Magistrate EDNY or State Supreme Forum

[alquemiste]

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is staying safe. So here it is:

My end goal: practice white collar in big law.

My Year: currently a 2L (transferred into a T25)

My GPA: 3.3 (likely to improve)

Pros: Articles Editor on Journal, strong resume (e.g. federal agencies, relevant work experience and SBA)

Facts:
Transferred into a T25 and missed OCI, so looking to apply for big law during 3L but I know that my chances are slim.

In any event, I networked and can most likely get a guaranteed Magistrate Clerkship in EDNY after law school. My current grades do not put me in competition for a U.S. district clerkship, but I will be applying anyways.

Questions: (i) Assuming I get an offer from a state supreme court or state court of appeals judge, based on my career goals, should I take magistrate or state? (ii)generally speaking is a magistrate clerkship more prestigious than a state clerkship at any level?

*please disregard typos or grammatical errors.

[Anonymous User]

EDNY is a well-respected district and you should be able to use a magistrate judge clerkship in that district to get a district court clerkship. I managed to do so.

State supreme is tougher and you have to look by court and by judge. If we're talking about NY, Wilson and Garcia like to hire top of the class law review types from the NY law schools. They tend to have biglaw experience and are well positioned to move on to district court or court of appeals clerkships. Rivera's clerks are a mixed bag and seem to underperform. I don't know about DiFiore's clerks.

Given your lower grades, lack of law review, and lower-ranked law school, EDNY magistrate might serve you better, especially if you're trying to break into biglaw, where the practice is primarily federal and trial-level. Ultimately, both EDNY magistrate and NY CoA are selective and impressive. You should do both if you can.

[decimalsanddollars]

For biglaw white collar, EDNY mag and it's not close. It's a busy district for certain white collar prosecutions, and mag judges get a fair amount of criminal work. I also recommend looking into DOJ Honors (for the year after your clerkship) if you're willing to do some govt work before biglaw

[Anonymous User]

EDNY is a well-respected district and you should be able to use a magistrate judge clerkship in that district to get a district court clerkship. I managed to do so.

State supreme is tougher and you have to look by court and by judge. If we're talking about NY, Wilson and Garcia like to hire top of the class law review types from the NY law schools. They tend to have biglaw experience and are well positioned to move on to district court or court of appeals clerkships. Rivera's clerks are a mixed bag and seem to underperform. I don't know about DiFiore's clerks.

Given your lower grades, lack of law review, and lower-ranked law school, EDNY magistrate might serve you better, especially if you're trying to break into biglaw, where the practice is primarily federal and trial-level. Ultimately, both EDNY magistrate and NY CoA are selective and impressive. You should do both if you can.

This is really helpful and timely. Thank you for the information. Much appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

For biglaw white collar, EDNY mag and it's not close. It's a busy district for certain white collar prosecutions, and mag judges get a fair amount of criminal work. I also recommend looking into DOJ Honors (for the year after your clerkship) if you're willing to do some govt work before biglaw

Decimal, thank you for this information. I will be sure to look at DoJ honors for the year after my clerkship. I appreciate you more than you know.

[burritotaco]

For biglaw white collar, EDNY mag and it's not close. It's a busy district for certain white collar prosecutions, and mag judges get a fair amount of criminal work. I also recommend looking into DOJ Honors (for the year after your clerkship) if you're willing to do some govt work before biglaw

I second this. If you want to do white collar, you need federal experience. The overwhelming majority of white collar crime is prosecuted in federal courts.

Also, I think MJ clerkships are severely underrated in terms of how practical they are.

[rockyship]

I agree. MJ clerkships are underrated. If you want to WC, then I'd choose MJ over state.

[bretby]

For biglaw white collar, EDNY mag and it's not close. It's a busy district for certain white collar prosecutions, and mag judges get a fair amount of criminal work. I also recommend looking into DOJ Honors (for the year after your clerkship) if you're willing to do some govt work before biglaw

Magistrates in EDNY do almost no criminal work.

[objctnyrhnr]

Just wondering: How’d you get that type of “guarantee” out of a t25 with a 3.3? Personal connection?

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering: How’d you get that type of “guarantee” out of a t25 with a 3.3? Personal connection?

Not OP, but probably a personal connection or a professor's recommendation. People on this sub underestimate how much either (or both) of those can overcome lower grades/school ranking. I graduated from a T25 with LR but only top 25% and got a COA clerkship almost solely because a professor repeatedly pitched me to the judge he formerly clerked for.