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IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:18 am
by whereisirene
If you had a choice between IRS Chief Counsel head quarter externship and US District Cout clerkship under article III judge for the 1L summer, which one would you choose?
My professional goal is to practice tax, but I am not sure which one is right way to go.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:27 am
by MJMD
That is an insane choice to have to make: I wouldn't let the responses you receive here comprise more than 1% of your total decision-making process.
I'm not even going to presume to vote on this. I can see some votes are already coming in for the District Court clerkship, which is probably to be expected, with it's being the traditional route to a SCOTUS clerkship, the holy grail for most law students; but I have no idea what special benefit the IRS externship might have for a career in tax, and I doubt that most people here will either. So I would look into both very carefully.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:54 am
by Renzo
It's not a clerkship if you're working for a judge before you graduate.
And if you are serious about wanting to practice tax law, take the IRS gig without a doubt.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 9:12 am
by 270910
The tax gig looks pretty unique, so that could be fun. Working for a judge is always a good thing. You can't go wrong! Go with the one that gave you the best vibe; surely you've interviewed with both. Not all judges are the same, not all applicants are the same, I don't even know what the IRS is like, so...
Also, MJMD - what are you talking about? First, it's not a clerkship. Second, something like <<< 1% of district court clerkships eventually become SCOTUS clerks, so that's not really something worth considering in the decision making process.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:04 am
by ggocat
Try to do both; if not in one summer, then over two summers or during the academic year. Both experiences should be good, but I'd definitely make the IRS a priority if you want to practice tax. They sometimes make funnel offers (hire their summer interns; usually the paid SLIP people, though).
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:42 pm
by TTT-LS
.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:03 pm
by MJMD
Also, MJMD - what are you talking about? First, it's not a clerkship. Second, something like <<< 1% of district court clerkships eventually become SCOTUS clerks, so that's not really something worth considering in the decision making process.
That's exactly why I told the OP not to be swayed by votes coming in for the "clerkship." Fortunately, since I posted that, the IRS externship has taken a commanding lead, which is good because it's probably much more suitable to the OP's eventual career goals.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:15 pm
by nealric
That is an insane choice to have to make: I wouldn't let the responses you receive here comprise more than 1% of your total decision-making process.
I'm not even going to presume to vote on this. I can see some votes are already coming in for the District Court clerkship, which is probably to be expected, with it's being the traditional route to a SCOTUS clerkship, the holy grail for most law students; but I have no idea what special benefit the IRS externship might have for a career in tax, and I doubt that most people here will either. So I would look into both very carefully.
He's a 1L. Frankly, the choice isn't that big of a deal.
However, as a tax llm student, I advise you to take the IRS job. It's more likely to lead to post-grad employment and demonstrates your interest in tax.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:18 pm
by Unemployed
You might want to change "externship" and "clerkship" to "1L summer internship" for a more accurate result.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:21 pm
by blackknight
The IRS cause it is tax related and it is also paid.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:31 pm
by underachiever
blackknight wrote:The IRS cause it is tax related and it is also paid.
+1
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:40 pm
by ggocat
blackknight wrote:The IRS cause it is tax related and it is also paid.
externship = unpaid, unless OP actually has SLIP.
http://jobs.irs.gov/midcareer/occ-law-s ... grads.html
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:01 pm
by blackknight
Externships for the IRS are for during the academic year. Over summer it is an internship.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/534663/US-Int ... e-Pub-4063
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:01 pm
by whereisirene
Thank you very much for your comments. Those helped me very much! If you have any other opinion or even a similar one, I would deeply appreciate your comment.
Just for clarification, it is "unpaid" externship, but not internship, with IRS Chief Counsel, and for the District Court job, my professor's letter said that it is "clerkship", but may be it is internship as you said. I am really new to this and not exactly sure how those terminology makes difference.
I want to know which one is in my best interest (as far as my career is concerned).
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:09 pm
by ggocat
whereisirene wrote:Anyway, for IRS job, I actually have accepted their job already couple months ago, and I am thrilled about it, but I unexpectedly ended up with the clerkship as well.
Re: IRS Chief Counsel externship vs. US District Court clerkship
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:17 pm
by Danteshek
Your school would be absolutely justified in banning you from OCI.