Many Generic OSCAR Mail-Merged Cover Letters v. Fewer Targeted Cover Letters Forum

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cyclawps

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Many Generic OSCAR Mail-Merged Cover Letters v. Fewer Targeted Cover Letters

Post by cyclawps » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:02 pm

How did/does everyone here balance sending many applications (using OSCAR's mail merge) and sending customized applications?

nixy

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Re: Many Generic OSCAR Mail-Merged Cover Letters v. Fewer Targeted Cover Letters

Post by nixy » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:06 pm

Unless you have stats guaranteed to turn the judge’s head, I would always customize the letters to the extent possible. Sometimes It’s just not really possible, admittedly.

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Re: Many Generic OSCAR Mail-Merged Cover Letters v. Fewer Targeted Cover Letters

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Mar 12, 2019 3:32 pm

Current COA clerk. In a week, we probably get 50 applications. That's 2400 a year, and we will get a ton more in June when the 2Ls can apply. Like all clerks, I'm pretty busy, so I skim them. If you have an identifiable reason for wanting to work for my judge, I take a closer look. If you have a three-sentence cover letter with no specifics, I glaze over, unless your grades and experience really make you stand out.

From a law students perspective, judges all seem pretty similar. But they are very different in many ways -- judicial philosophy, writing style, personality, pre-judge background, to name a few. Narrow down the judges you really have a reason to work for and write a substantive cover letter. You have a much better shot that way.

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