The process of getting a judicial clerkship isn’t for the faint of heart. Most students who seek a post graduate clerkship tend to opt for the federal clerkship option. However, the federal clerkship process has changed quite a bit over the last few years making it more difficult for students to obtain. The federal clerkship process used to be a lot more streamlined, with a specific application submission date in September and a specific interview date about a week later for all selected applicants. The streamlined nature of this process took some pressure off of the applicants. It essentially provided applicants with a one stop shop to get their applications in.
Today the process isn’t as orderly. As more judges began recruiting outside of the slated interview period, the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan was eliminated a few year ago. Judges now mostly determine their own recruitment and hiring schedule. This new plan has provided a lot more flexibility for the judges, but puts a lot more work on you, the applicant. Having a variety of interview and hiring schedules means that applicants need to be a lot more vigilant in their efforts to secure a position. However, the plan may also be returning soon. There is a two-year pilot program going into place, so judges can now opt in to a return of the Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan. So how do you graduate from law school with a coveted clerkship offer in hand? I won’t lie to you, it’s not easy. But giving the tips below a try may at least give you an orderly guide to work with in a process that’s no longer super regimented.
I want you to close your eyes for a minute and think about your deepest fears. Did an image of a spider or snake immediately come to mind or did the inevitability of death come to the forefront? Some of you may have thought about an ex or maybe even the possibility of failing law school. But did any of you think about public speaking? You know, all those horrible moments you got up to give a class presentation, but immediately forgot what you were about to say, or even all those times you’ve been called on in class to discuss the assigned case reading and immediately blanked before you could even acknowledge the professor. Well, if this is the fear that came to mind, don’t be embarrassed, because you’re in the majority. 
As a law student, the end of summer can be extremely stressful. As you complete your summer clerkship and begin to wind down from the various summer festivities, something terrifying lurks around the corner, On Campus Interviews (OCI’s). In addition to being an overall nerve wracking experience, OCI’s can be extremely hectic, especially if you have several scheduled in one day. If this is your first go-round, I hate to break it to you, but the interview itself won’t be the most stressful part of this process. Once you’ve prepared and 
So you’ve done it! After three years of law school, countless interviews and several internships, you’ve finally mastered the appropriate wardrobe for each of these settings. So why is it that you’re beginning to experience some anxiety as you inch closer and closer to the start of your position as a new attorney? Naturally, the majority of this angst stems from the unknown of this position. As a first year attorney, you’re certain that you’ll have no idea what you’re doing, but a small part of you remains anxious because you have no idea what you’ll wear. How will you convince the world that you’re actually a real attorney who should be taken seriously despite the fact that you’re a 24-year-old who looks 19?