last week?

Looks quiet on our tracker. I wouldn't be surprised if Juneteenth throws a bit of a wrench into this week.

We've seen very little from non-SDNY/EDNY/DDC districts. Just Chang and Seeger on NDIL, and a bit more (but not much) on NDCA. Things seem quiet.

Any movement from Judges Callahan, Paez, Bea, Ikuta, Murguia and Hurwitz on the 9th?

[coldbrew7272]

Has anyone heard any movement from the New Jersey Supreme Court? I know that at least some justices had interviews this past week.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard from Heytens yet?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard any movement from the New Jersey Supreme Court? I know that at least some justices had interviews this past week.

Former clerk here. I know of at least one offer (which was accepted). More generally, the court as a whole moves pretty quickly such that most justices have filled most slots by the end of the first week (so June 21 this year). That's not a rule and there are definitely exceptions but they typically want to avoid a protracted hiring process. This year is a bit of wildcard because of the vacancy due to Solomon's mandatory retirement. Depending on your background and interest clerking on the court, you might consider applying directly to the nominee, Hoffman. He hasn't been confirmed yet, and there were some recent political blips around his nomination, but it certainly doesn't hurt you to send him your resume expressing interest. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

Any week 2 movement, or are things already looking bleak for those who didn’t get interviews last week?

Looks quiet on our tracker. I wouldn't be surprised if Juneteenth throws a bit of a wrench into this week.

We've seen very little from non-SDNY/EDNY/DDC districts. Just Chang and Seeger on NDIL, and a bit more (but not much) on NDCA. Things seem quiet.

Any movement from Judges Callahan, Paez, Bea, Ikuta, Murguia and Hurwitz on the 9th?

Paez has hired at least one person I know of for 2025-26.

[Anonymous User]

Any week 2 movement, or are things already looking bleak for those who didn’t get interviews last week?

Looks quiet on our tracker. I wouldn't be surprised if Juneteenth throws a bit of a wrench into this week.

We've seen very little from non-SDNY/EDNY/DDC districts. Just Chang and Seeger on NDIL, and a bit more (but not much) on NDCA. Things seem quiet.

Any movement from Judges Callahan, Paez, Bea, Ikuta, Murguia and Hurwitz on the 9th?

Bea does off-plan interviews and hired back in Feb. Man's also nearly 100 and just now is seriously reducing his caseload--wild.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know of movement among COA judges for 2027-28 positions? Some judges posted close to the open of the hiring plan (Sullivan, Ambro, Chagares, Hardiman, etc.) but all have deadlines for application that are far in the future. Are interviews being scheduled or applications even being read now?

Former clerk for one of these judges who stays in touch. Basically, they (through informal channels) got a super-compelling applicant who said they only wanted to clerk on a CoA once, and for idiosyncratic reasons they'd be willing to wait until 27-28 for my judge - but the applicant wanted to lock something down ASAP. So 27-28 apps are in chambers, several were reviewed, but outside of that one candidate the judge is in wait-and-see mode.

[Anonymous User]

Yesterday, I sent an app for '27-'28 to a 5th Cir judge, who hires fairly early. I have been told my app is strong. While I know this varies widely from judge to judge, how long does it usually take off plan judges to reach out to schedule interviews? Has anyone heard of any movement on any 5th Cir judges other than Willett ?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know judges who are hiring off-plan for 2026-2027 now?