2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know the deal with Judge Fuentes (3d Cir.) in Newark? Did he hire without posting on oscar?

Yes he did.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know the deal with Judge Fuentes (3d Cir.) in Newark? Did he hire without posting on oscar?

Yes he did.

Thanks. Do you know if all of his 2017 slots are now full?

[Anonymous User]

Has anybody received an interview for any magistrate clerkships?

[deuceindc]

Has anybody received an interview for any magistrate clerkships?

A friend of mine just scheduled one in a fly-over district.

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted a D. Ct. spot in one of the most competitive markets in the country. Just when I had given up hope for getting something for this term too.

[Anonymous User]

Mass SJC interview invites going out

[Anonymous User]

good to see there's still hope; still waiting here. gl anon user who just accepted their clerkship!

[MyNameIsFlynn!]

Just accepted a D. Ct. spot in one of the most competitive markets in the country. Just when I had given up hope for getting something for this term too.

Congrats!

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the congrats guys. I also started getting interviews for 2019 slots right after I accepted this position. This is a weird process...

[Cant_stump_trump2020]

I realize the majority of the discussion ITT is about Fed D. Ct. but I've just recently begun sending out apps to fed magistrate and local state appellate. Looks like fed magistrate ones are periodically continuing to pop up.

hoping to nab something. I'm gonna apply to every single one I can once I get these damn LoRs

[Anonymous User]

.

[Anonymous User]

Just want to note that Judge Kleinfeld (9th) has at least begun started extending interview offers.

For '17-'18? He hired someone for that term 6+ months ago.

[Anonymous User]

Just want to note that Judge Kleinfeld (9th) has at least begun started extending interview offers.

For '17-'18? He hired someone for that term 6+ months ago.

Definitely hit the wrong thread, sorry.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the congrats guys. I also started getting interviews for 2019 slots right after I accepted this position. This is a weird process...

Agreed. I think I finally found something worse than 2L OCI. At least there, someone else is paying for your flights.

To the person asking about magistrate clerkships: CA/DDC/EDVA/NY has started

Does anyone know what happens if you get a magistrate offer but still have district interviews pending?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what happens if you get a magistrate offer but still have district interviews pending?

Those situations follow the general clerkship hiring guideline of do not accept an interview with a judge you wouldn't want to clerk for and/or clerk in a place you would not want to live and do not decline an offer. Some exceptions to being unable to decline an offer are if the judge allows you to consider other offers you may have already have on the table at the time that judge offers you the position and if personal circumstances preclude you from accepting (illness, etc.)

In theory, the offer acceptance timetable might allow you to go on the dj interviews and hope their hiring timeframe aligns with the mj's offer timetable, but, again, that would result in declining the mj's offer which is just bad form unless the judge allows it in my opinion. Clerkship hiring is not like law firm hiring where there is more wiggle room to walk away from an offer for a better one. It's a much more intimate process and a judge who is making you an offer is saying out of all the qualified applicants I had, I am choosing to work closely with you for the next term or two. It's a much more honorific situation.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what happens if you get a magistrate offer but still have district interviews pending?

Doing anything but accepting the MJ offer carries the same risks that not immediately accepting any clerkship offer carries, which is to say don't do it unless you're prepared to lose the offer (assuming no timeline or very short timeline for acceptance is specified).

Also, while I'm sure it varies quite a bit from judge to judge, I think many judges have particularly negative feelings about an applicant shopping around if they're just trying to get a job with a more "prestigious" judge (versus, for example, asking if you can delay accepting an offer so you can go on an upcoming interview in the geographic region where you want to practice or that aligns better with your career goals for a pretty specific reason). Some judges might consider it tantamount to saying that their work isn't interesting enough for you and a clerkship with them isn't good enough for your resume, but you'll settle for it if you can't get anything else.

Of course, the MJ might volunteer that you have a little time to accept, in which case you can do as the anon above me said if you've got DJ interviews scheduled during that time.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know anything about Judge Curiel's hiring for '17-'18?

[Anonymous User]

Former extern here. How can I ask my former judge, who likes me personally, to make a couple calls on my behalf to judges within the same district/circuit? Should I call/email him/her and flat out ask, or is there a more tactful way to do it?

[Anonymous User]

Former extern here. How can I ask my former judge, who likes me personally, to make a couple calls on my behalf to judges within the same district/circuit? Should I call/email him/her and flat out ask, or is there a more tactful way to do it?

Depends a lot on your relationship, your judge, and the culture in your district/circuit. Some judges might take the question poorly and you might do better to ask for more general "help" or "advice" with your career or with clerkship apps. I've also known some who would be fine being asked that question directly (although, in many cases, the answer would be "no/probably not" unless the extern were truly a rock star or already had an interview with a different judge scheduled).

[Anonymous User]

Former extern here. How can I ask my former judge, who likes me personally, to make a couple calls on my behalf to judges within the same district/circuit? Should I call/email him/her and flat out ask, or is there a more tactful way to do it?

Depends a lot on your relationship, your judge, and the culture in your district/circuit. Some judges might take the question poorly and you might do better to ask for more general "help" or "advice" with your career or with clerkship apps. I've also known some who would be fine being asked that question directly (although, in many cases, the answer would be "no/probably not" unless the extern were truly a rock star or already had an interview with a different judge scheduled).

It's a good relationship but I wasn't any kind of rock star. What do you think of, say, "Judge X, I'm finalizing clerkship applications and applying to Judges Y and Z [in the same district/circuit]. Could you provide me with any feedback or advice given what you know of their chambers?"

[Offline]

I know that 3 LORs are required. Do all of them have to come from professors or can it be from a former employer?

[mjb447]

I know that 3 LORs are required. Do all of them have to come from professors or can it be from a former employer?

I had two from employers and one from a professor. I applied as an alum a few years out, so it made even more sense for me than it might have for a law student, but there's no rule that all of the letters have to be from professors. (It can, however, be more painful to get outside recommenders to use OSCAR correctly and provide letters as you need them.)

[Anonymous User]

It's a good relationship but I wasn't any kind of rock star. What do you think of, say, "Judge X, I'm finalizing clerkship applications and applying to Judges Y and Z [in the same district/circuit]. Could you provide me with any feedback or advice given what you know of their chambers?"

That's pretty good. My thought was just that, if this is a relationship you'd like to maintain in the future for other employers outside the court, being flexible and diminishing potential awkwardness are both good goals. Asking a judge to put in a good word for you with a colleague can be an especially big ask due to the ongoing relationships that judges have.

[Anonymous User]

Quick q: C+ in Admin. Law. All other grades just below, near or above median (B+). Am I fuct?

[nothingtosee]

Former extern here. How can I ask my former judge, who likes me personally, to make a couple calls on my behalf to judges within the same district/circuit? Should I call/email him/her and flat out ask, or is there a more tactful way to do it?

Depends a lot on your relationship, your judge, and the culture in your district/circuit. Some judges might take the question poorly and you might do better to ask for more general "help" or "advice" with your career or with clerkship apps. I've also known some who would be fine being asked that question directly (although, in many cases, the answer would be "no/probably not" unless the extern were truly a rock star or already had an interview with a different judge scheduled).

It's a good relationship but I wasn't any kind of rock star. What do you think of, say, "Judge X, I'm finalizing clerkship applications and applying to Judges Y and Z [in the same district/circuit]. Could you provide me with any feedback or advice given what you know of their chambers?"

I think this is fine. I've used "I'm wondering if you have any advice, either in general or specifically about the clerkship application process." After you've told them you're applying to Judges X and Y, they'll either offer to help or won't. Often, a district judge in one district will have no relations at all with circuit judges or judges in other districts.