Students and graduates who plan to apply for federal judicial clerkships will need to become familiar with OSCAR.  The Online System for Clerkship Application and Review provides students, recommenders, and judges one central place to submit and review applications.  Through this system, applicants will set up an account, review the list of hiring judges, upload application documents, create draft applications, select recommenders, and finalize and submit applications.  The link to OSCAR follows https://oscar.uscourts.gov

With regard to recommenders, you should first contact potential recommenders to verify permission, then select or create recommenders in the “My Recommendations” tab on OSCAR.  If the recommender is on the Washburn faculty, he or she will already be in the system.  If the recommender is not on the faculty, you will need to “create” a new recommender.  NOTE: Recommenders will NOT be notified through OSCAR until the you create an application.  I recommend applicants begin at least one application so OSCAR will generate an e-mail to recommenders.  This allows the recommenders more time to write and upload the recommendations.  OSCAR allows recommenders to write one letter and merge it into several applications for the applicant.

After you begin an application, OSCAR automatically sends an e-mail to your recommenders, and I receive a copy of the message.  Several years ago I began the practice of reaching out to recommenders and offering to help.  Many times recommenders (faculty and non-faculty) end up sending me the text of their recommendation letters and I upload them into OSCAR.  It only takes me a minute and saves them from having to learn the system. 

On the applicant’s end, recommendations are pretty simple, as you really don’t have to do anything other than ask people and let them know whether you have a need for hard copy letters in addition to the OSCAR applications. 

Regarding your applications, you shouldn’t feel that you have to wait until all the recommendation letters are uploaded before you finalize your applications.  Recommenders can, and often do, submit letters after the applicant’s application is finalized.  On that note, I recommend you finalize your applications sooner rather than later.  The applications of students are not released to judges until September 8, but the applications of graduates are released as soon as they are finalized.  If you are a student, it’s best to beat the deadline as uploading documents can be cumbersome near the time of the deadline due to increased activity on the OSCAR site.  If you are a graduate, you will want to finalize applications as soon as possible as judges may starting reviewing graduate applications before the September deadline.

Employers often ask for professional references of job applicants. Unless otherwise instructed by the potential employer, you should provide contact information for 3-4 individuals who can speak to your skills, work ethic, and professionalism. References may include current or former employers and colleagues, professors, or others with whom you have worked in a professional capacity (examples include a volunteer coordinator of a community organization or a colleague from a professional organization). Student applicants should include at least one law school professor with whom he or she has developed a working relationship such as a writing or seminar course instructor.

ALWAYS ask before listing an individual as a reference!

Provide contact information for references on a separate document entitled “References of [Your name here].” It is alternatively appropriate to use a header such those used on a resume. Occasionally references are listed at the bottom of a resume; however, never state “References Available on Request” – it is a waste of valuable space on a resume.

Contact information for each reference should include the reference’s name, title, professional address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Consider including a brief explanation of the relationship if it is not obvious from your resume and the reference’s contact information. For example:

Eric Holder
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
202-353-1555
Eric.holder@usdoj.gov
*Former supervisor at Covington & Burling LLP

Always provide your references with a current resume and keep the reference up to speed regarding your job search. Send your reference a brief description of the position for which you are applying and a few reasons why you are qualified. Keep him or her informed as you work through the interview process and follow up when you complete the process.

Don’t forget to send thank you notes to references in addition to employers!