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I have been accepted to do a one week unpaid clerkship (I assume its more like an observational opportunity) with a local judge over winter break. Has anyone ever done anything like this? I just want to know what to expect and if it lead to you getting an offer to work there over the summer. I am a 1L if that helps. Thanks

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TTT-LS wrote:

jobq48 wrote:I have been accepted to do a one week unpaid clerkship (I assume its more like an observational opportunity) with a local judge over winter break. Has anyone ever done anything like this? I just want to know what to expect and if it lead to you getting an offer to work there over the summer. I am a 1L if that helps. Thanks

It isn't a "clerkship." It is an externship or internship.

I've always wondered what the difference between and Extern and an intern. I see that all the time on resumes...

Xnegd wrote:I've always wondered what the difference between and Extern and an intern. I see that all the time on resumes...

I always thought of an extern as a person who shadows someone or otherwise merely observes the workplace, usually for a short time (<month), and an intern as someone who actually works (even if the quality & quantity of the work is meh and the duration is short).

Aeroplane wrote:

Xnegd wrote:I've always wondered what the difference between and Extern and an intern. I see that all the time on resumes...

I always thought of an extern as a person who shadows someone or otherwise merely observes the workplace, usually for a short time (<month), and an intern as someone who actually works (even if the quality & quantity of the work is meh and the duration is short).

I've always thought an extern worked a position while doing something else, usually school, while an intern was a full time (thus usually summer) position. I've definitely seen it both ways though.

And I've even heard of 'clerking' for law firms, I think at some point the terms can get really interchangeable? Or maybe I'm just way off base?

thesealocust wrote:And I've even heard of 'clerking' for law firms, I think at some point the terms can get really interchangeable? Or maybe I'm just way off base?

Usually it's smaller law firms that call their summer students "clerks". I've also heard "clerks" used by in-house legal departments. The terms are interchangeable in casual conversation but OCS told me to be careful to use the right one for each firm I apply to. They said that if you apply to a "summer associate" position at a small firm that calls it "clerking" they will be turned off and/or think that you're expecting biglaw when that's not what they are.

Law Schools call them externships because you are doing work/learning somewhere else. The place that you are externing at, usually refer to your position as an internship. Therefore, the same thing can be an externship and an internship. It depends on who's perspective it is

jobq48 wrote:I have been accepted to do a one week unpaid clerkship (I assume its more like an observational opportunity) with a local judge over winter break. Has anyone ever done anything like this? I just want to know what to expect and if it lead to you getting an offer to work there over the summer. I am a 1L if that helps. Thanks

Well, the best way to figure out what you'll be doing is to ask the judge. But if you didn't ask right after the initial offer, I probably wouldn't go back and ask now.

My guess:
You will probably just sit in court most of the day and observe proceedings. Judge may talk to you after proceedings to tell you what he/she thought was good/bad lawyering or may discuss issues with you. Maybe you could write a memo or do some targeted research, but in one week's time, I suspect you won't be doing much of that.

I would do it unless you have something better to do over your break. Couldn't hurt your chances for a summer job, right? (Unless, of course, the judge or his/her staff doesn't like you).