Law Alumni Connection

Choosing Judges

Choosing Judges

About Judges

How do I choose the judges to whom I will apply?

For a detailed look at researching judges, please consult the Complete Guide to Judicial Clerkships. Generally, applicants will focus on a particular kind of court or area of the country. It is imperative that you consider carefully how competitive you will be in the courts to which you are applying — applicants are far more likely to walk away empty-handed if they aim only at courts that will be a reach for them. Other factors that you will want to consider are how likely a judge is to hire a UVA student (based on past hiring), which judges your recommenders know, and where a judge’s clerks tend to go upon completion of their clerkships.

Should I apply to Senior Judges?

Yes! After some years of service, federal judges have the option of taking senior status. Typically, the caseload of judges on senior status is reduced. Depending on the number of cases they will be hearing, though, senior judges remain eligible to hire at least one law clerk (and often more than one). Most senior judges maintain a full and interesting docket, and in fact use their senior status to avoid types of cases that do not interest them. Indeed, some senior judges travel to desirable locations around the country (often with clerks) to sit “by designation” on other circuits. You should peruse a senior judge’s docket before you apply to him or her, however, because some senior judges do have very light caseloads and may be less interesting for you.

What does a magistrate judge do?

Magistrate judges conduct a wide range of judicial proceedings to expedite the disposition of the civil and criminal caseloads of the United States District Courts. To achieve maximum flexibility in meeting the needs of each court, the actual determination of which duties to assign to magistrate judges are left to the individual courts. Many magistrate judges conduct a wide range of criminal hearings, while others handle strictly civil work, often chunks of complex multi-plaintiff litigation. Magistrate clerkships are fast-paced and an excellent learning opportunity for students interested in spending a lot of time in court, but you should be aware of each judge’s typical docket before you apply.

How do I figure out when judges are hiring?

Judges may all hire on their own timelines, so it is not always possible to be 100% certain about when any given judge is hiring. With that said, students should make sure to check both OSCAR and CARS before submitting applications because many judges do make their hiring timelines known and do not wish to receive packets at other times. If information is not available about a particular judge, applicants are encouraged to check with chambers before sending materials. If you are still uncertain as to when to apply, please check with the Office of Judicial Clerkships.

How can I find out more about the experience of clerking for a state judge?

We spoke to some alumni who have clerked for state judges. Here are their responses:
Salima Burke ’12
Robert Falconi ’11
Claire Grandy Kenny ’14
Tom Perez-Lopez ’12


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