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I don’t know why but this made me LOL! 🤣😭
Leadership advice for young associates?
Thoughts on Paul Weiss - corporate?
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I read up on my judges major recent decisions and tried to sprinkle it into my answers. A lot of it is about fit and personality, so just let that shine through in your discussion with your judge.
Yeah a lot of the job is researching and helping your judge understand the law so if you show that you write up a few decisions that he made and thought about them you're showing him you can do the job right there
My GF’s Judge wanted to employ someone he could see himself “having a beer with after work.” A lot of it is personality fit from what I’ve heard. Generally, all potential applicants are going to have the outstanding requisite academic credentials. So, just be yourself.
Mine calls this the lunch test.
If you wouldnt want to have lunch with them, you wont want to spend 40+ hours a week with them at work either.
Depends on the judge and type of Court but I would just research your judge and skim some of his/her important decisions. Have a good answer for why this judge/chambers and court, and ask what makes a good clerk in this particular chambers. Also have good questions for chambers in case you speak to them—they can have a lot of influence.
As a former clerk, so much comes down to how well you get along with the rest of the office. If my judge was blown away by a candidate but that person was rude to his JA, there is zero chance that they would get an offer.
All great advice already here.
One thing I’d be sure of, and it might seem like obvious advice, is to have great answers to the basic questions, most notably why you actually want to clerk. As a former clerk who interviewed a number of candidates, you’d be surprised at how many people seem to stumble through the “why do you want to clerk” question. You could have great credentials, but if your answer to that one essentially amounts to “it’s a resume builder,” you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Criticize his / her / they decisions from multiple angles. Goes over well. Kidding obviously. But this actually happened during an interview when I was clerking. Unreal. Applicant criticized a recent and somewhat controversial opinion….did not get the job. Still makes me laugh.
Familiarize yourself with the judge’s opinions and perhaps cases on the docket if COA. Just be yourself…be prepared to answer the basics…why my chambers, why this court, why clerk etc. don’t give canned responses…be authentic. Good luck!
Don’t forget that there are also clerking opportunities in the private sector, no experience required.