OSCAR

OSCAR Overview

OSCAR, the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review, is a centralized web-based system that enables applicants for federal judicial clerkships to search for clerkship positions, select the judges to whom they wish to apply, and build and submit their applications online for judges who are accepting electronic applications. Applicants upload all required application materials and submit electronic requests for recommendation letters to their recommenders. OSCAR electronically invites the recommenders to log onto the system and create and upload letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicants. Judges are able to log in, review completed applications, and begin the hiring process.

Creating an OSCAR Account

To use OSCAR, you must first create an account that includes your personal profile. To create an account, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the OSCAR website (oscar.uscourts.gov).
  2. Click "REGISTER" on the top navigation bar or "Register Now!" below "New User?".
  3. Click "Are You Applying?"
  4. Complete the Applicant Registration form, being sure to fill in all required fields marked with a red asterisk.  Make note of your username and password and be sure to set "Email Frequency" to receive automated email notification of new clerkship opportunities.
  5. Click "Submit". The contact and education information you enter will serve as your profile, which is sent to judges alongside your selected application materials. You can edit your profile at any time by logging in to OSCAR and clicking "MY PROFILE" on the top navigation bar.

Searching for Clerkship Opportunities

IMPORTANT: Before using OSCAR, we recommend you review the "tipsheets" on your OSCAR homepage.

  1. Place your cursor over "Search for Positions" on the top navigation bar, then click "Judges" from the drop-down options.
  2. Use the basic search functions in the gray box on the Judges List page or the advanced search functions by clicking the gray "Advanced Search" tab.
  3. Select "Available" for "Clerkship Position Status" to explore judges who currently have clerkship openings.
  4. The methods by which the judges are accepting applications -- e.g., online (via OSCAR), paper (i.e., U.S. Mail), email, fax -- are identified in the "Application Methods" column.
  5. Click a judge's last name.
  6. Click the "Judge Details" tab for clerkship details.
  7. Click the "Clerkship List" tab for application information.

Application Timing

The key dates for OSCAR users regarding clerkships commencing in 2013 are as follows:

  • NOON (EDT), Tuesday, September 4, 2012: First date when applications may be received. For judges who are accepting online applications through OSCAR, OSCAR will not release law student applications for viewing by the judges until this date. If you finalize applications prior to September 4th, OSCAR will store them and then automatically release them on September 4th.
  • NOON (EDT), Friday, September 7, 2012: First date and time when judges may contact applicants to schedule interviews.
  • 10:00 a.m. (EDT), Thursday, September 13, 2012: First date and time when interviews may be held and offers made.

Important Notes About Application Timing:

  • Timing for judges NOT using OSCAR: A number of judges listed on OSCAR are requiring that applicants use U.S. Mail, fax or email to submit applications instead of online via OSCAR. Some of these judges might have application deadlines before September 4th.  Accordingly, pay careful attention to the "Accepting Applications" dates for judges of interest.
  • Graduates can apply on OSCAR before September 4th: Some judges who are accepting online applications via OSCAR are listed as accepting applications before September 4, 2012. This applies to law school graduates only, not law students. No judge will be able to view law student applications on OSCAR prior to September 4th.

Applying Online for a Judicial Clerkship

The following is a brief overview of the steps to apply for clerkship openings for judges accepting applications online via OSCAR. Please refer to the applicable "tipsheets" on your OSCAR homepage for more detailed instructions.

  1. Click "My Documents" located on the top navigation bar.
  2. Click "Add New" to upload the documents you plan to submit with your application (e.g., cover letter, resume, writing sample). All documents must be in .PDF format.
  3. Provide a name for your document in the "Document Label" field.
  4. Choose the appropriate document type from the "Document Type" drop-down menu. OSCAR offers the option of an online editor that enables applicants to create cover letters in the sytem with merge fields so that the names and addresses of judges are automatically generated. The online editor appears when "Clerkship Cover Letter" is selected from the menu.
  5. In the field for "File," select the appropriate file to be uploaded or, if you are using the online editor to create a cover letter, enter the text of your letter.
  6. Click "Upload."
  7. Click "My Recommendations" located on the navigation bar to identify your recommenders. All full-time Marquette faculty are listed in the OSCAR database and available in the drop-down menu. To include a recommender not in the system, click "Create Recommender." Applicants must identify all their recommenders before submitting applications.
  8. Place your cursor over "Search for Positions" on the top navigation bar and select "Judges" from the drop-down options.
  9. Click the last name of the judge for whom you are interested in clerking.
  10. Click the "Clerkship List" tab then click "View & Apply" for the clerkship of interest.
  11. Compile your application in the gray "Build an Application" box, selecting the appropriate documents to be uploaded and the appropriate recommenders.
  12. Click "Create Draft Application". This will store your application as a draft. Application materials and recommenders can be changed up until the application is released to judges for viewing, i.e., September 4, 2012.
  13. Click "Finalize Application" when you are ready to send the application to the judge. Once you click "Finalize Application," you will no longer be able to make any changes to your application.

Grade Sheets in Lieu of Transcripts

All applicants must create a "grade sheet" using the OSCAR online grade sheet form, manually transferring the grades from the transcripts to the online form. Once completed, OSCAR converts the grade sheet to a .PDF document.  Judges participating in OSCAR are aware that these are unofficial transcripts and they are free to request a formal transcript later in the hiring process. OSCAR does NOT accept scanned transcripts or any uploaded grade sheets.

Important Notes About Letters of Recommendation

  • Recommenders receive only one Evite. Recommenders only receive an "Evite" email the FIRST time an applicant requests a letter of recommendation from the recommender. The Evite contains a link to OSCAR and the recommender's username and password. Recommenders do not receive a new Evite every time an applicant requests them in OSCAR since Evite emails reset passwords.
  • Recommendation requests are not sent until the application is created. Applicants must create a clerkship application in order to trigger the recommendation request to a recommender, i.e., by clicking "Create Draft Application" on the Build an Application Screen.
  • Letters of Recommendation can still be uploaded after September 4, 2012. Letters of recommendation can continue to be uploaded to your applications by your recommenders even after the applications become viewable to the judges on September 4th. When judges log on to OSCAR they will see the letters as still pending until the letters are uploaded.