Superior court law clerk or small law firm? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Which would you guys take and why? Small law firm offers larger salary and more permanent in the sense that the law clerk position may or may not become permanent later on.

This is for post graduation and the superior court is in Los Angeles.

[Anonymous User]

Shameless bump please. Over a 100 views, does anyone have an opinion or was a clerk at Los Angeles superior court?

[OneMoreLawHopeful]

What are your long term goals?

I'd mostly be concerned because the clerk position is likely not permanent, and while a clerk with the LA Superior Court may make you attractive to litigation firms in So Cal that take a lot of state court claims, it's hard to believe that the job with the firm (assuming the firm does litigation) would not make you equally attractive (if it was a specialized clerkship, or appellate, or Article III, etc. this calculus might be different). Unless you're trying to break into Criminal Law or something similar, where a job with the Superior Court would give you experience that you wouldn't get at a private firm, it's hard to see the clerkship as better than the firm job (which, unless I had a reading comp fail, is permanent and pays more, right?).

Do you have some kind of concern relating to the firm job that makes it unattractive to you? If you got a bad vibe from the firm, and you don't think you can be happy there, then take the clerkship. But from a purely career standpoint (absent the exceptions listed above), it's hard to see a state court clerkship as a more attractive than the firm job.

Of course, if you have fears that the firm could pigeon hole you (say fears over getting stuck in insurance defense/tax/bankruptcy/other fields that can be hard to escape), then this can be a reason not to take the job.

Either way, your long-term goals should govern - if the firm will give you worthwhile experience that serves your long term goals, and pays more, then go with that. If the Superior Court will give you better experience (again, say something like criminal law), then go with them, but know that you're taking a risk with a job that is likely to be inherently short-term; that's worthwhile only if it serves your longer term interests.

[reasonable_man]

What are your long term goals?

I'd mostly be concerned because the clerk position is likely not permanent, and while a clerk with the LA Superior Court may make you attractive to litigation firms in So Cal that take a lot of state court claims, it's hard to believe that the job with the firm (assuming the firm does litigation) would not make you equally attractive (if it was a specialized clerkship, or appellate, or Article III, etc. this calculus might be different). Unless you're trying to break into Criminal Law or something similar, where a job with the Superior Court would give you experience that you wouldn't get at a private firm, it's hard to see the clerkship as better than the firm job (which, unless I had a reading comp fail, is permanent and pays more, right?).

Do you have some kind of concern relating to the firm job that makes it unattractive to you? If you got a bad vibe from the firm, and you don't think you can be happy there, then take the clerkship. But from a purely career standpoint (absent the exceptions listed above), it's hard to see a state court clerkship as a more attractive than the firm job.

Of course, if you have fears that the firm could pigeon hole you (say fears over getting stuck in insurance defense/tax/bankruptcy/other fields that can be hard to escape), then this can be a reason not to take the job.

Either way, your long-term goals should govern - if the firm will give you worthwhile experience that serves your long term goals, and pays more, then go with that. If the Superior Court will give you better experience (again, say something like criminal law), then go with them, but know that you're taking a risk with a job that is likely to be inherently short-term; that's worthwhile only if it serves your longer term interests.

First, I think this passage above is pretty good advice.

My opinion is not all that different, but one Caveat: I practice in NY, not LA (and things can be different from one jurisdictional locale to the next). But from the perspective of someone that has done hiring for a small firm and a mid-sized firm, if LA is anything like NY, a state court clerkship at a trial court level is not going to give you a ton of mileage and frankly, the job at the firm (depending on the practice area) will likely give you as much, if not more of a bump for your next job. In what practice areas does the small firm focus?

[Anonymous User]

The small firm does general litigation. Mostly plaintiff but with some defense.

My long term career goal is to pay off my immense debt (PLSF is attractive) and to find a long term career job in litigation. The clerk position could turn into a permanent research attorney position in 2.5 years although I'm unsure about the chances.

[Anonymous User]

Those who have clerked at the LA superior court at my school ultimately ended up exiting into a small law firm, and this was right before the recession. I'd assume if you took the superior court clerkship job you'd just go through a revolving door and end up at a small firm anyway or perhaps state govt. But it also can be good in that the clerkship can give you a couple years to really scour and find what you really want to do if you don't like the small firm offer you have.

On a separate note, I also applied for the LA superior court, but got rejected. Can I ask what your stats were?

[Anonymous User]

If you post with your username I will PM my stats.

I would love to be a permanent research attorney if possible and utilize the PLSF. But if that is not an option I guess going to the small firm would indeed be better for my future especially if this is where I'll end up after being a clerk.

Thank you for your input guys.

[rad lulz]

[quote="Anonymous User"]The small firm does general litigation. Mostly plaintiff but with some defense.

.

[Anonymous User]

The small firm does general litigation. Mostly plaintiff but with some defense.

My long term career goal is to pay off my immense debt (PLSF is attractive) and to find a long term career job in litigation. The clerk position could turn into a permanent research attorney position in 2.5 years although I'm unsure about the chances.

"Research attorney?"

Even the best outcome is garbage

Take the clerkship

I meant that the clerkship position with the court could turn into permanent research attorney position.

Firm job is an attorney position to start with a slightly higher salary.

[remainsofthebay]

agreed, clerkship

[smallfirmassociate]

Take the small law gig. Not that I'm biased.

[JenDarby]

The small firm does general litigation. Mostly plaintiff but with some defense.

My long term career goal is to pay off my immense debt (PLSF is attractive) and to find a long term career job in litigation. The clerk position could turn into a permanent research attorney position in 2.5 years although I'm unsure about the chances.

"Research attorney?"

Even the best outcome is garbage

Take the clerkship

I'm confused at why you would say take the clerkship here unless you read anon incorrectly.

I would take the small firm. Most people I know who went state court clerk route only did so since they couldn't find a firm. You want to do litigation and this firm does litigation.