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My LR/Journal is announcing publication decisions in about a month. I have been thinking that if my submission is selected for publication, I may decline for a couple of reasons that are irrelevant to this post. My main question is, is this common? Is there a tactful way to convey on one's resume that he/she was selected for publication but declined (I'm at a TT, it would be nice to show my summer firm that I was good enough to be selected)? Are there any possible negatives that could creep up down the road? Thanks.

If you plan to look for a job soon, particularly a clerkship, accept. If not, there isn't much harm in declining.

I was chosen for LR publication and accepted, but we had some serious issues with our EIC that led to major delays in our publication schedule. (I was supposed to be published in January but that issue got published like six months later in July.) By that time it was clear I had struck out on clerkships, I realized I didn't want to study for the bar while prepping my note, so I withdrew it. I thought the E Board would be mad but they were understanding given the mess our EIC created, and ultimately someone else who really wanted it got published.

The only regret I have is that less than a year later SCOTUS adopted the exact position I advocated for. Would have been a cool talking point if I ever went for another job or clerkship, but otherwise no regrets about pulling it. Hasn't affected me at all in practice.

romothesavior wrote:If you plan to look for a job soon, particularly a clerkship, accept. If not, there isn't much harm in declining.

I was chosen for LR publication and accepted, but we had some serious issues with our EIC that led to major delays in our publication schedule. (I was supposed to be published in January but that issue got published like six months later in July.) By that time it was clear I had struck out on clerkships, I realized I didn't want to study for the bar while prepping my note, so I withdrew it. I thought the E Board would be mad but they were understanding given the mess our EIC created, and ultimately someone else who really wanted it got published.

The only regret I have is that less than a year later SCOTUS adopted the exact position I advocated for. Would have been a cool talking point if I ever went for another job or clerkship, but otherwise no regrets about pulling it. Hasn't affected me at all in practice.

Did you ever convey the situation/information to your employer? If so, how?

It was on my resume as "anticipated publication" while I was planning to be published. I took it off when I withdrew.

You either get published or you don't. You don't decline publication and forego the extra work and then try to reap the benefits of publication. I suppose you can tell them if you're point blank asked, but don't try to shop around the fact you were selected but declined.

romothesavior wrote:It was on my resume as "anticipated publication" while I was planning to be published. I took it off when I withdrew.

You either get published or you don't. You don't decline publication and forego the extra work and then try to reap the benefits of publication. I suppose you can tell them if you're point blank asked, but don't try to shop around the fact you were selected but declined.

agree with this. I would see it as a red flag to indicate that on your resume. It's like going around telling everyone, "Partner X asked me to help out on the big X case, but I declined." I'd see that as less of a "wow this person must be good" and more of a "why does this person turn down good opportunities? and why tell everyone about it?"

Patent2014 wrote:

romothesavior wrote:It was on my resume as "anticipated publication" while I was planning to be published. I took it off when I withdrew.

You either get published or you don't. You don't decline publication and forego the extra work and then try to reap the benefits of publication. I suppose you can tell them if you're point blank asked, but don't try to shop around the fact you were selected but declined.

agree with this. I would see it as a red flag to indicate that on your resume. It's like going around telling everyone, "Partner X asked me to help out on the big X case, but I declined." I'd see that as less of a "wow this person must be good" and more of a "why does this person turn down good opportunities? and why tell everyone about it?"

Yeah when you put it like that, it sounds unprofessional.

Anonymous User wrote:

Patent2014 wrote:

romothesavior wrote:It was on my resume as "anticipated publication" while I was planning to be published. I took it off when I withdrew.

You either get published or you don't. You don't decline publication and forego the extra work and then try to reap the benefits of publication. I suppose you can tell them if you're point blank asked, but don't try to shop around the fact you were selected but declined.

agree with this. I would see it as a red flag to indicate that on your resume. It's like going around telling everyone, "Partner X asked me to help out on the big X case, but I declined." I'd see that as less of a "wow this person must be good" and more of a "why does this person turn down good opportunities? and why tell everyone about it?"

Yeah when you put it like that, it sounds unprofessional.

I'd still feel really proud if you were offered publication. Obviously law firms really value strong writing skills, so I'd try to find some way of showing that to employers, whether it be trying to publish someone else, using it as a writing sample, or volunteering early on as a SA or Assoc. to do some writing on the side, like writing a client brief on a changing area of law.