Federal Clerks and the Fiscal Cliff Forum

[nevdash]

I know that the delayed spending cuts, if they go into effect on March 1, will have an adverse impact on incoming federal clerks. At best, we're facing furloughs and diminished security/support staff. But does anyone know if there's a chance clerk positions will be eliminated entirely? I've tried to read as much as I can on the issue, but most articles seem to refer to layoffs generally without mentioning which positions will be affected. I've also seen articles mention the fact that the judiciary already has a rough plan about how to implement the cuts, but again, no specifics. Should I be worried?

[Anonymous User]

My judge (he's the chief for the district) says that chambers budgets (which is what we're paid out of) will be the very last thing hit. They'll start with the Clerk's Office, case managers, etc. before they get to us.

So I'm not worried. Yet.

[A. Nony Mouse]

My impression was that the greatest amount of cuts would be coming out of defense? Which doesn't mean, of course, that clerks couldn't also be affected. But clerks are pretty integral to most chambers, so it would take a lot to get rid of them. (I also tend to think that if they had to make such cuts, they'd cut future hiring of clerks rather than getting rid of ones they've already hired, though that may be naive. I know that obviously biglaw didn't follow that principle, but biglaw staffing is quite different - for instance, the work of the courts doesn't disappear in a bad economy the way work for big law firms did, and in chambers, you know you're losing current clerks.)

[Anonymous User]

My understanding is that law clerks are considered essential personnel so we would be staying on (and getting paid as expected). They judiciary would grind to a halt otherwise...