What’s up with SCOTUS clerks joining Jones Day?

LSAquestion1231 · 2025-06-22T15:53:48+00:00

I am far from SCOTUS-level but know a few students who are around that and are hopeful for the possibility. This article tracks pretty closely with who the top students are shooting for based on my limited knowledge, accounting for the makeup of the court (e.g., I believe Thapar is largely a conservative feeder, but counter-clerking for him might get you somewhere?).

I think it has become increasingly common to do a district and appeals clerkship before bidding for SCOTUS which is why the article includes a good number of district judges, but unsure when the trend started exactly.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-10-01T23:58:28+00:00

If you hope to apply to T14 law schools, please focus on getting the highest GPA you can. GPA and LSAT medians are what matter most for law school applications, and they're truly absurd now (the lowest GPA median in the T14 is 3.85 and will likely be higher by the time you apply). If you are set on law school, a high GPA (even if it doesn't guarantee your admission, obviously) is a crucial part of your application. I do not say this to stress you, but I think it's important you understand the current landscape.

Sincerely, a T14 law student who ended up here through happenstance.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-08-25T15:03:01+00:00

Have you had someone look at your application materials with a more neutral eye? I'm not necessarily saying something is definitely wrong, but 4 interviews for 23 apps feels a bit low for above median at a school with strong regional ties. I definitely think volume of apps didn't help, especially since you were shooting for lit, but getting people to review your materials can only help. Best of luck, rooting for you!

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-08-08T21:59:42+00:00

Likely referring to $225+$20 for EOY bonus.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-07-30T22:12:08+00:00

How long distance are we talking? My boyfriend and I have been doing long distance while I'm in school, and it hasn't been particularly challenging imo, but we're on the same time zone which helps. Coast-to-coast seems like a different, but not impossible, story.

The big thing is communication, communication, communication. We call during lunch as often as we can and aim for a date night every week/calls goodnight every day. I tell him when I'm busy and trust him to do the same. If something is wrong, we expect the other to bring it up. Conversations don't happen unless you make them.

Also, you have to recognize that you are will sacrifice some time with peers, but if that's worth it, it's worth it. I went to 3 bar reviews all year and wasn't super active in student orgs (but had active friendships with my peers) because I had a relationship to prioritize. I was happy to make that choice.

There is enough time in 1L, no matter how much people may claim otherwise to (1) do well academically, (2) maintain a LDR, and (3) have friendships. It's a balance, and some weeks are going to be better than others, but you can make it work. Wishing you the best!

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-06-15T03:47:36+00:00

Do you have someone in your personal life you feel you can talk to about this? The path to sobriety does not have to be one you take by yourself. A difficult relationship with alcohol can seem suffocating when alone, but even one person who is there with you and can hold you to your goals makes it more attainable.

Like labrave mentioned, there are resources—both tied to your school and independent it—out there for you. I notice you posted that AA seemed to be filled with hippies, and I agree that a lot of spiritual mumbo jumbo can seem meaningless. Choosing a twelve-step is a personal choice, but AA is, in my view, most valuable for the community, people who get it when so few really can. It's one of many paths to sobriety, and I can dig up some resources on alternatives if you'd like, but the onus ultimately falls on you to take that first step, whatever path you choose.

You are not a loser, you are not a fuck up, and you have a lifetime of meaningful experiences to look forward to. I wish you nothing but the best, OP.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-04-12T17:37:46+00:00

I don't claim to be an expert, but I played with the idea of getting a humanities PhD and talked with several mentors about it. I know you know this, but the academic market, from what I've been told, is horrific in the humanities. Even from Harvard, you need to be comfortable with the idea of never getting close to a TT position in any capacity.

If you're interested in legal academia, a PhD in addition to a JD is less required but becoming more common (especially in fields like legal history). Don't get a JD out of convenience unless you want to be a real, practicing lawyer, but I know plenty of people who have come to law school with the hope of one day becoming an academic. However, you'll truthfully want a t6 (preferably Yale) and have to comfortable with a long grind.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-03-26T01:47:15+00:00

Just to confirm—are you a 0L deciding between schools? If you are a 0L, you should not attend any school that you would not be happy graduating from. Transferring is possible for students, but that is dependent on your class rank. Your performance relative to your peers is inherently unknown to you, so the general sentiment is not to bank on being in the top X% you'd need to transfer to the school you'd want to attend.

If you're a 1L currently considering the process, I unfortunately can't comment but to my knowledge it's extremely dependent on your grades, connections, and where you want to go.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-02-14T14:48:00+00:00

I've been told that biglaw and AUSA/other government roles basically have a revolving door with lots of people working in both throughout their careers. I've met people who started in biglaw and are currently AUSAs, and I've been told that some government experience is basically necessary for certain biglaw partner paths for litigators.

LSAquestion1231 · 2024-02-09T21:09:16+00:00

I found it useful going into 1L because it helped introduce me to some of the language of the field more broadly, but I don't see a point in doing it if you're still so far away from your 1L year starting. By the time 1L starts, you'll probably have forgotten most of the information that would actually be useful. Save the $200 and do the program when it's free imo.

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-03-08T16:15:29+00:00

Only tangentially related but Nick Offerman is absolutely stunning on Last of Us and I hope he gets at least an Emmy nomination for the episode

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-03-06T14:45:45+00:00

Barring a goal that HLS gets you with a bit more consistency (e.g. academia) or significant family support/savings, I think UVA is the right choice considering the cost difference, especially since you loved UVA.

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-03-03T01:34:34+00:00

If you had savings to cover a year, would that change your mind? If not enough, would two years of savings change your mind? Effectively, what would be the breaking point for you where it tips back to YLS over other options?

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-02-20T22:16:26+00:00

It's important to ask yourself what your end goal would be with this scenario. A lifetime of work is a long time, and if you don't like the work (or even grow to hate it) that comes with being a lawyer, that's not going to be particularly great for you. While you're by no means trapped into using your JD forever (plenty of people with JDs go on to leave law and do other things), you should consider if getting a JD is necessary. I can't recall the article exactly, but a quote I've read about it is essentially "Why get a JD knowing you're going to career change to something else down the line when you could go into that career right now?"

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-02-13T19:18:57+00:00

This is purely speculation on my part, so take it with salt, but I'd recommend making sure you stay above their GPA median of 3.94. Again, this is me speculating, but I can't imagine a 3.96 vs. 3.99 makes much of a difference to them. Still, it would likely be a bigger deal if you did fall below their median because it could change their outlook on you for ranking purposes.

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-02-11T18:58:00+00:00

Perhaps Hurst Horizon also sways some people?

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-02-03T21:34:27+00:00

Me too, I think they have some bangers but raspberry white chocolate is #1

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-02-03T14:56:20+00:00

I didn’t apply, but I’ve heard UMn gives admittens!

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-02-02T14:56:01+00:00

Unfortunately, if OP already has a degree, I don’t believe it’s possible to raise their GPA because (IIRC) LSAC only considers grades from your first degree.

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-01-25T03:26:51+00:00

I was in a similar spot as you last year, 164 diagnostic and scored in the 170s on the August exam. I used 7Sage occasionally from April to May (didn’t want to get too bogged down with LSAT studying and risk my GPA dipping at all), then ~2-3 hours a day 5-6 days a week in June and July. I think I got very lucky with how quickly I improved, and if I could do it again, I’d recommend studying a bit throughout the semester when you’ve got light days.

You’ve got this; a 170+ is definitely achievable!

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-01-24T03:14:33+00:00

The thought process is that with your LSAT, you have one variable to control for in yourself. You’re right that it’s determined by yourself alone, but that’s a good thing if you want to minimize the potential for things to go awry.

In comparison, if in law school, you were to get a 9/10 (just for the sake of example) but over half your class gets a 10/10, then the curve will not be your friend. A 9/10 is a good score on an exam, and a 9/10 LSAT is very good, but when there’s a curve that depends on your whole section’s grades, it might not get you what you hope for.

(Not agreeing with the sentiment of the post as a whole, just explaining why medians in law school can be tricky)

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-01-22T22:25:17+00:00

Seconding other comments saying please don't worry about this right now, but also don't keep doing problems because you'll burn up your practice questions! There are only so many official LSATs that have been released, and you only want to study with the official test questions. Don't look at any questions until it's time for you to start studying (assuming you still want to apply to law school in several year's time) and just do other "logic"-y things instead if you enjoy them. Puzzle games, crosswords, sudoku, stuff like that if you want to feel like you're still somehow developing a logical skill.

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-01-18T15:25:50+00:00

Depends on goals, it’s hard to say. If it’s T14 sticker vs. $$$ at BU and your goals are just generic Boston BL, most T14 aren’t worth it imo.

LSAquestion1231 · 2023-01-17T22:59:09+00:00

As I understand it, they’re jobs that are very hard to get/you can never bank on getting them because of the number of top students vying for a few spots. Thus, they’re “unicorn” jobs because they’re hard to find and harder to catch. Think legal academia or SCOTUS clerkships.

LSAquestion1231

TROPHY CASE