how can I improve my profile as a transfer student? Forum

[Anonymous User]

hi all
struck out on the plan and want to figure out how i can improve my clerkship odds going forward as a T70-->T14 rising 3L. I'm on law review ed board and in the top 3-5% at my current school (after being #1 in my class at my old school). Doing research for multiple profs and have what I think are very good rec letters. Is there something I can do to make my profile more attractive to judges? Am I tainted forever by my 1L school?

[Anonymous User]

I have no insight but damn thats impressive. T70 to top 3-5% at t14 is wild

[Anonymous User]

hi all
struck out on the plan and want to figure out how i can improve my clerkship odds going forward as a T70-->T14 rising 3L. I'm on law review ed board and in the top 3-5% at my current school (after being #1 in my class at my old school). Doing research for multiple profs and have what I think are very good rec letters. Is there something I can do to make my profile more attractive to judges? Am I tainted forever by my 1L school?

Applying on plan as a transfer student is tough since you only have two (one?) sets of grades that can be compared to others applying from you school. Focus on killing it your 3L year. If you keep up your performance/rank I think you'll be a very competitive applicant come next year, when there aren't a million people applying at the same time (and even if you do the plan again, you'll still be in a better position as a 3L with more grades). Also make sure your school's clerkship support knows you're looking for a clerkship so that they can advocate for you throughout the year. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

I have no insight but damn thats impressive. T70 to top 3-5% at t14 is wild

thank you! if only judges felt the same way :')

[Anonymous User]

I have no insight but damn thats impressive. T70 to top 3-5% at t14 is wild

thank you! if only judges felt the same way :')

Impressive indeed. You will get something eventually. Don't give up.

[Anonymous User]

hi all
struck out on the plan and want to figure out how i can improve my clerkship odds going forward as a T70-->T14 rising 3L. I'm on law review ed board and in the top 3-5% at my current school (after being #1 in my class at my old school). Doing research for multiple profs and have what I think are very good rec letters. Is there something I can do to make my profile more attractive to judges? Am I tainted forever by my 1L school?

Applying on plan as a transfer student is tough since you only have two (one?) sets of grades that can be compared to others applying from you school. Focus on killing it your 3L year. If you keep up your performance/rank I think you'll be a very competitive applicant come next year, when there aren't a million people applying at the same time (and even if you do the plan again, you'll still be in a better position as a 3L with more grades). Also make sure your school's clerkship support knows you're looking for a clerkship so that they can advocate for you throughout the year. Good luck!

Thank you! My school's clerkship advisors definitely know that I'm looking. Probably no one wants me to get a clerkship more than career services so that they can STOP hearing from me.

[Anonymous User]

Hi! I graduated top 10% at a lower t14 as a transfer, and I'm about to start my second clerkship at one of DC/2/9. Having more time at the transfer school definitely helps; I didn't get my clerkship offers until my last semester of law school. I will say transferring was the least interesting or impressive thing on my resume though. I did a competitive clinic, had a great writing sample, argued and won a case before graduation, and had at least two very good letters of recommendations. When I applied to circuit courts, I probably sent out only 12-15 applications and I had connections at ~10 of those chambers who could flag my application to the judge.

Unfortunately, some judges care that you're a transfer. But having been on the hiring side, I think most of the time you strike out simply because almost everyone in the applicant pool is excellent. My best advice is to keep applying, keep building your resume, spend time networking, and don't carry a chip on your shoulder because of the transfer thing. It's a crap shoot for everyone. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

Hi, I graduated top 10% from a lower t-14 and I am about to start my second clerkship at DC/2/9. Having more time at the transfer school definitely helps; I didn't get my clerkship offers until my last semester of law school. I will say transferring was the least impressive or interesting thing on my resume. I won moot court awards, did a competitive clinic, had a great writing sample, argued and won a case before graduation, and had at least two stellar letters of rec (3rd one was positive too just probably not "this is the most talented kid I've ever taught"). I sent out 12-15 circuit court applications, and ~10 of those chambers I had a connection who could flag my application to the judge.

Unfortunately, some judges would care that you're a transfer. But having been on the other side of hiring, I think most of the time you strike out simply because almost everyone else in the applicant pool is excellent. Good grades at a good school likely won't guarantee you a clerkship; all of the serious contenders had at least those two things AND some more really compelling achievements. This is universally true even for those who started their 1L year at a t14.

My best advice is to keep applying, keep building your resume, spend time networking, and don't carry a chip on your shoulder because of the transfer thing. It's a crap shoot for everyone. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

But having been on the other side of hiring, I think most of the time you strike out simply because almost everyone else in the applicant pool is excellent.

This one million percent. You're a great candidate, but there are a lot of great candidates in the applicant pool. It's a numbers game. Keep your head up, keep applying, and you'll get something good.