3L Law Review Positions Forum

[crazyeddie]

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[spondee]

Depends on what you want to do and on your other credentials...

[crazyeddie]

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[spondee]

Probably not worth it then. Doubt firms care at all.

[Indifferent]

If I get an offer from the firm I SA at, I will probably just take it. Don't think I'm looking for a clerkship. But I don't want to piss off the firm by not doing it.

It's unlikely your firm will get 'pissed off' because you didn't run for a position. Getting an executive position is difficult and I am sure your firm won't fault you for not getting one. Even if you don't get any editorial position at all, it's really being on the review this is more prestigious than holding any particular position (albeit getting EIC is likely something that will distinguish you down the road). I doubt you'll fail to get ANY position though, if you want one, as there are tons of editorial positions on most law reviews and they need people to fill them.

Substantively, the positions really aren't going to 'prepare' you for any work you'll do in the real world, besides the fact that you'll get used to editing documents thoroughly and ensuring your propositions of law are supported by case law. I would argue that the most useful position you can take is research editor, only because it helps to familiarize you with Westlaw and searching for obscure cases. Managing is also useful in that it gives you experience rephrasing ideas and logically organizing arguments. I don't think any of the other positions really give you much substantive practice doing anything you'll be doing once you start your career.

[crazyeddie]

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[spondee]

Think it would still depend a lot on the rest of your credentials. If you're at a lower-ranked school and need your resume to say, "I'm one of, if not the, best student in my class," then, yeah, much more important to run; but if you're at a top-ten school with great grades, it's still not that important.

[Indifferent]

Thanks. So, just to be clear, if I did want a clerkship ... this would become much more important? Even if I only ran for Articles Editor?

One person I know who held an executive editorial position told me that it came up in various clerkship interviews and impressed some judges, but I don't know if that is a rule. From what I've seen on TLS, anything you can do to distinguish yourself in the clerkship application process is worth it, since applications are so voluminous and candidates are so fungible.

I think, at best, it would be a talking point during interviews. But I am not familiar with the application process other than what I have heard on TLS and from friends, so I am not by any means an authority.