If you're anywhere that's not equal distance to the Gulf and Atlantic (and I think all of these are on one coast or the other), you have to deal with hurricane preparedness (which is a PITA and the season 'starts' Friday :rolleyes: )

I forgot that I also have family in North Carolina, so that state is now also on the list. (And I feel pretty silly about forgetting that, since it's my one relative who's an attorney.) Anyone have info on Raleigh or New Bern?

Oh, and for the middle-of-the-country people - Cedar Rapids? I've been to Des Moines enough times to have my own opinion there, but I don't think I've ever been to Cedar Rapids.

I've thought long and hard about answering this without overselling Portland.

Just come visit. You'll fall in love.

ron

I'm a little freaked out by the competition in the 9th circuit (judges receiving over 900 applications!), so I'm casting the net a little wider.

Any first-hand info on:

Santa Fe
Las Cruces
Denver
Charleston (WV, not SC)
Macon
Atlanta
Syracuse
Lawrence (KS)
Cleveland
Baltimore
Philly
Pittsburgh

????

More later, probably.

Pru: to stand out from the crowd, how about sending "just a notes" to the judges you most want to work for (eg: small greeting cards, which you can probably get from vistaprint.com)

One of my good friends lives in Macon and LOVES it. They've been there about 8 years now. Housing prices are great and she loves the people.

She formerly lived in Denver and hated but another friend lived there for years and totally loved it.

That falls into the category of Things That Are Not Done. I might stand out, but not in a good way. Many judges state right in the description that you're not to contact chambers for any reason, except to withdraw from consideration.

I'm already bucking the rules by including actual content in my cover letter, when most schools advise sending something that is more like

"Dear Judge Smith:

I am applying for a position in your chambers for the 2008-2009 term. Enclosed please find my resume, law and undergraduate transcripts, writing sample, and letters from:

Professor X
Professor Y
Professor Z

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Jane Q. Student."

Seriously. No actual content. (Of course, as my adviser notes, when you come from Harvard, you don't need content.) Persuasive letters are frowned on by most everyone, but I'm not a typical candidate, so I have to say more.

In short: my cover letter may get derisive comments from individual judges, but they likely won't phone up their colleagues to talk about the idiot from Seattle. Sending something to the judges, on the other hand, might.

Seriously? Notecards would actually be bad?

Wow... strange profession. Then again - it is the government.

I suspect sending a notecard would be viewed as "cutesy" and/or unprofessional--along the same lines as pink perfumed resume paper.

Pru, please don't use pink perfumed resume paper.

Didn't it work in "Legally Blonde?"