The Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan

Updated June 13, 2008

Students preparing for their final year - now is the time to begin thinking about applying for a federal judicial clerkship; applications are due next fall for work starting the fall after you graduate.

Most federal judges follow the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan. The Plan lays out a structured judicial clerkship hiring process with the primary focus on the timing of hiring. In the past, many judges rushed to hire students as early in their law school careers as possible. In fact, judges used to hire students as early as the fall of their second year for positions that would not begin until the Fall after the student’s graduation.

This Hiring Plan, which has been in place for about five years, does not allow federal judges to hire clerks before the fall of the clerk's third year of law school. Although some federal judges do not follow this plan, most judges do, and students interested in applying for a federal clerkship that will begin after graduation should plan to submit application materials at beginning of fall semester of their third/last year of law school.

Important Federal Hiring Plan Dates

• Wednesday, September 3, 2008: The second day after Labor Day - The first day that application materials may be RECEIVED by judges, also the day the online application system OSCAR releases applications to judges.

• 12 Noon, Monday, September 8, 2008: The first day judges may contact applicants to schedule interviews.

• 8 a.m., Thursday, September 11, 2008: The first day judges may hold interviews and the first day judges may make job offers.

Timing Issues to Consider

Do not submit your materials too late. Because of the tight time-lines, it is important that you submit your materials as soon as possible without arriving before the deadline. If your materials arrive late in the reading period, the judge may have already received many good applications and may not even review your materials.

• Do not submit your materials prior too early. Many judges who are strictly following the Plan will not review materials if they arrive early.

• Prepare your application early. Most judges require you to submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample and 2-3 letters of recommendation. You will need to prepare your materials over the summer, so that you can have them ready to submit immediately after Labor Day. Think about who you will ask to write your letters of recommendation. Advise them of your plans. Ask them no later than mid-summer, so they will have plenty of time to prepare a good letter for you to submit on time.

• Prepare separate application packets, with individually addressed cover letters and letters of recommendation, to each of the judges you are applying to.

• Keep in mind that this Plan only applies to federal judicial clerkships. Some state courts follow these timing guidelines, many other courts (including the Oregon appellate courts) hire much earlier than the federal courts.

What to Do NOW

• Review “The 2008 Hiring Plan”

• Pick up a copy of the Career Services “Judicial Clerkship Handbook” - pick one up from the front desk anytime. The Handbook has lists of applicable resources and websites that will aid you in your research. Read through it now so that you will know what you need to do over the summer. A new edition is currently being edited and will be available later this summer.

• Visit and register for OSCAR, the online judicial hiring system. It is never too early to start entering your information to OSCAR!

• Ask faculty and other recommenders about writing letters of recommendation for you.

• Research judges and determining where you plan to apply. A list judges and openings is available from OSCAR.

• Schedule an appointment to talk with Libby Davis, Ellen Jones, or Bill Penn in Career Services about your clerkship plans.

• Stay tuned to your lclark email over the summer for updated information about federal judicial clerkship hiring and OSCAR (the online application system)!

Resources

-Judicial Clerkship Page
-Federal Clerk Hiring Plan
-OSCAR
-Clerkship Database (password available from Career Services)

Dates

-9/3/2008: Applications allowed

-9/8/2008: Contact from judges allowed

-9/11/2008: Interviews allowed

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