Public Interest 2015: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences... Forum

[TransferHopeful17]

I felt really horrible about doing it because I didn't want to burn a bridge and he was offering a great opportunity. Whether I did or not, I don't know, and I tried my best to handle it with as much class as possible. I would hope he wouldn't hold it against me, but he would have had a right to be disappointed in not handling it better. He did wish me well in the end, fwiw. Lesson learned.

[dresden doll]

I felt really horrible about doing it because I didn't want to burn a bridge and he was offering a great opportunity. Whether I did or not, I don't know, and I tried my best to handle it with as much class as possible. I would hope he wouldn't hold it against me, but he would have had a right to be disappointed in not handling it better. He did wish me well in the end, fwiw. Lesson learned.

Apologies if I made you feel bad. I was really just wondering if that was no longer the standard advice (or maybe never was and I just went to a school that worships judges way too much, which is entirely possible).

[TransferHopeful17]

No worries. It sucked missing out on the opportunity and making a difficult choice but he seemed fairly understanding.

It was encouraging to read of all the different experiences in this thread. A lot of you all are doing some really interesting work.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I feel like "you can't say no to a judge" is becoming less of a thing? I got told the same thing, about not saying no to a judge. But the judges I actually ended up clerking for both gave me outs/genuine opportunities to say no, and I have a hard time thinking they'd treat an extern any differently. I'm sure there are judges out there who care, though.

[zor]

I transferred and both law schools told me in NO uncertain terms that you do NOT say no to a judge unless there is an extreme circumstance--like, the guy actively creeps on you (this happened to someone I know, ugh), or you find out your parent is sick and need to move cross-country.

[BlueLotus]

Does the "you can't say no to a judge" apply to unpaid judicial clerkships? I seriously hope not.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I don't think paid/unpaid makes any difference to whether an individual judge is going to expect you to accept if offered. You know going in that it's unpaid

[dresden doll]

I don't think paid/unpaid makes any difference to whether an individual judge is going to expect you to accept if offered. You know going in that it's unpaid

Bingo.

[Easy-E]

Are unpaid judicial clerkships a state by state thing? I think they are all paid in my state.

[TransferHopeful17]

Unpaid in mine. And I should have prefaced all this with saying that the judge knew me by last name, so while I felt bad about choosing another avenue, I was hoping he would know I wasn't being flaky and hold it against me. If there hadn't been that history, I really doubt I would have felt like I had any option there. He had worked with a family member in the past for years.

[chuckbass]

Unpaid in mine. And I should have prefaced all this with saying that the judge knew me by last name, so while I felt bad about choosing another avenue, I was hoping he would know I wasn't being flaky and hold it against me. If there hadn't been that history, I really doubt I would have felt like I had any option there. He had worked with a family member in the past for years.

No, you're a rising 2L so you're talking about an internship/externship, not a clerkship.

[TransferHopeful17]

My mistake--you are correct. And I agree as far as paid/unpaid not making a difference.

[BlueLotus]

For unpaid judicial clerkships, if you find a FTLT paying legal gig, can you leave the clerkship mid-way? I just don't want to be exploited.

[Easy-E]

For unpaid judicial clerkships, if you find a FTLT paying legal gig, can you leave the clerkship mid-way? I just don't want to be exploited.

I wouldn't do this, seems a real dick move. I think if you have a clerkship most places will understand you need to finish before you start.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Are unpaid judicial clerkships a state by state thing? I think they are all paid in my state.

The only ones I know of are federal, and I don't think they're very common.

Or another version of "unpaid" is if your school pays for it, I guess. Then you just need to find a judge willing to take on free labor.

[Easy-E]

Are unpaid judicial clerkships a state by state thing? I think they are all paid in my state.

The only ones I know of are federal, and I don't think they're very common.

Or another version of "unpaid" is if your school pays for it, I guess. Then you just need to find a judge willing to take on free labor.

Interesting. NJ has paid clerkships for all judges superior court and up I think (480 total). Pay isn't great ($47-61k depending on court), but I'd be happy to grab one. Is that unusual? Maybe I misunderstood. We're talking about post-graduate clerkships right? Not internships.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Yup. I think honestly the unpaid federal ones came about in part because of people getting Lathamed; some people got money from their firms to take a year off and they would go work for a federal judge for free to get experience/not have a gap on their resume - for free in that the judge didn't pay, though they often had some firm money to tide them over. There's one judge I know of (in a courthouse that I know had some Lathamed volunteers) who advertises for a "pro bono" clerk, but I do think it's very uncommon. Otherwise if you can't get a job lined up, and you can get a stipend from your school, some people clerk that way (but it's on top of a judge's normal hiring, at least in my experience, not as a substitute for).

I've never heard of an unpaid state clerkship (many don't pay very much at all, but not unpaid).

[Easy-E]

Did anyone get reimbursed for their background checks for Equal Justice Works? Or is it supposed to come with the award?

[BlueLotus]

Did anyone get reimbursed for their background checks for Equal Justice Works? Or is it supposed to come with the award?

I got a $10 check from EJW in late May.

[sdancer89]

Got a check after I bothered them about it for a few months.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a rising 3L who secured a postgrad NJ clerkship. PM me if interested

[Easy-E]

I'm a rising 3L who secured a postgrad NJ clerkship. PM me if interested

I don't think anyone can PM you if you are anon...also, interested in what specifically? Clerkships?

[Young Marino]

My internship ends today at 4. Walking through the office and saying my goodbyes to the attorneys is bitter sweet but it was a great experience and I feel that I developed relevant skills. Looking forward to going back to school in 2 weeks!

[Nebby]

Today's my last day. It's been an amazing summer, and I don't want it to end.

[BlueLotus]

I'm so glad my internship is ending today. I don't want to work for people who don't appreciate my free labor.

I got a lead for an internship this fall at an immigration org. Really stoked!