Rejecting internship offer from judge after accepting Forum

[Anonymous User]

2L, struck out at OCI even though I was in a fairly good position to get an SA position. I accepted a spring internship with a judge at the Court of International Trade. Just got an interview for an internship with a COA judge. I realize its a bit premature, since I didn't get the COA internship yet. However, if I do, would you recommend taking the COA position even though I already accepted the CIT position? FYI Im interested in possibly clerking after graduation, and I'm also interested in international law. Above all though, I want to be employed (obviously)

[anon168]

2L, struck out at OCI even though I was in a fairly good position to get an SA position. I accepted a spring internship with a judge at the Court of International Trade. Just got an interview for an internship with a COA judge. I realize its a bit premature, since I didn't get the COA internship yet. However, if I do, would you recommend taking the COA position even though I already accepted the CIT position? FYI Im interested in possibly clerking after graduation, and I'm also interested in international law. Above all though, I want to be employed (obviously)

Sure, go ahead and do it.

[Anonymous User]

Are you not early to be applying for judges for 2L summer, am I missing something... there are still SA's granted at this point (sure extremely rare, but they exist.) I think you should have mass-mailed. As to your question, can you try splitting your time if the two judges are in the same area.

[Anonymous User]

spring externship, not summer internship

[bk1]

Im interested in possibly clerking after graduation, and I'm also interested in international law. Above all though, I want to be employed (obviously)

I suspect what you do here (whether you renege or not and whether you work at the CIT or CoA) will have little to no influence on any of the above.

I personally think its dickish to renege since it's not like you're turning down unpaid/temp employment for paid/longterm employment. But as a counterpoint it's an externship so who cares.

[CanadianWolf]

Depends upon the judge; some are understanding, while others have long memories. I know one student who was approached twice after mock trial/moot court competitions by a federal judge & asked to apply for an intership/externship during the school year. The student waited a couple of months & the judge will not even acknowledge any communications. Of course, it doesn't really have significant consequences if you will not be practicing in that jurisdiction.

While reactions & consequences vary, just be direct, open & honest with the judge & hope for the best. However, be prepared if asked whether or not you've accepted any other positions when interviewing for the second position.

In short, there is no clear-cut answer. Do what you have to do & be prepared for any fallout. The one thing that you can & do control is how you do what you do.

[nevdash]

Beware of how well-connected judges are (or, I guess, can be) with one another. I'm in a trial advocacy course taught by a local D.Ct. judge, and he knows a lot of the judges in the district where I'll be clerking even though it's across the country. The chances that the CIT judge knows judges with whom you'll eventually interview for clerkships are slim, and the chances that the interviewing judge will ever find out about you reneging even of they do know each other are slimmer, but you might be surprised by who knows whom in the judicial world.

[CanadianWolf]

Judges tend to socialize with one another & attend continuing judicial/legal education seminars together.

[TJISMYHERO]

Judges tend to socialize with one another & attend continuing judicial/legal education seminars together.

Where they snarkily discuss the names of law school students who reneged on an unpaid internship.

[ggocat]

No.

[Anonymous User]

Judges tend to socialize with one another & attend continuing judicial/legal education seminars together.

Where they snarkily discuss the names of law school students who reneged on an unpaid internship.

It's not unheard of...