Seton Hall Employment Question Forum

[tezzeret]

Hey all, I have a question about Seton Hall. According to the LST numbers for the c/o 2014 40.7% got clerkships (state and local) and all the other numbers are abysmal. Now I am not familiar with NJ's law schools (all 2/3 of them), but is their system different than other schools? I haven't seen any other schools with numbers so high with clerkships but with low law firm jobs. I know it's ranked 63 but I don't know what type make of these numbers, so can someone more knowledgeable than me break it down for me?

[Rigo]

NJ local judges have clerks whereas it isn't as common for local judges in other states to have clerks. I bet you'd find Rutgers to have similarly inflated state and local clerk numbers. It's a testament to how NJ chambers are staffed, not to the school's quality.

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/lawclerks/
Most are superior court (trial court) positions, which are the least prestigious.

[tezzeret]

So if that's the case, how the hell is SHU ranked so high? It doesn't sound so great based on how you described it.

[cannibal ox]

Because rankings are meaningless.

[A. Nony Mouse]

So if that's the case, how the hell is SHU ranked so high? It doesn't sound so great based on how you described it.

The rankings are based on a lot of factors, not just (or even mostly) employment. And with regard to the employment score, employment is employment.

Though my sense is that clerking for a state trial court judge in New Jersey is a better option than it is in other states, and plugs you into the New Jersey legal market. So I don't think they're necessarily a terrible option. I don't know that it's going to lead to New Jersey biglaw or anything, but you'll likely find something.

[tezzeret]

Gotcha. I'm not trying to knock SHU or anything, it's just that it's one of my options, and I want to properly evaluate it as their clerkship numbers far exceed their other numbers unlike any other school. Thanks for clearing that up.