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I've searched this forum and know this has been discussed a few times before, but wondering if any current fed CoA clerks can give insight into how much a fed district court clerkship (non-DDC/NY/Cal/EDVA) can help an application to a non-2/9/DC CoA? Does an application that's otherwise solid/fine (but not a standout) get pulled for a second look? Automatically passed to your judge? Doesn't move the needle at all? Does that change if the d.ct. judge calls on the applicant's behalf?

Caveat: definitely know it varies so much by judge preference, reputation/connections of your d.ct. judge, geography, other factors. Just interested in hearing different perspectives while I kill time hoping I hear back from these apps haha

Current fed COA clerk. State supreme court or federal district court helps a lot once you get past the pile and it is a substantial factor in picking between two candidates we both like. However, it wont help you get out of the pile as to get out of the pile we are just looking for top grades, school, and then to a much lesser extent writing sample and rec letters.

I clerked for a district judge in flyover country. They really liked me and my work, and they were more connected than I realized. I landed several COA interviews with their help and ended up clerking for a COA judge that they were close with. For reference, I am the first person from my law school to clerk on this circuit. I wouldn’t have had a shot otherwise without my district judge’s help.

It was a big help to me. And my success rate (getting interviews) jumped significantly after my D. Ct. judge wrote a glowing LOR.

lavarman84 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 26, 2025 8:53 pm

It was a big help to me. And my success rate (getting interviews) jumped significantly after my D. Ct. judge wrote a glowing LOR.

Strong agree about a glowing rec letter being significant. I also had an extra year of stronger grades at that point, I went from zero COA interviews applying really widely to 5 after re-applying more narrowly, including with some prominent/feeder judges. One of them explicitly said they decided to interview me because of the letter and that was quite apparent with a second, as well (they were personal friends).

With that said, note that a d.ct. clerkship in a less prestigious area could even have an adverse effect in some chambers. I heard at least one co-clerk make a comment like "oh, but they're clerking on [less prestigious district court]..." as a negative about an application.