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I've been offered a clerkship with a magistrate judge in a market far from where I want to practice. Was no-offered by a law firm after 2L, and I'm looking to get back to Big(ger than Small)Law. Take it?

EDIT: Federal magistrate

Is your alternative unemployment? If so, I guess you should take it. Maybe you can climb your way up to a D.Ct. clerkship in the same area. Otherwise, I'm not sure that a Magistrate clerkship in a distant market has any value.

One of the district judge law clerks at my court this summer had formerly clerked for a magistrate judge in the same courthouse. It is possible to move up the chain, but I can't tell you if it is worth it. Maybe one of our "experts" on clerking can give you better advice.

OP, I have an interview with a federal magistrate judge coming up this week that is in a remote location and far from where I went to law school. If you could send me a PM, I'd be glad to give you my thoughts on your situation, and maybe you would be willing to share with me the details of your offer and any advice you have for the interview.

That is a good job. If I had to pick between that a private practice job paying the same money and benefits, I'd take the clerkship in a heartbeat. Being unemployed will hurt you chances of "getting back" to big law someday far more than being a federal magistrate clerk.

Besides winning the lotto and getting a biglaw gig during 3L OCI, I'm not quite sure what option you have if you want to get back into biglaw other than taking this clerkship and trying to move forward from there. That said, biglaw is probably dead for you from here on out anyway.

OP here.

I should've been more clear. I have no desire to be in NYC/SF. The "best" markets I'd strive for are DC and LA. Maybe Chicago. I'm fine with secondary markets, too.

Does that change the analysis?

OP mind sharing your stats? If you have good ones the chances of making the magistrate > district > biglaw jump are better, but if you do not have numbers that would put you in contention for a dist. it is unlikely the magistrate clerkship will change that.

You don't have a better choice, its only a year, and clerking at the federal level is almost always a good decision if you can get it. Take the clerkship and then direct apply to firms while you're clerking.

OP here.

I've interviewed for both district and magistrate clerkships. Many clerks have said that, once you get the interview, they're convinced you have the grades. Thus, I don't think my GPA is prohibitively low for clerkships (and, consequently, large firms in the markets I'm targeting). Disagree if you'd like.

Offer is for a two-year clerkship. Does that change analysis?

Great opportunity, in my opinion. Do you have any other employment option/offer ?

OP: No other opportunity that is guaranteed to happen, no.

That it's a 2 year clerkship increases the opportunity cost somewhat, but bear in mind good grades + federal clerkship is going to make you a lot more likely to get a firm job than just applying not with your grades. I still say take it.