Clerkship Thoughts from Gate 33B
Someone asked in the thread below about a clerkship discussion, which is something I have been meaning to start for weeks. I guess I was a little distracted with a test, or something, but what better opportunity to catch up than now, while I sit here waiting for a connecting flight at LAX?
Where are you in the timeline? Paper judge lists in? Cover letter writing? OSCAR deadline looming? That seems about right.
Let me share some off-hand thoughts, and then open a forum. As a threshold matter, I remember being utterly confused by the lingo, the timelines, the telephone strategies, and all the rest of it. The clerkship process is a little like OCIP in that it seems massively confusing until you have actually gone through it once. Afterward, it seems relatively simple. So, if you have any questions (particularly questions you are too embarrassed to ask the CDO in person), ask anonymously to your heart's content. Someone will answer.
There are four specific pieces of advice I would like to share. I realize perspectives vary and so you should not take this as gospel. Just take it as one person's view.
First, do not hang your soul on this process. Being a clerk is in no way a measure of your legal mind, your academic merit, or career potential, much less your worth as a human being. Not only is the hiring process "highly competitive" (how many times have you heard that one?), but it is also quite arbitrary. Approaching the process with a "well, let's see what happens" mindset, in my opinion, is the only healthy way to go. Really. Stay healthy.
Second, try not to compare us to Yale and instead reach out to the CDO and see what they can do for you. We may not have the crazy clerkship guns of other schools, but I found our guns more than adequate. Our CDO answered my questions, passed on tips based on what they remembered about my applications, and really did seem to know what they were doing. Small example: I know for a fact that ES went the extra mile for at least one of my classmates well after the clerkship hiring process ended, and as a result classmate is now a federal clerk with a prominent bay area judge. I realize opinions vary, and I don't want to open a debate about the CDO (please, I really don't), but my experience was positive, and I have every reason to believe that yours can be positive, too.
Third, if it is your application, it is your responsibility. Even given what I just said about the CDO, you are seeking a clerkship so that you can benefit by being a clerk. It matters more to you than to anyone else, and I think that keeping this perspective is helpful -- this whole affair isn't profoundly important; it is just profoundly important to you. On one hand, if things go wrong with your application, they will affect you more than anyone else. But on the other, the fruits of extra energy on your part will be reaped by you and no one else. No one is going to hand you a clerkship for being yourself -- no matter what your rank, how awesome your personality, or how catchy your resume's interests section, you still have to put yourself out there, and a judge still has to decide to like you. What I am saying is that the more you own this process, the more you will stand out from the thousands and thousands of other applicants who are plodding through the paces. Which means the more likely you are to become a clerk.
Fourth, quality not quantity. I now know that a key to tipping the clerkship hiring arbitrariness in your favor is to focus on judges within your reach and show them that you care about working for them. Try to (professionally) reach out and touch your judges, instead of just spamming every federal judge in OSCAR. The judges with whom I interviewed all said that after routine screening for grades, schools, etc., they pulled my application because it appeared that I had genuine desire to work for that judge in particular. We all know to "personalize our cover letters" and so I can conclude only that despite how common that advice is, few people actually follow it. Strive to be one of the people who does.
Those are my off-the-cuff thoughts on this. Fire away in the comments with your questions. I am sure other folks who have been through this process will chime in, and even if they disagree with what I have said here, you should listen to them.
Good luck!
(Sent from my phone.)
Where are you in the timeline? Paper judge lists in? Cover letter writing? OSCAR deadline looming? That seems about right.
Let me share some off-hand thoughts, and then open a forum. As a threshold matter, I remember being utterly confused by the lingo, the timelines, the telephone strategies, and all the rest of it. The clerkship process is a little like OCIP in that it seems massively confusing until you have actually gone through it once. Afterward, it seems relatively simple. So, if you have any questions (particularly questions you are too embarrassed to ask the CDO in person), ask anonymously to your heart's content. Someone will answer.
There are four specific pieces of advice I would like to share. I realize perspectives vary and so you should not take this as gospel. Just take it as one person's view.
First, do not hang your soul on this process. Being a clerk is in no way a measure of your legal mind, your academic merit, or career potential, much less your worth as a human being. Not only is the hiring process "highly competitive" (how many times have you heard that one?), but it is also quite arbitrary. Approaching the process with a "well, let's see what happens" mindset, in my opinion, is the only healthy way to go. Really. Stay healthy.
Second, try not to compare us to Yale and instead reach out to the CDO and see what they can do for you. We may not have the crazy clerkship guns of other schools, but I found our guns more than adequate. Our CDO answered my questions, passed on tips based on what they remembered about my applications, and really did seem to know what they were doing. Small example: I know for a fact that ES went the extra mile for at least one of my classmates well after the clerkship hiring process ended, and as a result classmate is now a federal clerk with a prominent bay area judge. I realize opinions vary, and I don't want to open a debate about the CDO (please, I really don't), but my experience was positive, and I have every reason to believe that yours can be positive, too.
Third, if it is your application, it is your responsibility. Even given what I just said about the CDO, you are seeking a clerkship so that you can benefit by being a clerk. It matters more to you than to anyone else, and I think that keeping this perspective is helpful -- this whole affair isn't profoundly important; it is just profoundly important to you. On one hand, if things go wrong with your application, they will affect you more than anyone else. But on the other, the fruits of extra energy on your part will be reaped by you and no one else. No one is going to hand you a clerkship for being yourself -- no matter what your rank, how awesome your personality, or how catchy your resume's interests section, you still have to put yourself out there, and a judge still has to decide to like you. What I am saying is that the more you own this process, the more you will stand out from the thousands and thousands of other applicants who are plodding through the paces. Which means the more likely you are to become a clerk.
Fourth, quality not quantity. I now know that a key to tipping the clerkship hiring arbitrariness in your favor is to focus on judges within your reach and show them that you care about working for them. Try to (professionally) reach out and touch your judges, instead of just spamming every federal judge in OSCAR. The judges with whom I interviewed all said that after routine screening for grades, schools, etc., they pulled my application because it appeared that I had genuine desire to work for that judge in particular. We all know to "personalize our cover letters" and so I can conclude only that despite how common that advice is, few people actually follow it. Strive to be one of the people who does.
Those are my off-the-cuff thoughts on this. Fire away in the comments with your questions. I am sure other folks who have been through this process will chime in, and even if they disagree with what I have said here, you should listen to them.
Good luck!
(Sent from my phone.)
Labels: Kevin Smith
posted by Patrick Bageant at 8:46 PM
5 Comments:
Fellow 2010 grad here who will be clerking for a Court of Appeals judge. Patrick's advice is spot-on.
I would also add three things.
1) Figure out why you want to clerk ("Because I can" or "Because it's prestigious" are bad answers)
This one sounds simple, but it's not. I think many of us apply to clerkships primarily because we think it's something we're supposed to do -- because we got good grades in law school, because we're interested in certain legal fields, because as high-achievers we automatically desire anything that's highly competitive. But I think it's absolutely crucial to know why you want to spend a year doing this job. Until you figure out a genuine, carefully considered answer to this question, it's hard to get motivated about the application process, to endure the rough patches, or to be an engaging interviewee.
2) Interviews
If you land some interviews, do not make the mistake of thinking that the job is yours. Last year, some judges interviewed half a dozen or more candidates for each clerkship position. In other words, it's not like an OCIP call-back interview.
What does this mean? Before your interview(s), you should do some mock-interview practice runs with friends. Also, while it's important to be relaxed and natural in your conversations with the judge and current clerks, I also found it helpful to develop a set of talking points -- the core ideas I wanted to be sure to convey in each interview.
3) Take the long view
Although this will feel like an all-or-nothing, one-shot opportunity, remember that it's not. If you don't find a clerkship in September/October but you remain interested in clerking, don't stop looking. Many plum clerkships will get posted to OSCAR later, in the winter, spring, and next summer. And you can always apply to judges after 1+ year of work -- the process is much less frenzied.
one thing i want to tell all clerks - the hours are NOT better than a firm. no matter how nice the judge, the hours are not good. maybe, maybe towards the end of the clerkship they are normal, but calling the job "intense" is code for 80 hours a week. be warned.
sorry, meant "all *potential* clerks"
11:34 -- Work hours vary widely depending on your judge, your court, and your geographic location. Many clerkships (including mine) were gloriously and reliably 8-5. Others have insanely long hours. I think it's really hard to generalize because so many things about clerkships depend entirely on one thing -- your judge.
I'll make a plug for those without good grades. In my case (below median), I was able to get more than a half-dozen d.ct. and app. interviews with the same general cover letter.
Obviously, if you have the time to write individual cover letters -- do it. But I took a numbers approach and applied broadly.
Also, if you have any public interest experience, emphasize it. Judges love it.
When you do get the interview, be prepared to answer why you want to clerk and why you want to clerk in that city or for that judge. For appellate court judges, it seemed they were more likely to ask about a favorite supreme court justice or case.
Finally, it shouldn't come as a surprise, but connections matter a great deal too. Look up former Boalt clerks and touch base with them. Talk to your recommenders and ask if they know a judge who they would be willing to reach out to.
Basically, hustle for the job.
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