So I know a few people who got offers for judicial internships (not federal) without interviewing. Why would a judge and/or clerk hire someone without at least meeting them?
Professor recommend them? A prof recommended me to a US circuit judge, and I got the internship without interviewing.
I worked for a federal district court judge over a summer, and spoke to the judge exactly twice. You really intern for the clerks more than anything else in most chambers. Plus they’re a little busy judging to take time out and interview law students for unpaid internships, especially when people often don’t go to school near the chambers.
I’d say phone interviews or no interviews are very common paths to judicial summer employment.
I just got a judicial internship offer for a Federal District Court judge this week without interviewing. What I’m even more surprised at is that the judge didn’t even request grades or a writing sample or a phone interview. Just offered based on a cover letter and resume. Still don’t know what to make of it.
This is very common. I got my job on December 22nd last year in a similar fashion (district court judge in DC). It’s a big reason why applying early is so important.