FedSoc Question Forum

[thegreatspoopy]

Hello! I will probably be going to HLS this fall, and I really want to clerk for a federal judge. I'm also a conservative. Does anyone have a handle on how easy/hard it is to clerk for a conservative judge if you join the FedSoc at a T3? Thank you.

[cavalier1138]

I'm going to preemptively ask everyone to be kind to the OP and assume that they are asking for genuine responses, not for critiques of their political ideology.

[crazywafflez]

It will be slightly easier than getting one with a liberal judge on the high-end. I still think at the district court level (and all levels for that matter) you'll need decent grades (although, maybe not stellar ones). I think it'll be better to talk to your fed soc group at H and they'll be able to point you in the right direction and let you know chances on grades / journals etc. Regardless, liberal or conservative, coming from HYS, you'll have an edge- and if you're willing to go back to your home market, or somewhere less competitive, you'll stand a better chance.
Best of luck.

[stupididiot]

It will be slightly easier than getting one with a liberal judge on the high-end. I still think at the district court level (and all levels for that matter) you'll need decent grades (although, maybe not stellar ones). I think it'll be better to talk to your fed soc group at H and they'll be able to point you in the right direction and let you know chances on grades / journals etc. Regardless, liberal or conservative, coming from HYS, you'll have an edge- and if you're willing to go back to your home market, or somewhere less competitive, you'll stand a better chance.
Best of luck.

Depending on your pre-law school credentials, this might vastly overestimate the difficulty. I know fedsoc people at H with ivy league UG who had COA clerkships before grades came out for first semester of 1L. So if you have a strong UG pedigree, there are (COA) judges who will hire you just based on UG pedigree + harvard law + fedsoc/conservative outlook. If you have state school undergrad, then your grades will probably matter more.

In any case, I dont understand the question. Try to get the best grades you can and join and be present in FedSoc. You shouldnt study less just because someone tells you its 'easier' to get a clerkship or whatever.