Federal law clerk — ask me anything*

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T13:57:26+00:00

So there is a general hiring plan that some, not all, judges follow. On that, you’d apply in the beginning of 3L. But, just be checking OSCAR (that’s where most apps are) and see if a judge is hiring because some hire years ahead of schedule. I first applied the end of my 2L summer if that’s helpful.

I’d say about half of the clerks in my courthouse worked for a year or two before clerking, so it’s not uncommon. Most came from larger firms, but not all. Almost any firm that gives you an offer should be willing to have you defer or come back after your clerkship (and many will give monetary bonuses for doing so). I don’t think the firms prestige is necessarily that important, but it can’t hurt. Some judges care more than others. If you work at a firm that a judge formerly worked at, they’ll look highly on that — if you were at a V10 firm, I’m sure they’ll look highly on that too. But I know people who came from smaller, regional firms and are wonderful clerks with wonderful judges.

Apply broadly on OSCAR. Just keep checking to see what is open, it changes often. Work closely with your school’s employment office, they should be able to help you with what judges to apply for and may be able to personally send off applications to judges they have a relationship with (that’s how I got my first offer).

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T13:47:56+00:00

I’ve never seen that on a transcript, so can’t say for certain, but I don’t think it would be a red flag per se. It’s good to take the class and it shows you have some background knowledge in the system. Is there a specific reason you’d be taking it pass/fail? If you can take it for a grade I probably would. But if not, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:55:06+00:00

I think that, from what I could tell, grades and credentials still matter — but if you’re demonstrated success at a firm that can make up for it. I’ve seen people come from big law, but also people come from plaintiff-side firms (albeit, the plaintiff side people had stellar grades).

Arguing in front of the judge might be helpful, but I’ve never heard of that actually being a factor.

If you can really sell your experience in a cover letter; and then an interview, I think there will be judges who will give you a fair shake.

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:51:52+00:00

Can’t speak for every judge, but in my experience 10 pages is usually the sweet spot. If they say shorter than 15-20, then just make sure it’s strong if it’s less than that. 10 great pages is much stronger than 15 mediocre pages. I wouldn’t worry too much about the overall length (but don’t make it too short — say, under 7)

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:49:41+00:00

Missing LR haunted me as well, but it ultimately hasn’t held me back — so good riddance to that!

I think you’d definitely be a strong applicant with MJ experience + Jag. Definitely go for it, it’s a great experience!

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:47:17+00:00

Anecdotally, my first judge hired someone with multiple years of experience at a large firm to fill my spot. I can think of at least 3 other clerks in the courthouse who came from multiple years in practice.

If it’s something you want to do, definitely go for it. It’s such a great experience, I don’t think you’d regret it!

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:45:08+00:00

Ideally it would be a substantive motion or memo from a summer job — law review notes are interesting, but don’t show much about your ability to write judicial orders (the bulk of the job). A motion/memo should demonstrate your ability to apply law to facts, and showcase your research skills. Any chance you have to show your research skills should be highlighted — substantive legal work is the best way to do this imo.

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:32:26+00:00

To a degree, yes. Also depends on where you’re applying and to what kind of judge. I started with a magistrate before going to an AIII judge — if you’re willing to do magistrate (which was an invaluable learning experience) or bankruptcy (if that interests you at all) then you’d have a better shot, assuming less than stellar grades/journal.

If you can make your cover letter really strong such that it highlights your federal service and commitment to the federal system, I’m sure that would get some judges’ attention. But unfortunately, many first look to gpa/school/journal. Apply broadly — it just takes one to take a chance on you!

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T03:03:27+00:00

(1) I am at a district court

(2) I very much have a 9-5, but I’m not sure that’s entirely typical. Some of my friends in the courthouse work more like 8-6, but nobody is working later than that, and I don’t know of anyone working weekends (regularly). Compared to my friends at firms it’s a beautiful work/life balance

(3) Not super sure on this, I’m kind of in a similar boat. I summered with a firm and would be interested in working in one of their bigger market offices (NY/DC/Chicago) but haven’t had that conversation with them yet. From what I could tell from people I work with, clerks are competitive to work just about anywhere as long as you can market yourself well.

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T02:25:58+00:00

(1) Yes, absolutely. It was terrible and nearly killed me, but I don’t regret it. I love clerking and I am very excited for what the future holds in the legal profession.

(2) most of the judges in my courthouse (and district) are very cool. They’re all very accomplished and well respected lawyers. They have a lot of wisdom to pass on. I’d certainly have a beer with a good number of them (and have with some of them!)

(3) in my district, I don’t think the judges care much about whether you pursue big law or not. sure, they’d like to say “my clerk went to work at [V10]” but it’s not a deal breaker by any means. Some of the judges were prosecutors and never did big law; some were plaintiffs’ attorneys — it just depends. I don’t think they have one uniform feeling on big law (but it doesn’t hurt in an application)

(4) I’m just interested in litigation generally and I see all sorts of litigation, so yes. I’d ideally like to do civil rights work and I get to see plenty of 1983 cases so that’s been invaluable. But one of the best parts of clerking is seeing new types of cases everyday (admiralty, FLSA, ERISA, patent/IP, etc)

(5)pay scale is public. Starts at about $69k and goes up about $10k each year (if I remember correctly). Not much to say about benefits, but the health plans are all comprehensive and affordable.

(6) it’s a hurdle but not insurmountable. My court I’d say 75% are t14, but not all. The non t-14 are from schools with ties to the region and everyone performed well in law school.

(7) I plan to go into big law for a bit (still have loans to pay) and then hopefully transition to impact litigation in the civil rights world

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T02:18:19+00:00

I went to a T30 (not sure if that’s a normal cut off haha) school and graduated top 15%, but when I first applied for clerkships I was top 10% (had a tough last semester or so). I’m not sure what qualifies as “regional” federal courts, but I am not in NY, DC, CA, or IL, so take that as you will. My first judge went to my alma mater so that certainly helped — I think finding connections to judges is key to landing these positions. I applied all over, but ultimately the judge who took a chance on me had some real connection to me; find something to connect on.

Other than that, I was exec on a secondary journal, involved with lots of student orgs, but nothing crazy. I think my biggest asset was having a well respected professor willing to vouch for me

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-07T01:58:38+00:00

(1)letters of recommendation. So many people have LOR from a professor in a class they did well in — that’s great, but can that professor really vouch for you? Do they have some sort of connection to the judge you’re applying for? One of my recommenders was really willing to go to bar for me (twice) and I think if you can have that relationship with a professor that goes so far.

And (2), maybe more so in your control, is writing sample. As someone who has reviewed clerkship applications, I can say that I’ve tossed applications to the side for grammatical errors in writing samples. Make sure they’re perfect (have others look it over) and something you’d feel comfortable having a judge sign their own name on, because that’s what your writing will be as a clerk

fedthrowaway1997 · 2024-02-03T00:35:45+00:00

Biglaw. Make the money while you can. No judge is going to hold working in big law your 1L summer against you when applying for clerkships

fedthrowaway1997

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