You’ve received a call to interview – congratulations! Below are a few tips to help you prepare for the interview:
- Judges generally hire on a rolling basis, which means if they like the first person they interview, they may cancel the other interviews. Take advantage and also show your interest by scheduling the earliest available interview appointment. If possible, interview in person. This will give you the best opportunity to make a strong impression and convey your strong interest. You should not wait to select an interview in the hopes of getting an offer to interview with a different judge.
- It is typically expected that if you are extended an offer you will accept. You should not utilize an offer from one judge to push an offer from a different judge. If after an interview you feel like that judge may not be the right fit, contact Mahrya in the Career Center and we will find a tactful way to withdraw your application from consideration immediately.
- Bailiffs, Court Reporters, Law Clerks and Judge’s Assistants typically know their judge extremely well and may have worked with them for a very long time. Their impression of you can be very important in the decision-making process. In every interaction with them – via email, phone or in person – make sure that you are conveying yourself in the best possible way.
- Arrive EARLY! Most courthouses have security and depending on the day it could be a long line to get in. Some courthouses have odd parking situations or even shuttles. If you arrive early, you can simply prepare or observe proceedings. Some courtrooms also may not allow you to bring your phone. Have a plan.
- Always bring extra copies of your materials to the interview.
- Thank you notes are highly recommended. While an email can suffice, we recommend a hand-written note for federal clerkships. It does not have to be long, a few sentences will be sufficient. Make sure that you reiterate your interest and something you spoke about in the interview. In order to make sure your notes arrive quickly, have the notes with you and take a minute right after the interview to write a personalized thank you. Make sure there are no errors in grammar or spelling. PROOFREAD your thank you note – several times. You can then drop it in a mailbox in the city where you interviewed so that the mail delivery is faster. Utilize the most professional stationary for this note. Make sure that you have everyone’s names – including the judicial assistant. After the interview, you can absolutely check back in with the judicial assistant and clarify spelling of names.
- Remember – Judges hire largely based on “fit.” The members of their chambers are similar to a small family and they want to make sure that anyone they bring in will fit in. Be prepared, but also be yourself. Federal Judges are exempt from liability under federal employment statutes, such as Title VII, so it is possible that they may ask about your personal plans.