Tell me about your town

[Prudence]

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.

[ozron]

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

Just come visit. You'll fall in love.

ron

[Prudence]

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.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Santa Fe

I have visited there twice - both times on Christmas Eve. We walked through the Old Town section that is lit up with thousands of luminarias. You can walk from bonfire to bonfire (it is usually butt-cold) and enjoy carolers. Definitely one of the best Christmas spirit experiences I have ever had.

[Stan4dSteph]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Syracuse

Uh oh. You probably don't realize how much the weather SUCKS in Syracuse. Like way sucks. Also, I don't think there's much to do there.

Any reason why you singled out Syracuse in the 2nd Circuit? I grew up in the Rochester area. The weather there can be crummy too, but I like the city as a whole. I live in the Albany area now. The housing market here is inflated IMO, but it's close to NYC, Boston and Montreal.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

Uh oh. You probably don't realize how much the weather SUCKS in Syracuse. Like way sucks. Also, I don't think there's much to do there.

Any reason why you singled out Syracuse in the 2nd Circuit? I grew up in the Rochester area. The weather there can be crummy too, but I like the city as a whole. I live in the Albany area now. The housing market here is inflated IMO, but it's close to NYC, Boston and Montreal.

Because a) it's as far north as the spousal unit will go, b) it's not as prohibitively expensive as NYC, and c) there's a judge there with an opening. If more judges post openings in other cities in the 2nd circuit, I might consider them. Also, I'm more willing to go somewhere somewhat unpleasant for a court of appeals (such as here) than I am for district court.

[Stan4dSteph]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Because a) it's as far north as the spousal unit will go, b) it's not as prohibitively expensive as NYC, and c) there's a judge there with an opening. If more judges post openings in other cities in the 2nd circuit, I might consider them. Also, I'm more willing to go somewhere somewhat unpleasant for a court of appeals (such as here) than I am for district court.

The one nice thing about Syracuse: at least you'll be able to shop at Wegmans.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

The one nice thing about Syracuse: at least you'll be able to shop at Wegmans.

That is a selling point.

[Morrigoon]

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)

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

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)

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.