Overview of OSCAR Application Process

8/4/2019 Overview of OSCAR Application Process

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1 OSCAR Tip Sheet

An Overview of the OSCAR Application Process

Step OneUpload Documents

1. Log into the OSCAR system by going to thehttps://oscar.uscourts.gov/website,entering your OSCAR username and password, and clicking the Go button.

Figure 1. Login Prompt

Before you can begin building your applications, you will need to upload the

documentscover letter, resume, grade sheet(s), and writing sample(s)you plan to

submit. The number and type of documents you submit with any given application

packet will vary depending on the position requirements; however, a resume is always

required.

Although applying for positions in OSCAR may seem complex at first, it is a

straightforward process that can be broken down into four basic steps:

Upload Documents Identify Recommenders Research and Manage Positions Submit Applications

A basic understanding of the application process will allow you to more effectively use

the OSCAR system in your goal of securing a federal clerkship position.
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2. Click on My Documents on the Main Navigation Bar.

Figure 2. My Documents Tab

3. To upload or create a document, click the Add New button at the bottom of the MyDocuments screen.

Figure 3. Click Add New to Upload/Create a New Document

The My Documents tab is where you will upload or create all of the applicant-

generated documents that you will include in your application packets. The process of

uploading documents to OSCAR is simple and straightforward, but there are certain

restrictions you must be aware of:

All documents uploaded to OSCAR must be in PDF format. Note: OSCAR doesnot currently support the newest version of Adobe PDF. However, the system

will run a script to convert any documents created with this software to an

earlier, compatible format. To avoid this delay, you may wish to use another

PDF conversion tool.

All documents uploaded to OSCAR must be less the 300KB in size. Grade sheets cannot be uploaded to OSCAR. They must be created using the

grade sheet online form. Note: Judges and staff attorney offices are aware that

these are not official transcripts.

OSCAR restricts the total number of documents you can have uploaded at anyone time. Restrictions vary by document type and are listed on the MyDocuments tab.


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4. OSCAR will display the Document Details tab, where you can upload or create newapplication documents, including resumes, cover letters (judge or staff attorney), writing

samples, and grade sheets (law, undergraduate, and other).

To create a cover letter with the online editor, please see theHow to Create aCover Letter Using the Online Editortip sheet in the Applicant Resources section

of OSCAR.

To create grade sheets, please see theHow to Create a Grade Sheettip sheet inthe Applicant Resources section of OSCAR.

5. To upload a resume, cover letter, or writing sample: Enter a name for your document in the Document Label Field and choose the

document type from the pull-down menu.

Figure 4. Enter Label and Select Document Type

If you are uploading a resume or writing sample, you will then click the Browsebutton in the gray file box.

Figure 5. Click Browse to Locate File for Upload

Enter a name for your

document and choose

the document type.
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In the pop-up window that displays, navigate to where the file is stored on yourcomputer or network, select the file, and click the Open button. The file path will

appear in the browse box. Click the Upload button to upload the selected

document.

Figure 6. Click Upload

If you are uploading a cover letter, OSCAR will display the online editor screen.In the area immediately below the Document Type pull-down menu, choose the

.pdf file option. OSCAR will then display the same file browse box shown above.

Click Browse to locate your file and click the Upload button.

Figure 7. Choose .pdf file and Click Browse

Your new document will be available in the list on the My Documents tab.


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Step TwoIdentify Recommenders

1. Place your mouse cursor over the My Recommendations tab on the main menu bar.Click on Choose My Recommenders in the menu that appears.

Figure 8. My Recommendations/Choose My Recommenders Tabs

2. You will use this tab to select and add your recommenders. There are three options foradding a recommender:

Select from your schools Faculty Recommenders List: For each law schoolparticipating in the OSCAR program, the law school administrator uploads a

master directory that contains a list the schools faculty recommenders. Search

this list if you wish to select a recommender on the faculty of your law school.

Figure 9. Select Faculty Recommender

Selecting your recommenders is a crucial part of the application process. You must

identify all of your recommenders before submitting applications just as you must

upload all your application documents before applying to a position. Please note that

simply identifying your pool of recommenders does not generate recommendation

requests. Recommendation letters are associated specifically with an application

packet, so you must actually apply to and associate recommenders with an

application to generate recommendation requests.

Choose faculty

recommender from the

pull-down menu.


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4. OSCAR automatically sets the recommenders selected from your schools database asDefault Recommenders, which means that they will automatically be checked as selected

recommenders when you create a clerkship application. This is purely a convenience,

and you are not required to associate default recommenders with a clerkship application.

Default recommenders are identified by a green check ( ) in the Default column of your

Current Recommenders list. To change a recommenders default status, check the boxnext to his/her name and select the appropriate function from the Batch Options menu.

Figure 13. Default Recommender

5. Repeat the above process as necessary to add all of your recommenders beforeproceeding to the next step in the application process. If a recommender is not on your

Current Recommenders list, you will not be able to associate that recommender with a

clerkship application.

For more detailed instructions on adding recommenders, see theHow to Identify

Your Recommenderstip sheet in the Applicant Resource section.
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Step ThreeResearch and Manage Positions

To Search for Law Clerk Positions

1. Move your mouse cursor over the Search For Positions tab in the main menu bar. Clickon the Judges sub-tab in the menu that appears.

Figure 14. Search For Positions/Judges Tabs

2. To use the Basic Search functions: From the Judges List sub-tab, scroll down to the gray Basic Search box. Select

your search criteria and click Apply Search. Note: Click the Clear button to

reset the search.

Figure 15. Judges List Basic Search Box

Now that you have uploaded all necessary application documents and created your

pool of recommenders, it is time to begin searching for positions. OSCAR allows you to

search for both law clerk and appellate staff attorney positions. You cannot search for

both concurrently. Instead, you will search for each in a separate process. There are

several tools at your disposal for narrowing the field to just those positions that fit your

particular goals and interests. Additionally, OSCAR provides you with the ability to

organize positions into folders to better manage your application process.

You have two basic options when searching for law clerk or staff attorney positions: (1)

Search using the Basic Search box in the Judges List or Staff Attorney Office List sub-

tabs, and (2) Use the more detailed search available on the Advanced Search tabs.


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Judges fitting the search criteria will be displayed in the list at the bottom of theJudges List sub-tab. You can manipulate the list using the column headings to

further refine your search. Click on a column heading to sort the list by that

heading, and click the delta icon ( ) to sort in ascending or descending order.

The default view is by judges last name in descending (A-Z) order.

Figure 16. Sort List by Column Headings

Click on a judges last name to view judge and clerkship details. Use the BatchOptions menu or the Copy to Folders button to save a clerkship to a custom

folder. (SeeHow to Copy Positions to Folderstip sheet for a detailed review of

this process)

Figure 17. Click on Judge Name to View Details

3. To use the Advanced Search: Select the Advanced Search tab for judges. This tab provides numerous search

criteria to allow you to execute a finely targeted search. For a detailed

discussions on how to use this function, see theUsing the Advanced Search

Featuretip sheet in the Applicant Resources section

Figure 17. Advanced Search Sub-Tab
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When you have selected your search parameters, click the Submit button toexecute the search. OSCAR will display your search results in a new Search

Results sub-tab. Note: Your search results will only remain available until you

log out of OSCAR or conduct another search.

Figure 18. Search Results Sub-Tab

Click on a judges last name to view judge and clerkship details. As with theJudges List, your search results can be sorted by column header in ascending ordescending order. You can also save clerkships to folders using the Batch

Options menu or the Copy to Folders button. (SeeHow to Copy Positions to

Folderstip sheet for a detailed review of this process.)

Figure 19. List of Search Results
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To Search for Staff Attorney Positions

1. Move your mouse cursor over the Search For Positions tab in the main menu bar. Clickon the Staff Attorneys sub-tab in the menu that appears.

Figure 20. Search For Positions/Staff Attorneys Tabs

2. To use the Basic Search functions: From the Staff Attorney Office List sub-tab, scroll down to the gray Basic Search

box. Select your search criteria and click Apply Search. Note: Click the Clear

button to reset the search.

Figure 21. Staff Attorney List Basic Search Box

Staff attorney offices fitting the search criteria will be displayed in the list at thebottom of the Staff Attorney Office sub-tab. The list can be manipulated using

the column headings to further refine your search. Click on a column heading to

sort the list by that heading, and click the delta icon ( ) to sort in ascending or

descending order. The default view is by Circuit Name in descending (A-Z) order.

Figure 22. Sort List by Column Headings


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Click on the Circuit Name to view office and position details. Use the BatchOptions menu or the Copy to Folders button to save a staff attorney position to a

custom folder. (SeeHow to Copy Positions to Folderstip sheet for a detailed

review of this process.)

Figure 23. Click on Circuit Name to View Details

3. To use the Advanced Search: Select the Advanced Search tab for staff attorneys. This tab provides numerous

search criteria to allow you to execute a finely targeted search. For a detailed

discussion on how to use this function, see theUsing the Advanced Search

Featuretip sheet in the Applicant Resources section.

Figure 24. Advanced Search Sub-Tab

When you have selected your search parameters, click the Submit button toexecute the search. OSCAR will display your search results in a new Search

Results sub-tab. Note: Your search results will only remain available until you

log out of OSCAR or conduct another search.

Figure 25. Search Results Sub-Tab
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Click on a Circuit Name to view office and position details. As with the StaffAttorney Office List, your search results can be sorted by column header in

ascending or descending order. You can also save positions to folders using the

Batch Options menu or the Copy to Folders button. (SeeHow to Copy Positions

to Folderstip sheet for a detailed review of this process.)

Figure 26. List of Search Results
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Step FourSubmit Applications

1. Navigate to the position you wish to apply for, whether you have identified it on theJudges List or Staff Attorney Office List sub-tabs, through the Advanced Search function,

or you have stored it in a folder.

2. For clerkship positions, click on the judges last name to open the Judge Details sub-tab.For staff attorney positions, click on the Circuit Name to open the Staff Attorney OfficeProfile sub-tab.

3. For clerkship positions, click on the Clerkships List sub-tab to see a list of the judgesclerkship positions. For staff attorney positions, click on the Positions list sub-tab.

Figure 27a. Judge Details Sub-Tab Figure 27b. Staff Attorney Office Profile Sub-Tab

Now that you have identified the positions you will be apply to, you can begin

building your applications. You will need to have all your application documents

uploaded to the My Documents tab and your pool of recommenders created in the My

Recommendations tab. With all this done ahead of time, building the application will be

a simple and straightforward process.


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4. You will see a list of clerkship or staff attorney positions. Click the View & Applybutton in the Options column to begin assembling your applications.

Figure 28a. View & Apply ButtonClerkships List

Figure 28b. View & Apply ButtonPositions List (Staff Attorney)

5. The next page will list the clerkship or staff attorney position information (dates,description, location, etc.) and application requirements (documents, recommendations

required, law journal/review, class standing, etc.). Preferred method of application will

be displayed in the Build an Application box. If a judge or staff attorney office is not

accepting online applications, compile your application outside the OSCAR system and

submit the materials to the judge or staff attorney office per their indicated application

method (e.g., email, FAX, or mail).

Figure 29. Judge Accepting Paper Applications


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6. If the judge or staff attorney office is accepting online applications, you can beginbuilding an application for submission.

In the Build an Application box, use the various pull-down menus to select thedocuments you wish to include with the application. The [new] option allows youto enter/upload a new document. The documents a judge or staff attorney office

requires for a particular position are listed under the Required Documents field.

You can add or remove documents until the application is Finalized and visible to

the judge or staff attorney office.

Figure 30. Attach Documents (Clerkship Application)

If the judge or staff attorney office requires letters of recommendation, identifyyour recommenders by checking the boxes next to their names. Default

recommenders will already be checked. Note: Completing this step and clicking

the Create Draft Application button triggers the recommendation requests.

You can add or remove recommenders until the application is Finalized and

visible to the judge or staff attorney office.

Figure 31. Choose Recommenders

Select documents to

attach to application

from pull-down menus.

Move mouse over [select]

bar to reveal pull-down

menu and selection box.


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If the judgeor staff attorney office requires a list of references, enter the namesof your references, their telephone numbers, and email addresses in the

References section.

Figure 32. Enter References (if required)

When you have attached your documents and identified your recommenders,click Create Draft Application to store application materials as a draft. As longas your application remains in Draft status, you can continue to add or remove

documents and recommenders. If you so choose, you can delete the DRAFT

application and still have the option to re-apply to the clerkship or staff attorney

position.

Figure 33. Click Create Draft Application (Clerkship Application)

To release your application to the judge or staff attorney office, you must clickthe Finalize Application button. Remember: Once you click on Finalize

Application, you will no longer be able to make any changes to your application.

If you wish to withdraw your application, you will not be able to re-apply.

Figure 34. Click Finalize Application (Clerkship Application)


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7. You can view your applications, whether Draft, Finalized, or Withdrawn, on the MyApplications tab in the main menu bar. Move your mouse cursor over the tab and

choose Clerkship Applications or Staff Attorney Applications from the menu that appears.

Figure 35. My Applications Tab

8. From either list, you can delete or edit applications in Draft and withdraw Finalizedapplications. You can also use the Batch Options menu to finalize multiple applications

at once.

Figure 36. View and Manipulate Current Applications (Clerkships Shown)

For a detailed discussion on how to use this function, see theHow to Build an Applicationtip

sheet in the Applicant Resources section.

Edit, delete,

or withdrawapplications.

Use Batch Options menu to

finalize multiple applications.
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