How much does district clerkship help with circuit. Forum

[Anonymous User]

Did not get any interviews with circuit judges this cycle, but I accepted a district clerkship in what I understand is a relatively competitive district. (Ndil/Cdcal/Edny). Top 1% at a t25 law school.

Will having a district court clerkship significantly increase chances of getting a circuit interview? Or will judges still primarily screen by law school such that resume won't get pulled from the pile?

[Anonymous User]

No one can ever say you will for sure get a circuit clerkship, but I think it makes you far, far more likely to get a COA clerkship than you were before the Dist. Ct. clerkship. Not many circuit judges who are open to non-T14 candidates tend to hire immediately from law school, but with the DC clerkship and summa-ish from a T25 I think you have about as solid of a shot as a non-T14er (or really T6-er) can ever have.

[Anonymous User]

My circuit judge liked district court clerkships and state supreme court clerkships. Didn't really care about the competitiveness of the district or state, but preferred SSC and district court clerks within the actual circuit.

[Anonymous User]

My circuit judge also looked to hire at least one district court clerk per cycle. If they hired someone who had a gap year after graduation, the judge would try to arrange for that person to clerk for a district judge for that gap year.

[lavarman84]

I had a similar resume. Didn't get a sniff from a COA judge while in law school. The D. Ct. clerkship was a huge help for me, especially once I had a LOR from my judge. I ended up with four or five interviews and an offer within a few months.