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About a month ago I accepted a 1L summer internship with a fed judge in a semi-prominent district (think NJ/MA/CT). However, today I was offered an awesome internship at an international organization based abroad (non-firm) that I would absolutely love to accept. However, after reading through the forums, I am aware that backing out of an internship with a federal judge is highly frowned upon. Normally, I would simply reject my latest offer, but the idea of working abroad seems extremely compelling.

So assuming that splitting the summer is not an option, can I just get some confirmation that reneging would be a bad idea, regardless of how much better my new offer is? Or is it a bad idea, but not THAT bad? I just don't want this hanging over my head all summer.

Thanks!

Anonymous User wrote:About a month ago I accepted a 1L summer internship with a fed judge in a semi-prominent district (think NJ/MA/CT). However, today I was offered an awesome internship at an international organization based abroad (non-firm) that I would absolutely love to accept. However, after reading through the forums, I am aware that backing out of an internship with a federal judge is highly frowned upon. Normally, I would simply reject my latest offer, but the idea of working abroad seems extremely compelling.

So assuming that splitting the summer is not an option, can I just get some confirmation that reneging would be a bad idea, regardless of how much better my new offer is? Or is it a bad idea, but not THAT bad? I just don't want this hanging over my head all summer.

Thanks!

Talk to your CSO before doing this. They may say it's ok. If they say you can't, ask them about the possible repercussions. Some people argue that the rule saying you can't reneg or reject an offer from a fed judge really only applies to actual clerkships. It may depend on the district/judge.

More important question (for my purposes, anyway) - what's the international organization you got a spot with as a 1L?

Anonymous User wrote:More important question (for my purposes, anyway) - what's the international organization you got a spot with as a 1L?

ILO

Worst idea ever.

Smoke a blunt with the judge and tell it to him straight, he'll understand.

I think its a bad idea and unprofessional to say "tough, I'm leaving the country, good luck finding someone to replace me!" On the other hand, if you call up/have a meeting with the judge and explain the situation, he might tell you that you should take the other opportunity and that you doing so is no problem because he has X number of applicants lining up outside the door waiting to take your spot.

Talk to your CSO first. Some schools flatly do not allow this and may penalize you at OCI for doing so.

If this was a state judge in a market you didnt intend to be in I may say you're fine, but no, you dont rescind an acceptance from a federal judge.

I interviewed with a federal judge and he told me all about how close and tight knit the community of federal judges is in the state. Your reputation is everything and word spreads very fast when you piss one off. You most certainly should take what you already have and not stir the pot.

Sup Kid wrote:BAD IDEA

Renzo wrote:Worst idea ever.

Anonymous User wrote:I interviewed with a federal judge and he told me all about how close and tight knit the community of federal judges is in the state. Your reputation is everything and word spreads very fast when you piss one off. You most certainly should take what you already have and not stir the pot.

Follow this advice.

However, my favorite advice:

nshapkar wrote:Smoke a blunt with the judge and tell it to him straight, he'll understand.

lawloser22 wrote:Some people argue that the rule saying you can't reneg or reject an offer from a fed judge really only applies to actual clerkships. It may depend on the district/judge.

I've never been sure who invented this "rule," apart from federal judges (who don't like to be rejected) and CSOs of schools who are insecure about their clerkship placements. I turned down a federal judge's clerkship offer years ago, because I didn't like the exploding nature of the offer and had other clerkship prospects that I found more attractive. Many years into practice, it's never been an issue.

Anonymous User wrote:

lawloser22 wrote:Some people argue that the rule saying you can't reneg or reject an offer from a fed judge really only applies to actual clerkships. It may depend on the district/judge.

I've never been sure who invented this "rule," apart from federal judges (who don't like to be rejected) and CSOs of schools who are insecure about their clerkship placements. I turned down a federal judge's clerkship offer years ago, because I didn't like the exploding nature of the offer and had other clerkship prospects that I found more attractive. Many years into practice, it's never been an issue.

I think flatly turning down an offer and reneging after an acceptance are two different things.

Maybe that's just me.

Anonymous User wrote:

lawloser22 wrote:Some people argue that the rule saying you can't reneg or reject an offer from a fed judge really only applies to actual clerkships. It may depend on the district/judge.

I've never been sure who invented this "rule," apart from federal judges (who don't like to be rejected) and CSOs of schools who are insecure about their clerkship placements. I turned down a federal judge's clerkship offer years ago, because I didn't like the exploding nature of the offer and had other clerkship prospects that I found more attractive. Many years into practice, it's never been an issue.

There is a big difference between turning down an offer, and trying to back your way out of an offer you accepted a month ago (which is OP's situation). I personally don't see a huge problem with turning down an offer, or politely requesting some time to consider all options. But backing out of something you accepted a month ago? Thats not right.

dakatz wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

lawloser22 wrote:Some people argue that the rule saying you can't reneg or reject an offer from a fed judge really only applies to actual clerkships. It may depend on the district/judge.

I've never been sure who invented this "rule," apart from federal judges (who don't like to be rejected) and CSOs of schools who are insecure about their clerkship placements. I turned down a federal judge's clerkship offer years ago, because I didn't like the exploding nature of the offer and had other clerkship prospects that I found more attractive. Many years into practice, it's never been an issue.

There is a big difference between turning down an offer, and trying to back your way out of an offer you accepted a month ago (which is OP's situation). I personally don't see a huge problem with turning down an offer, or politely requesting some time to consider all options. But backing out of something you accepted a month ago? Thats not right.

Oh, to be clear, I fully agree with you guys re: reneging on an externship/internship offer once accepted being wrong. Reneging on a clerkship offer would be one level more egregious, even, in my view. I was just responding to a commenter who said that there was a rule against *rejecting* a clerkship offer in the first instance, which I strongly disagree with. I heard from my (HYSCCN) CSO that this was "discouraged," but not totally disallowed. I disagree that it should be discouraged or disallowed - like any other job offer, the applicant should be free to accept or reject it at will. I'm aware that's not the OP's situation, and hope that s/he will honor the initial commitment.

I think that it is a good idea---------------so long as you plan to practice abroad as well.

If your grades aren't good enough for big law or a federal clerkship, and the OCS says its okay, then okay.

If you have a good grades, or the OCS says no, then don't.

um this is easy. make up a lie, like a family member is sick, you need to take care of them, etc.... then work where you want. If asked, say family member got better in the interim.

No one cares about some stupid 1L intern over the summer. Judges don't care.

chicago520 wrote:um this is easy. make up a lie, like a family member is sick, you need to take care of them, etc.... then work where you want. If asked, say family member got better in the interim.

No one cares about some stupid 1L intern over the summer. Judges don't care.

LOL

nshapkar wrote:Smoke a blunt with the judge and tell it to him straight, he'll understand.

Jack Camp's not on the federal bench anymore, so I don't think he's hiring interns for this summer.

It's a bit rich for these hypothetical judges to come down so hard on someone who changes his/her mind when he/she would be 1) working for free and 2) could be easily replaced with another law student.

Don't worry about not taking the judge job. Unless you are trying to be a clerk after school. Chances are you will never see that judge again because: there are a lot of judges, most "lawyering" is outside the courtroom anyways. Don't worry, be respectful, kindly and succinctly tell them why you are backing out.

actually I retract my last post. If you withdraw, this federal judge will make time to send out daily email blasts with your name in it to all federal judges in the United States, and alert every state bar in the united states of your unprofessional behavior. This is a serious offense. 1L interns are truly valuable to the federal judiciary, and they really need your Legal Insight. The Judge is relying on YOU.

So, please, don't withdraw. Your legal career depends on it!!!!!

Sean1269 wrote:Don't worry about not taking the judge job. Unless you are trying to be a clerk after school. Chances are you will never see that judge again because: there are a lot of judges, most "lawyering" is outside the courtroom anyways. Don't worry, be respectful, kindly and succinctly tell them why you are backing out.

LOL