Eric says that, in serio, people get interviews out of this -- people being a non-commonly used word to describe the type of sub-humanoid who can pull this off
If you're interested in a state court you have to go to the "Vermont Guide" (general guide, not just for Vermont, very confusing name, consider renaming)
So: you want to work at a CA state court . . . well, you can apply to the superior courts but that's the ONLY place. They hire in spring of your 3L year also, so, we don't need to think about it, and that 1L gunner really doesn't have to think about it
Ugh, there are two types of applications that we ALL have to do (except Vivek, he just gets his clerkship, whichever one. To be Vivek . . . even for just a day)
bLine also has research capacity -- can use it to narrow by people who have clerked for judges and people who are from Boalt. People here being used to describe judges.
BUT: Don't rely on bLine to give you what you need to figure out if a judge is hiring. Don't use the search function on bLine about which judges are hiring -- it is wrong.
Coordinate with Recommenders * Faculty and Outside
What you need to convey: 1) Letters due July 23. This is a law school wide directive from DE. 2) Coordinate pick-up/delivery (outside recs) 3) Application Packet and Judge list (early July) 4) Phone calls (9/7)
There are directions on how to create mail merges if you have to do this for you and if you have to do this for the recommenders from outside. MAKE THIS EASY FOR THEM
WRITING SAMPLE: * Talk about your writing sample with your "anchor" recommender
COVER LETTER: * Get to them from the guide that's put together by POC.inc (I didn't even know .inc existed)
UPDATE YOUR RESUME . . .
ORDER TRANSCRIPTS * Is it sad that I don't even know how to order a transcript from Boalt? * Note that for OSCAR you're gonna manually input your grading info
* Under a judges name they will have a thing that says "vacancy" and will tell you a bit about it (how long, begin/end, necessary experience, etc). Note that the earliest you can realistically start a clerkship is August of 2011.
* Look at the required application format: mailbox (paper) and earth (online). If both, default is online. Some judges have nothing (grayed out) -- these judges don't do Oscar. Your assumption should be 1) hiring 2) want paper aps
Now we're ready to build our . . . "Master Paper Judge List." You don't want to use the export form OSCAR, rather, want them from bLine. Your paper list should be only those who do paper and who are grayed out.
They have a template for the paper judge list. This will require you to eliminate some olumns. You will add in your name, class, rec's, etc.
On or before July 23rd you will send your list to your recommenders, Eric, etc. He will respond to let you know whether it's all good.
If a person wants to highlight your application but can't write a personal letter they will physically write on the letter some times. Don't ask your recommenders to do this unless they volunteer
Then you pick up all your letters (beginning Aug. 9 at the clerkship processing center) and put your packets together. The faculty ones will be signed and sealed envelopes.
For outside ones, some will be signed and sealed, some will not -- that is OK.
Note that there is a 2$ per packet fee for paper applications -- oh man, I'm gonna be broke. This is so they bundle them up and all of us are sent together. This means that Vivek's application will get my application read. THANKS VIVEK!
E/S just made an awkward joke about our phones ringing off the hooks on Sept. 9
Assuming that this does happen, be sure to go back to the CDO resources, contact any alums w/ connections to the judge, and then go to CDO and talk to Eric about your life
Note that in your interviews you will usually get an exploding offer. Judge will be upset if you say no. There are times where it's okay to say no: e.g., if the judge said/did something illegal, immoral, etc.
2) Judges who are celebrities (usually depend on referrals, depend on profs and deans) and non costal judges who feel like they lose out during the "rat race"
On lawclerkaddict.com you can see the running list of judges who are off cycle.
Boalt, like all law school strictly adheres to the law clerk hiring plan.
Eric is talking about the clerkship reception -- I hear that all of the biggest gunners will get clerkships out of it.
ReplyDeleteEric says that, in serio, people get interviews out of this -- people being a non-commonly used word to describe the type of sub-humanoid who can pull this off
ReplyDeleteNow he's talking about something else -- I'm trying to eat a sandwich
ReplyDeleteI'd say there's about 40 people here, mostly transfers, one freak of nature 1L who's ruining it for everyone
ReplyDeleteEric wants to hang out with you this summer --
ReplyDeleteToday's Agenda:
ReplyDelete1) Review of action items
2) State ct clerkship aps
3) Fed Clerk Ap process
Planning ("which you've been doing" . . . )
ReplyDeleteResearching (summer)
Interviewing (Fall)
Review of Spring Action Items:
ReplyDelete1) Secure three rec letters (email him the names -- it will help)
2) Develop your writing sample options -- doesn't have to be finalized, but should be thinking about this
3) Develop a high level research plan -- where, type, etc.
Trying to find judges you'll be competitve with and fit with
Aaaaand . .. State Court Ap Process:
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested in a state court you have to go to the "Vermont Guide" (general guide, not just for Vermont, very confusing name, consider renaming)
Then, go to all the ct websites
State Courts who've hired Boalties Recently:
ReplyDeleteAK, HI, CO(!), WA, OR, NM, TX & DC
Oregon is due tomorrow -- er...
To do this: all you have to do is provide your recommenders with a list of the justices -- don't need to give them envelopes, etc
ReplyDeleteSo: you want to work at a CA state court . . . well, you can apply to the superior courts but that's the ONLY place. They hire in spring of your 3L year also, so, we don't need to think about it, and that 1L gunner really doesn't have to think about it
ReplyDeleteElements of Clerkship Application Packet:
ReplyDelete* Cover Letter
* Resume
* Academic Transcripts -- that's right, Transcripts -- like, from your undergrad institutions as well
* I missed the last part
Ugh, there are two types of applications that we ALL have to do (except Vivek, he just gets his clerkship, whichever one. To be Vivek . . . even for just a day)
ReplyDelete1) OSCAR
2) Paper
People use OSCAR in different way --
ReplyDeleteFor paper, we use the bLine database. This will be used to create your final judge list.
He suggest you use it to build your "Master Judge List." I'm trying not to laugh at this phrase. I'm failing.
Just download the list of people that you want -- then read up on those judges, are they from Boalt, do they hire us, are they awesome/grumpy
bLine also has research capacity -- can use it to narrow by people who have clerked for judges and people who are from Boalt. People here being used to describe judges.
ReplyDeleteBUT: Don't rely on bLine to give you what you need to figure out if a judge is hiring. Don't use the search function on bLine about which judges are hiring -- it is wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe three big questions:
ReplyDelete1) Judge is alum
2) Judge hired alum
3) Judge has interviewed from us
This will increase your chances of getting an interview and offer
STEP 1:
ReplyDeleteCoordinate with Recommenders
* Faculty and Outside
What you need to convey:
1) Letters due July 23. This is a law school wide directive from DE.
2) Coordinate pick-up/delivery (outside recs)
3) Application Packet and Judge list (early July)
4) Phone calls (9/7)
There are directions on how to create mail merges if you have to do this for you and if you have to do this for the recommenders from outside. MAKE THIS EASY FOR THEM
E/S will also tell you if you're competitive for certain judges. That should be a fun conversation . . .
ReplyDeleteBut, look at your writers and your advocates and E/S will help you come up with a list of judges.
ReplyDeleteALSO: Don't do multiple calls to the same judge unless both calls are from former clerks of that judge or good friends with her
WRITING SAMPLE:
ReplyDelete* Talk about your writing sample with your "anchor" recommender
COVER LETTER:
* Get to them from the guide that's put together by POC.inc (I didn't even know .inc existed)
UPDATE YOUR RESUME . . .
ORDER TRANSCRIPTS
* Is it sad that I don't even know how to order a transcript from Boalt?
* Note that for OSCAR you're gonna manually input your grading info
ah, and we're back to . . .
ReplyDeleteTHE MASTER JUDGE LIST:
* Once you have figured out geographical targets, you can use the JDCDB to build a master research list
Note: If you make enough good connections with alumni's and you can strike connections you will get interviews REGARDLESS OF GRADES (?!)
Latest Version of Oscar: Not available yet. We will gain access to oscar in late may. What have I been logging in to? This is really awkward.
ReplyDeleteShould go live May 21st
Also, you should put in alerts and all that.
Be sure to put your journal membership (not just CLR)
Recommender information:
ReplyDeleteYou may have 3 or 4 depending on if you're substituting people in or out. You will select them from a drop down.
Vacancies on Oscar:
ReplyDeleteThis isn't usually populated until mid-late July.
Do your best to use OSCAR to populate your master judge list w/paper v. OSCAR info. This is one of the first things that you'll want to do.
The first big thing you'll need to do is create your paper list -- so you can provide it to everyone
I'll hang out with you, Eric.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you looking for in OSCAR vacancies:
ReplyDelete* Under a judges name they will have a thing that says "vacancy" and will tell you a bit about it (how long, begin/end, necessary experience, etc). Note that the earliest you can realistically start a clerkship is August of 2011.
* Look at the required application format: mailbox (paper) and earth (online). If both, default is online. Some judges have nothing (grayed out) -- these judges don't do Oscar. Your assumption should be 1) hiring 2) want paper aps
*
Now we're ready to build our . . . "Master Paper Judge List." You don't want to use the export form OSCAR, rather, want them from bLine. Your paper list should be only those who do paper and who are grayed out.
ReplyDeleteThey have a template for the paper judge list. This will require you to eliminate some olumns. You will add in your name, class, rec's, etc.
On or before July 23rd you will send your list to your recommenders, Eric, etc. He will respond to let you know whether it's all good.
If a person wants to highlight your application but can't write a personal letter they will physically write on the letter some times. Don't ask your recommenders to do this unless they volunteer
ReplyDeleteThen you pick up all your letters (beginning Aug. 9 at the clerkship processing center) and put your packets together. The faculty ones will be signed and sealed envelopes.
ReplyDeleteFor outside ones, some will be signed and sealed, some will not -- that is OK.
Note that there is a 2$ per packet fee for paper applications -- oh man, I'm gonna be broke. This is so they bundle them up and all of us are sent together. This means that Vivek's application will get my application read. THANKS VIVEK!
They will only do 80 of these for you
ReplyDeleteThe average number sent by successful applicants is 27
ReplyDeleteWhat do JonIca do if they're doing UCDC? Come talk to him
ReplyDeleteOh man, now we're back to OSCAR:
ReplyDelete1) Upload; 2) PDF your resumes etc; 3) Enter transcript info; 4) The online editor for the cover letter will auto salute and basically rocks
sorry, I got side-tracked by Jackie -- why's she so obsessed with me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Yt0xJKDY8)
ReplyDeleteNote, you must FINALIZE your applications before you'll be considered
If you're post-grad, as soon as you hit "finalize" the application is viweble
ReplyDeleteE/S just made an awkward joke about our phones ringing off the hooks on Sept. 9
ReplyDeleteAssuming that this does happen, be sure to go back to the CDO resources, contact any alums w/ connections to the judge, and then go to CDO and talk to Eric about your life
A strategy that has worked FOREVER: call up the judges, tell them that you have an interview in the area and that you'd love to swing by.
ReplyDeleteOMFG, he just said that a number of 2Ls already have state court interviews. I am not worthy.
DO A PRACTICE CLERKSHIP INTERVIEW
ReplyDeleteNote that in your interviews you will usually get an exploding offer. Judge will be upset if you say no. There are times where it's okay to say no: e.g., if the judge said/did something illegal, immoral, etc.
ReplyDeleteOh, Micah off plan judges question FTW:
ReplyDeleteTwo types of judges go off plan:
1) Judges who want graduates.
2) Judges who are celebrities (usually depend on referrals, depend on profs and deans) and non costal judges who feel like they lose out during the "rat race"
On lawclerkaddict.com you can see the running list of judges who are off cycle.
Boalt, like all law school strictly adheres to the law clerk hiring plan.
That said, your profs and such can provide you letters whenever they want to provide them
ReplyDelete"You are not alone"
ReplyDelete