OSCAR - the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review

Updated June 19, 2008

OSCAR is an online system that most federal judges use to process, accept, and filter applications for judicial clerks. Of the 513 judges currently listing open clerkship positions, 457 accept applications through OSCAR. 47 judges accept only traditional paper applications, and an additional 90 judges accept either traditional applications or OSCAR submitted applications.

Students use the system to create applications, collect letters of recommendation, and review listings of open positions and see the requirements of particular judges. Even if you are applying to judges who only accept paper applications, you can use OSCAR to search listings and have notices of openings sent to your e-mail.

Recommenders must also use OSCAR to submit letters. If your recommenders have trouble, direct them to Bill Penn at wcpenn@lclark.edu.

On the other end, judges can sort applicants by certain criteria (school, class standing) and choose which applicants’ materials they want to review. The OSCAR system follows the Law Clerk Hiring Plan time-lines and, although applicants and recommenders may upload materials throughout the summer, judges do not have access to 3L students’ application materials until Sept. 3, 2008.

Some Pros and Cons of the OSCAR system:

PROS:

1. You can easily see which judges are hiring for the upcoming term. The system contains clear information about the application materials requested by each judge.

2. You can search judges, by name, location, circuit, etc.

3. You can build your application for each judge over time. Rather than putting together multiple packets that must be mailed, you can upload your materials throughout the summer, avoiding a rush at the end to meet the Sept. 3 deadline.

4. You can conveniently apply to many judges. There are mail merge functions available for cover letters and for recommendation letters.

CONS:

1. The system can be confusing and backward. If you do not carefully read and follow the instructions for the system, you will not be able to successfully upload your materials.

2. By making the system so accessible to students, there are a large number of applications per judge, increasing the competition for positions and the likelihood that judges will filter applications.

3. Judges may search by certain criteria (certain schools or class standing) and may not even review your application materials. If a judge is not looking for your specific combination of school, rank, law review participation, etc, then no matter how good your application is, judges may not see it.

4. The system is very difficult for off campus recommenders. Law school assistants have been trained on the system and will be available to upload letters for faculty members. However, off campus recommenders have found the system to be very confusing.

Another Way to Apply

There is another way to apply. Just a few years ago, next to these words would come a description of OSCAR, but the pendulum has swung and now the other way to apply is on paper. Currently 90 judges have indicated that they will entertain paper applications, and there are serious reasons to consider going the traditional route.

At present, paper applications are a novelty for judges who accept both paper and OSCAR applications, and your application may stand out by simply arriving via post. Paper applications are also harder for judges to ignore. In order to not consider a paper application it must be physically put aside or disposed of, this takes action, in contrast to the passiveness of a judge filtering applications through OSCAR. The time it takes an application to be removed from the envelope to the time the application is placed in a pile gives you the opportunity to impress, an opportunity you do not have if your application does not make it through an OSCAR filter.

Recently a graduate reported to career services that the fact that her application was submitted on paper made the difference in her being considered and ultimately receiving her judicial clerkship position. Of course, the pendulum could easily swing back to judges being overwhelmed by paper applications leading them to give less consideration to paper and focus on the ease of the OSCAR's filters.

For judges who have not indicated a willingness to accept paper applications, it is a bad idea to only submit paper applications. Many judges will disregard your application for not following the posted instructions and applying through OSCAR. You may, however, consider sending a paper application or a cover letter by mail in addition to applying through OSCAR.

What You can Do NOW

Whether or not a judge is participating in OSCAR should not affect your ability to request letters of recommendation or to begin researching which judges you plan to apply to this fall - it will only affect the manner in which you submit your materials to a particular judge.

It is a good time to take care of the following items if you have not already.

Set up an OSCAR account.

• Check the list of judges often.

• Ask professors and supervisors to write letters of recommendation.

Resources

-OSCAR
-OSCAR User Guide pdf
-Lewis & Clark Directory for finding professors

Dates

-9/3/2008: Applications allowed
-9/8/2008: Contact from judges allowed
-9/11/2008: Interviews allowed

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