Didn't make main journal, how screwed am I? Forum

[ShawnLaw1998]

Hey everybody, I got my Write-On results back last week, and I didn't end up making the main journal. I'm really bummed, I made my top secondary journal, but I feel like I might be screwed now for clerkships. My grades were pretty good, I was fairly far above my sections top 10%, probably closer to top 5%, although my school doesn't give any information above top 10%. I'm just wondering if I've blown my chances. I eventually want to end up at a CoA, but I'm fine with doing a district court clerkship and then using that to get to the appellate level. Do you guys have any advice for me going into 2L for me to best maximize my chances of getting a fed clerkship?

[Anonymous User]

You're not screwed at all don't worry.

[Anonymous User]

The poster above is right. Lots of people at my H got top feeder clerkships without law review. I think the Fay Diploma winner this year also didn't make HLR or didn't do the competition. I would focus on grades and building relationships with professors whom you know go to bat for you.

[Anonymous User]

The poster above is right. Lots of people at my H got top feeder clerkships without law review. I think the Fay Diploma winner this year also didn't make HLR or didn't do the competition. I would focus on grades and building relationships with professors whom you know go to bat for you.

Not that it matters but Fay from the last 2 years were both on HLR.

[Anonymous User]

It could potentially hurt but doesn't doom you completely, especially if everything else is really strong.

[Anonymous User]

I know plenty of people with federal clerkships who weren't on the flagship journal - people underplay how important it is to actually just show a bit of humanity and individuality in your application to get on judges' radar. They get a million of the basically same application and there are other ways to stand out. Most of my friends were not on the flagship journal and every friend who wanted a clerkship got one. This is coming from someone who was not on a flagship journal and got a clerkship on the second circuit.

[lavarman84]

It depends on the tier of the school. If you're at a top law school, it is not a huge deal. If you're at a law school that isn't as highly ranked, it'll hurt you, but it's not fatal.

[Anonymous User]

It depends on the tier of the school. If you're at a top law school, it is not a huge deal. If you're at a law school that isn't as highly ranked, it'll hurt you, but it's not fatal.

This. The lower down the rankings your school is, the more having an absolute perfect resume matters—for competitive judges, you may need even LR EIC from e.g. a T100. Missing HLR/YLJ matters less, but you should do a good secondary ideally.

[Anonymous User]

Current clerk, was on ed board at my T14 flagship journal. After seeing how the law review selection process works in practice, I don't value it at all in choosing which applications to flag for my judge. At least at my school, some candidates in the top quartile in the write-on exercise didn't make it, and some in the bottom quartile did. It doesn't tell you anything about an applicant's editing or writing skills anymore.

Some judges do still care about it, but it's fewer and fewer every year. Get good grades, do a secondary journal, and you'll be fine.