Should we send thank-you notes after interviews?
I think so, but I know not everyone sends them. I tend to be overly polite.
I did it for firms, but not for judges. I don’t think it is customary for clerkship interviews. Unlike with OCI (where you could be doing callbacks with many firms in a very compressed period of time), I think there is less of a need to emphasize your interest in the position.
I sent thank you notes for all my clerkship interviews last fall. It certainly wouldn’t hurt and may even help with someone so I think its a good idea. FWIW the clerkship adviser in my CSO says that you should always send thank yous after clerkship interviews.
I did (and did the whole handwritten card thing, too, though I’m not sure it’s necessary).
If I met with the clerks, would I need to send one to each of them, as well (if we send them at all)?
I sent one to the judge, asking him/her to thank their clerks (whom I mentioned by name) for taking the time to meet with me. I have no idea if that is/isn’t proper etiquette, but that’s what I did.
(I’m trying to remember - one of the people we interviewed in chambers sent a thank-you note, but I honestly can’t remember if she sent one to each of us or if I just saw the note to the judge. Either way, if I can’t remember, I doubt it matters.)
Thanks.
I would send one. Just direct it to the judge. You can also send one to any clerks you met with, particularly if you feel like they have a pretty strong say in hiring (they don’t always, since they’re not the ones that will have to work with you–it’s the judge, JA if there is one, and career clerk if there is one that will). The thank you letters are not because you want to emphasize your interest in the position per se, but because you want to appear like a nice, polite person that the judge is going to feel like they would like to spend a year (or two) with.