Big Law v. Clerking Forum

[SDviaVA]

I feel I have a pretty good shot at getting a clerkship with a local District Court Judge. I say this because the clerk I interned with had interned with the Judge summers prior, and the new clerk that came on at the end of my internship had interned the summers prior as well. I was the only intern in his chambers last summer.

I think would be great experience that I wouldn’t get anywhere else. Also, I know once I start working at a firm will not go back to clerking. But there are two things that concern me....

1. Since in want to work in IP/patent law, clerking with a District Court Judge doesn’t have much to do with the area of law I want to go into

2. The Pay – as far as I can tell the Clerks get paid about 50K.

Even thought I am a 2L, I would need to start “laying the groundwork” now (i.e. interning again this summer, staying in touch with the judge’s chambers).


My question is, should I bypass clerking and go for an IP job, or should I take advantage of this potential good experience and try to clerk?

Also, for people going for the “Big Law” or other type of firm jobs…Are you worried you will be “missing out” on the clerking experience?

[Anonymous User]

Also, for people going for the “Big Law” or other type of firm jobs…Are you worried you will be “missing out” on the clerking experience?

I was one of these, and I did regret "missing out." That's why I'm clerking next year after being out for a while. Better late than never!

[IAFG]

You're going to spend your 2L summer with a judge, then work at a firm? What?

[SDviaVA]

No I meant Spend my 2L summer interning...assuming nothing paid comes about. THEN clearking after law school.

[SDviaVA]

I also thought it might be nice going into a legal job having been on the other side of things(in the judges chambers). Versus going into a Legal job knowing little about real practice.

[IAFG]

If you don't have a firm for 2L summer, and you know a judge who tends to hire his summers, you should absolutely work that angle. Though it seems likely you'll have no choice but to try to land a clerkship.

[headandshoulderos]

Biglaw firms are done hiring. If you don't have a biglaw job already you won't get one. Try to clerk.

[SDviaVA]

I guess my question really was: even if i was able to get a 2L summer position at a Firm, and they offered me a position after law school, would anyone by pass such a postion to clerk?

May sound crazy at first... but lets say it was a small firm only offering 60K a year.

[IAFG]

I guess my question really was: even if i was able to get a 2L summer position at a Firm, and they offered me a position after law school, would anyone by pass such a postion to clerk?

May sound crazy at first... but lets say it was a small firm only offering 60K a year.

It would be silly to work for a judge hoping that it might help you get a clerkship when you could secure firm work and still apply for a clerkship.

[headandshoulderos]

I guess my question really was: even if i was able to get a 2L summer position at a Firm, and they offered me a position after law school, would anyone by pass such a postion to clerk?

May sound crazy at first... but lets say it was a small firm only offering 60K a year.

Well your thread title says biglaw, which isn't going to happen. I think you should think about it this way---if you want a chance at biglaw, clerking is the only back door remaining to you. Also, clerking will make you more marketable to that 60k firm and maybe you can come in at a higher salary, assuming you talk tot hem about this. I think clerking is always a good option, and when you don't have biglaw, it becomes a key option.

[SDviaVA]

I guess I'm not really talking Big law....I kinda just put that in the title cause I knew people would click on the post if I did...sorry.

Big law was never really in the cards for me....Im not in the top 10% of my class and I dont go to a T14 school. So I am really comparing small to medium sized firms with clerking with a district court judge.

[IAFG]

Again, there's nothing stopping you from trying to clerk after working your 2L summer at a firm. I don't think that interning for judges usually meaningfully helps. If you have better information about your specific judge and think it will, then that's your call.

I personally would be trying to work for judges/gov't/other potential employers as much as possible during the semester and trying to get a firm in that all-important 2L summer slot.

[kams]

After graduation, many people pass up working in biglaw for a year to clerk. But they usually have the biglaw job waiting for them after one year of clerking and they come back as second year associates. What exactly is your question?

[SDviaVA]

I guess my fear is that if I get a firm job my 2L summer I will reduce my chances with the Judge. But better not to put all my eggs in one basket I guess.

If only there was a way I could work at both this summer....

[IAFG]

I guess my fear is that if I get a firm job my 2L summer I will reduce my chances with the Judge. But better not to put all my eggs in one basket I guess.

If only there was a way I could work at both this summer....

Bro, why don't you just talk to your judge and ask for some career planning advice?

[kams]

Do you have to commit to interning for the judge right now or something? If not, then try and find a firm gig for the summer obviously. Your worrying is completely moot if you haven't found anything yet. there aren't any eggs in your basket yet.

[SDviaVA]

My question is should i shoot for clerking or should I shoot for small to med size firms.

I have a feeling the way I spend my 2L summer will have a large effect on what happends after I graduate. (i.e. I intern with the judge I have a hight chance of clearking, OR I intern at a small firm and I have a hight chancce of working there after graduation.)

I am concerned about this now becuase I have an interview with a small firm in 2 weeks, but I would need to talk my judge about interning this summer prob. around Feb.

[SDviaVA]

I realize I have "no eggs in my basket" I am just trying to decide what I should devote my resources and limted time pursuing.

[kams]

I don't think that interning for a judge would really increase your chances if you don't have the numbers to clerk. I intern at a circuit court, and the clerk was an intern before, but he also was top of his class at Yale. I'd try and find something firm related. if you can't, then intern for the judge.

[SDviaVA]

I guess the general thought is to try and get the frim job first and then decide to clerk later if you really want to before you start/can get a clearkship?

[headandshoulderos]

I realize I have "no eggs in my basket" I am just trying to decide what I should devote my resources and limted time pursuing.

I think you should just look for all jobs. Focusing your job search when you have no options is sure way to end up unemployed. I've heard this kind of reasoning before --- those friends are now graduated and sitting ont heir ass, and still thinking very hard about where to "focus their resources" for applying to jobs.

[vanwinkle]

I realize I have "no eggs in my basket" I am just trying to decide what I should devote my resources and limted time pursuing.

I think you should just look for all jobs. Focusing your job search when you have no options is sure way to end up unemployed. I've heard this kind of reasoning before --- those friends are now graduated and sitting ont heir ass, and still thinking very hard about where to "focus their resources" for applying to jobs.

THIS.

[ToTransferOrNot]

I realize I have "no eggs in my basket" I am just trying to decide what I should devote my resources and limted time pursuing.

Your "limited time?"

Sleep less if you have to. The only thing that matters in your life right now is getting a job lined up for 2L summer, or you are debtor's-prison-bound.

[Renzo]

I guess my fear is that if I get a firm job my 2L summer I will reduce my chances with the Judge. But better not to put all my eggs in one basket I guess.

If only there was a way I could work at both this summer....

Bro, why don't you just talk to your judge and ask for some career planning advice?

This didn't get the thanks and acknowledgement it should have. Old dudes love to give career advice; you'd both be ingratiating yourself to the judge, and getting good advice.

[Veyron]

What D.Ct judge hires someone with those numbers, inquiring minds want to know!