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Citations and Mentions
Thanks to all our readers and contributors who have made the Clerkship Notification Blog invaluable to law students, clerks, and judges, the ABA Journal has named us to their 2008 ABA Journal Blawg 100 List: "There’s nothing fancy in terms of layout or design, but hordes still flock here when it comes time to apply for coveted judicial clerkships. This is the spot for information about when specific judges start making offers and which judges have wrapped up hiring for the term."
David Lat at Above the Law: "If you're in the hunt for a judicial clerkship, whether state or federal, here's a great website that you should be aware of ...."
Professor Eugene Volokh of UCLA at the Volokh Conspiracy: "[The Clerkship Notification Blog] is a clearing house for applicants, clerks, and others to post information about which judges are interviewing, have hired, and the like. Sounds like a useful resource ...."
University of Illinois College of Law Professor Lawrence B. Solum at the Legal Theory Blog: "The Clerkship Notification Blog provides a clearinghouse for information about judicial clerkships--which judges have picked and filled their slots and which judges still have open positions. This information is quite important tothe efficient functioning of the process."
The ABA Journal Blawg directory: "Comprehensive information about judges and status of applications for ... clerkships, along with numerous comments."
Brian Leiter at Brian Leiter's Law School Reports confirms we are, indeed, "already gearing up for the 2009 hiring season."
17 comments:
I am an '08 grad from a lower-ranked T1 school, and will work at a V10 firm this year. I've applied to the circuit courts and have had interviews, but no offers. Any advice on the following would be appreciated:
1. I sent out CA applications in June; how long should I wait before sending out apps to the district courts?
2. If I get a district court interview, is it a complete breach of etiquette to call CA judge's chambers to see if the CA judge is still considering graduate applications (or my application in particular)?
3. If I don't land a CA clerkship this round (with my one year of law firm experience), is it likely that 2 years of firm experience will make me significantly more competitive for a CA clerkship? Should I just plan on 1 year at the firm and 1 year at a DC, and then having a more legit shot at CA?
1. There is no real general difference in hiring timing between circuit and district court, particularly with competitive district court judges.
I would not wait.
2. No- but if you see on here they've hired 3 or 4 already, don't call. Don't ask about your application- ask if the judge has made his or her selections re interviews.
3. Depends on the judge. Some don't hire with experience, some ONLY hire with experience, some like to have their clerks mixed.
Definitely do not wait to apply for district court clerkships. You are at a significant advantage being an alum and having the chance to apply over the summer as opposed to in September with all of the other 3Ls.
As for question 2 - don't do this. The fact that you have a district court interview means nothing to a CA judge. I would only call chambers of a CA judge if another CA judge in same circuit invites you to interview.
As for question 3, I think you will be more competitive if you can land a DC clerkship, then move on to a CA clerkship. If you can't get a DC clerkship, then 2 years at a great firm will be good. Try to get a recommendation from a partner at the firm who knows your work well.
good luck!
7/11 here: thanks for the helpful advice; career services at my school is pretty much a joke.
Do clerks get health insurance? If they do, is it open to spouses and children?
Re: health insurance. Yes and yes, its the standard federal benefits package.
Questions like this are addressed at http://www.oscar.dcd.uscourts.gov/law-clerk-benefits
In general, do Federal District Judges send rejection letters/calls to the candidates they interview but don't hire? Any experience on how long this normally takes?
Do judges ever invite applicants to interview by snail mail?
I've never heard of a snail-mail offer to interview; the vast majority are phone calls, but some are in emails.
To the candidate who asked about rejection letters to those interviewed, YES, nearly every judge I have heard of sends a rejection letter (or sometimes email) to candidates who have had interviews but are ultimately not hired. Good luck!
What about those who did not get an interview...will we get rejection letters? Or will I just be left wondering whether the judge has done interviews yet forever?
1) I interviewed with one judge (circuit) last year who never sent any notification.
2) Some judges will send rejection emails/letters to non-interviewees, most do not.
Following on initial question #2: if you've had an interview back in July with a district court judge (SDNY) and he's indicated that he might take his time to make his selections because law students couldn't yet compete (practicing attorney here), is it appropriate to call chambers to ask where the judge is at in his selection process? Its been nearly three months. I'm assuming no news is not good news in this case--but I'd still like to find out one way or the other. Thanks.
Question: When people follow up d.ct clerkships with coa clerkships....do they apply to the coa judges before they begin their d.ct clerkship? do they apply once they've begun their d.ct clerkship so that their d.ct judge can write a letter on their behalf? do they apply and then supplement their application with a d.ct judge letter? what's the timing on these things? i ask because i've noticed that many coa judges are already filling up 2010-2011 spots. i have a d.ct clerkship for 2009-2010 and would like to throw my hat in the ring for a coa clerkship at the right time.....
What is the filling of bankruptcy clerkships? Overall value? Recognition wise, do they still say "hey I am a federal clerk?"
3:22,
I am a current district court clerk going on to a COA clerkship next summer. I'm in the middle of a two-year district court clerkship, so I was able to apply for COA jobs after working for my district judge about 9 months, and thus get a rec. letter from him.
However, if you are doing a one-year district court clerkship and want to follow it immediately with a COA clerkship, you should not wait to apply until you begin that job. You'll be able to apply in May or June next year, several months ahead of most 3Ls (assuming the hiring plan remains in place). You should do so. This past summer, more than a 100 COA clerks were hired before Labor Day. Applying early and having an upcoming district court job on your resume is a good position.
Does anyone have any sense of how many clerk a district judge who just went on senior status hires? I have heard of a few who hired two clerks regularly prior to going on senior status remaining at two when on senior status. Is there a limit on the number a senior district judge is allowed to hire? Thanks for any insight.
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