3L Employment Prospects Forum

[270910]

Sounds like you might have missed the biglaw train....sorry to hear about that. I'd probably resign myself to smaller and midsized firms as well as state and federal government.

In the past you would've been looking at a golden ticket but ITE you might have to settle for 70-80k.

While op might find this... might... Its way more likely that op is looking at ID or personal injury work starting at about 50k per year. The TLS misconception that you can miss biglaw and still rock 70 to 80k in this economy without having abandoned the biglaw dream years ago and started actively seeking out this type of mid-level employment is pretty sad.

Also a TLS misconception is that all markets are the same as NYC. I would argue that 65-75k is the norm for most non-biglaw new lawyers in CA.

And your argument would be amusingly wrong?

Granted, there will be those kinds of jobs, but to say MOST non-big law lawyers in CA starting at firms make north of 65K is ludicrous.

[A'nold]

So, is there any benefit in doing state clerkships when you plan on living and working in that state indefinitely? I mean, even lower than appellate level? It seems like it would help for employment in general, even if not biglaw. Maybe for midlaw......

Oh yeah. It'll make you a better attorney, you'll have a lot of experience with local firms, you'll have an opportunity to get to know the judge. Clerking for a federal judge can blow open the gates at big law, clerking for a not-federal judge is still a terrific experience if you're building a career the old fashioned way.

That's good to hear, as I likely won't be competitive at all for anything federal but I would still love to clerk.

[270910]

So, is there any benefit in doing state clerkships when you plan on living and working in that state indefinitely? I mean, even lower than appellate level? It seems like it would help for employment in general, even if not biglaw. Maybe for midlaw......

Oh yeah. It'll make you a better attorney, you'll have a lot of experience with local firms, you'll have an opportunity to get to know the judge. Clerking for a federal judge can blow open the gates at big law, clerking for a not-federal judge is still a terrific experience if you're building a career the old fashioned way.

That's good to hear, as I likely won't be competitive at all for anything federal but I would still love to clerk.

Still a great experience. Judges are awesome, and if you want to do anything lit like you'll learn and grow a lot no matter how prestigious the line item on your resume winds up being.

[ggocat]

So, is there any benefit in doing state clerkships when you plan on living and working in that state indefinitely? I mean, even lower than appellate level? It seems like it would help for employment in general, even if not biglaw. Maybe for midlaw......

Oh yeah. It'll make you a better attorney, you'll have a lot of experience with local firms, you'll have an opportunity to get to know the judge. Clerking for a federal judge can blow open the gates at big law, clerking for a not-federal judge is still a terrific experience if you're building a career the old fashioned way.

Credited, although I don't necessarily think that clerking for a federal judge will "blow open the gates" at biglaw. Most fed clerks that enter biglaw already have the creds for biglaw before their clerkship. In other words, if you can get a federal clerkship, the biglaw gates were probably already open. I will admit, however, there are exceptions (for example, the "inside hires" may get a bump, and certain top firms may have gates opened).

[270910]

So, is there any benefit in doing state clerkships when you plan on living and working in that state indefinitely? I mean, even lower than appellate level? It seems like it would help for employment in general, even if not biglaw. Maybe for midlaw......

Oh yeah. It'll make you a better attorney, you'll have a lot of experience with local firms, you'll have an opportunity to get to know the judge. Clerking for a federal judge can blow open the gates at big law, clerking for a not-federal judge is still a terrific experience if you're building a career the old fashioned way.

Credited, although I don't necessarily think that clerking for a federal judge will "blow open the gates" at biglaw. Most fed clerks that enter biglaw already have the creds for biglaw before their clerkship. In other words, if you can get a federal clerkship, the biglaw gates were probably already open. I will admit, however, there are exceptions (for example, the "inside hires," and certain top firms may have gates opened).

No, you're definitely correct. I was just trying to emphasize the distinction (i.e. federal judicial clerkships impress big firms, local trial court clerkships will not).

[A'nold]

So, is there any benefit in doing state clerkships when you plan on living and working in that state indefinitely? I mean, even lower than appellate level? It seems like it would help for employment in general, even if not biglaw. Maybe for midlaw......

Oh yeah. It'll make you a better attorney, you'll have a lot of experience with local firms, you'll have an opportunity to get to know the judge. Clerking for a federal judge can blow open the gates at big law, clerking for a not-federal judge is still a terrific experience if you're building a career the old fashioned way.

That's good to hear, as I likely won't be competitive at all for anything federal but I would still love to clerk.

Still a great experience. Judges are awesome, and if you want to do anything lit like you'll learn and grow a lot no matter how prestigious the line item on your resume winds up being.

It's definitely lit for me so great to know.

[Anonymous User]

So what do you guys think about people like OP going after a federal clerkship in a year or so when the economy picks back up a bit (so probably a clerkship starting around 2013) and using that to bounce back into biglaw? I mean t30 with those grades would have been sufficient to get biglaw a couple years ago, and s/he would have been competitive for federal clerkships with those grades and being on the executive editor on a secondary journal. Are people like this (which is a LOT of people) just boned with federal judges no longer taking their applications seriously after working a year or so in shitlaw (assuming s/he can get shitlaw ITE)?

[atkinsa]

Since I am currently applying to clerkships, I have noticed that some federal judges are only looking for candidates with a year or two experience. I have also talked to a number of people that clerked a after a few years of working and found it to be beneficial career-wise.

I realize my chances are much less likely than they would have been 2 years ago. Then, most people in the top 15-20% at my school could land a federal district court position. This last year, it was the top 10% with a couple just outside. I think a state clerkship is more likely, though not guaranteed. Like I said earlier, I learned my lesson and am applying broadly to judges, firms, and the government. I have one interview so far and it's pretty early in the interview season, so I'm hoping something works out. If nothing else, I'll be trying for JAG or my local DAs office. I've decided personal injuries is off the table.

[A'nold]

Since I am currently applying to clerkships, I have noticed that some federal judges are only looking for candidates with a year or two experience. I have also talked to a number of people that clerked a after a few years of working and found it to be beneficial career-wise.

I realize my chances are much less likely than they would have been 2 years ago. Then, most people in the top 15-20% at my school could land a federal district court position. This last year, it was the top 10% with a couple just outside. I think a state clerkship is more likely, though not guaranteed. Like I said earlier, I learned my lesson and am applying broadly to judges, firms, and the government. I have one interview so far and it's pretty early in the interview season, so I'm hoping something works out. If nothing else, I'll be trying for JAG or my local DAs office. I've decided personal injuries is off the table.

You're missing out man, it's the best kind of law.

[biglawbound]

Corporate has bounced back, and may help unemployed 3Ls. Noticed most of the 3L interviews at CLS only were interviewing for corporate. Definitely what you should be telling firms you want to do, as that's where the jobs are right now. My guess is 30 offers at CLS, from 3 last year and 76 in 2007. And firms are adding, not dropping out here...I don't know about lower down.

[NYAssociate]

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