2017-2018 Clerkship Application Thread Forum

[LS2515]

I figured I would start this since 2L grades are trickling out. Let me know if one already exists. Anybody planning on applying to feeders in June or waiting until Law Review results? Any rumblings of judges going extra early?

[EzraFitz]

Checking in. Haven't heard particular rumblings beyond the normal relatively early judges. Sending one app in as soon as LoRs are ready to be sent, but otherwise waiting until LR results.

[Anonymous User]

What type of shot does a 3.51 (top 25% at a T14) have at district court clerkships? I know there are probably a lot of other factors at play, just wondering if that puts me totally out of the running or not.

[Anonymous User]

What type of shot does a 3.51 (top 25% at a T14) have at district court clerkships? I know there are probably a lot of other factors at play, just wondering if that puts me totally out of the running or not.

not out of the running at all. better if you've got local ties profs and who will go to bat for you. LR also helps a lot with stats like that.

[Anonymous User]

What type of shot does a 3.51 (top 25% at a T14) have at district court clerkships? I know there are probably a lot of other factors at play, just wondering if that puts me totally out of the running or not.

not out of the running at all. better if you've got local ties profs and who will go to bat for you. LR also helps a lot with stats like that.

This. Honestly, probably out for the most competitive Districts. But plenty of chances for Districts not at the tippy top.

[Anonymous User]

Hey, thanks for posting this thread.

I'm trying to evaluate what sorts of clerkships I'd be competitive for. Anyone have an idea of what sort of chance someone with a 3.68, 3.63, 3.58, or 3.53 at Columbia would have for a major market district court clerkship (i.e., SDNY, EDNY, DDC, CD Cal, ND Cal)? How about COA, ideally 9th Circuit, 2nd Circuit, or DC Circuit?

(Still waiting on one last grade; hence the four potential GPAs.)

[nothingtosee]

Hey, thanks for posting this thread.

I'm trying to evaluate what sorts of clerkships I'd be competitive for. Anyone have an idea of what sort of chance someone with a 3.68, 3.63, 3.58, or 3.53 at Columbia would have for a major market district court clerkship (i.e., SDNY, EDNY, DDC, CD Cal, ND Cal)? How about a COA, ideally 9th Circuit, 2nd Circuit, or DC Circuit?

(Still waiting on one last grade; hence the four potential GPAs.)

You're anonymous and your gpa isn't out of 193, why not just state your school?

[Anonymous User]

Hey, thanks for posting this thread.

I'm trying to evaluate what sorts of clerkships I'd be competitive for. Anyone have an idea of what sort of chance someone with a 3.68, 3.63, 3.58, or 3.53 at Columbia would have for a major market district court clerkship (i.e., SDNY, EDNY, DDC, CD Cal, ND Cal)? How about a COA, ideally 9th Circuit, 2nd Circuit, or DC Circuit?

(Still waiting on one last grade; hence the four potential GPAs.)

You're anonymous and your gpa isn't out of 193, why not just state your school?

Funny, I was thinking the same thing and actually changed it to Columbia just before you posted. See, you quoted me saying Columbia.

[nothingtosee]

Hey, thanks for posting this thread.

I'm trying to evaluate what sorts of clerkships I'd be competitive for. Anyone have an idea of what sort of chance someone with a 3.68, 3.63, 3.58, or 3.53 at Columbia would have for a major market district court clerkship (i.e., SDNY, EDNY, DDC, CD Cal, ND Cal)? How about a COA, ideally 9th Circuit, 2nd Circuit, or DC Circuit?

(Still waiting on one last grade; hence the four potential GPAs.)

You're anonymous and your gpa isn't out of 193, why not just state your school?

Funny, I was thinking the same thing and actually changed it to Columbia just before you posted. See, you quoted me saying Columbia.

Synergy

[Anonymous User]

HLS: 2DS, 6H, 2P. Thoughts on chances for circuits and competitive districts (SDNY, EDNY, etc.)?

[Anonymous User]

GULC / 3.83 - 3.88 (still missing a grade). Does anyone have any insight as to chances at D.DC or (I know, I know, extremely unlikely) DC Cir. ? I'm not quite sure where my GPA puts me in my section, hopefully top 5% or better.

[Anonymous User]

I am a 1L at a T10 school. I had one B+ and about an even mix of As/A-s apart from that. My GPA is in the 3.75-3.8 range, probably somewhere in the top 10% (I don't know for sure because my LS doesn't release the rankings).

3 questions: 1) when do rising 2Ls generally start applying to CoA clerkships? 2) Where am I competitive for CoA (I'm guessing definitely not 2/9/DC/other random feeders)? 3) Does being a URM matter at all for these purposes? I am AA for what it's worth.

[Jchance]

tag

[malleus discentium]

tag.


good luck OP!

[lawschool22]

tag tag

[Anonymous User]

Hey, thanks for posting this thread.

I'm trying to evaluate what sorts of clerkships I'd be competitive for. Anyone have an idea of what sort of chance someone with a 3.68, 3.63, 3.58, or 3.53 at Columbia would have for a major market district court clerkship (i.e., SDNY, EDNY, DDC, CD Cal, ND Cal)? How about COA, ideally 9th Circuit, 2nd Circuit, or DC Circuit?

(Still waiting on one last grade; hence the four potential GPAs.)

Anyone have any thoughts on this? For context, median at Columbia is around 3.3, and top 1/3 is around 3.4. Based on those figures, top 10% should be somewhere around 3.6.

[jimmythecatdied6]

Hey, thanks for posting this thread.

I'm trying to evaluate what sorts of clerkships I'd be competitive for. Anyone have an idea of what sort of chance someone with a 3.68, 3.63, 3.58, or 3.53 at Columbia would have for a major market district court clerkship (i.e., SDNY, EDNY, DDC, CD Cal, ND Cal)? How about COA, ideally 9th Circuit, 2nd Circuit, or DC Circuit?

(Still waiting on one last grade; hence the four potential GPAs.)

Are you law review? Do you have publications? Those make a huge difference.

Assuming you aren't, your chances are pretty slim at either level. The most competitive district court judges typically hire applicants with at least one - two years of experience (and similar grades), so unless you have a great connection to a judge that sits in one of those districts, your chances are pretty slim to none. Same goes for the COA you mentioned. The judges you are targeting are literally getting the best applicants in the country - I would aim lower.

If you are really interested in a district court clerkship, I would target your home market and any judges that traditionally hire a lot of Columbia grads. Also, talk to your recommenders and see if they have suggestions. Good luck

[Anonymous User]

GULC / 3.83 - 3.88 (still missing a grade). Does anyone have any insight as to chances at D.DC or (I know, I know, extremely unlikely) DC Cir. ? I'm not quite sure where my GPA puts me in my section, hopefully top 5% or better.

3.83 is almost certainly top 5%, 3.88 is probably the line between 3-4%. And according to the clerkship office (so grain of salt) top 5% will be competitive for D DC, and top 3% is competitive for less selective DC Cir, but usually work some work experience

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'm not surprised slim to none for COA, but is that really true for district court? 3.6 is around top 10% at Columbia. How can someone in the top 10% at a school like Columbia have slim to none odds for a district court clerkship, even one in a major market? I seem to remember the SCOTUS clerk in that thread saying top 5% at CCN can be competitive for SCOTUS. Surely, then, top 10% would be competitive for SDNY/EDNY/ND Cal/CD Cal/DDC, right? I'm not talking about feeder judges, just a normal district court clerkship in a major market.

LR results aren't out yet.

[nothingtosee]

How have you guys asked for recommendations via email? There's a prof I want to ask now that spring grades have come out, but I hadn't talked clerkships with him before

[arklaw13]

GULC / 3.83 - 3.88 (still missing a grade). Does anyone have any insight as to chances at D.DC or (I know, I know, extremely unlikely) DC Cir. ? I'm not quite sure where my GPA puts me in my section, hopefully top 5% or better.

FYI I'm pretty sure the entire DDC only hires people with at least a year of work experience.

[hdunlop]

Tag

[EzraFitz]

GULC / 3.83 - 3.88 (still missing a grade). Does anyone have any insight as to chances at D.DC or (I know, I know, extremely unlikely) DC Cir. ? I'm not quite sure where my GPA puts me in my section, hopefully top 5% or better.

FYI I'm pretty sure the entire DDC only hires people with at least a year of work experience.

While generally true, a couple judges have taken exceptions. But yeah, DDC loves work experience.

[Anonymous User]

I am a rising 2L at UVA . I had one B+ and about an even mix of As/A-s apart from that. My GPA is in the 3.75-3.8 range, probably somewhere in the top 10% (I don't know for sure because my LS doesn't release the rankings).

3 questions: 1) when do rising 2Ls generally start applying to CoA clerkships? 2) Where am I competitive for CoA + District cts. (I'm guessing definitely not 2/9/DC/other random feeders)? 3) Does being a URM matter at all for these purposes? I am AA for what it's worth.

Anyone? I edited my post to give more info since I'm posting anonymously. I could really use some guidance on this.

[Emma.]

I am a rising 2L at UVA . I had one B+ and about an even mix of As/A-s apart from that. My GPA is in the 3.75-3.8 range, probably somewhere in the top 10% (I don't know for sure because my LS doesn't release the rankings).

3 questions: 1) when do rising 2Ls generally start applying to CoA clerkships? 2) Where am I competitive for CoA + District cts. (I'm guessing definitely not 2/9/DC/other random feeders)? 3) Does being a URM matter at all for these purposes? I am AA for what it's worth.

Anyone? I edited my post to give more info since I'm posting anonymously. I could really use some guidance on this.

URM will count for something with some judges, but won't matter at all for others. In general, you want to apply very broadly. You almost certainly won't be competitive for feeder judges, but if you are in fact top 10% you have a shot at CoA, and you'll be competitive for district cts. Apply to judges everywhere you'd be comfortable living for a year (think 100 apps) and you'll likely land an A3 clerkship.