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I'm a 1L in the T14 and I just accepted a summer judicial internship in a major legal market because it seemed like a solid job and I had less than a week to accept the offer. Since accepting, I've gotten a few interview requests from big firms that I applied to before. Now I'm genuinely excited for my judicial internship, and there's no way I won't take it at this point. But I also want to maximize the opportunity from these interview requests.

Basically, what should I do? Do I email now and say that I would love to interview but I accepted another offer so please keep me in mind for OCI? Or can I actually go through with the interview and then tell them that I can't accept the job? I know that seems obnoxious, but I really do want these places to remember me come August. Just trying to figure out the best way to do that. Sorry for the long question. I know this is an embarrassment of riches, so please don't think I'm a horrible person. Any advice is appreciated!

drich88 wrote:Or can I actually go through with the interview and then tell them that I can't accept the job? I know that seems obnoxious, but I really do want these places to remember me come August.

If they remember you for doing this, it won't be in a positive way. I'd just email back and withdraw (you can mention your interest in a future OCI if you want).

drich88 wrote:I'm a 1L in the T14 and I just accepted a summer judicial internship in a major legal market because it seemed like a solid job and I had less than a week to accept the offer. Since accepting, I've gotten a few interview requests from big firms that I applied to before. Now I'm genuinely excited for my judicial internship, and there's no way I won't take it at this point. But I also want to maximize the opportunity from these interview requests.

Basically, what should I do? Do I email now and say that I would love to interview but I accepted another offer so please keep me in mind for OCI? Or can I actually go through with the interview and then tell them that I can't accept the job? I know that seems obnoxious, but I really do want these places to remember me come August. Just trying to figure out the best way to do that. Sorry for the long question. I know this is an embarrassment of riches, so please don't think I'm a horrible person. Any advice is appreciated!

I would personally e-mail the firms and be completely transparent where you are working for the summer. You don't or may not want them to think you chose another firm etc... Most will understand that you shouldn't renege on a judge.

I interned for a fed judge too my 1L summer. Fellow intern had a similar scenario and the firm even contacted them telling them to apply next summer and even offered to try to get them out of the internship with the judge (partner offered to call chambers) to work with them(believe it or not). If you don't ever want to clerk, this is the ONLY scenario I'd renege on a judge.

Wow thanks that's really helpful. What are the chances that everyone would agree to a split summer? I know it's a long shot but if the firms can be that intense...

Just to make sure I understand, does "everyone" include the district court? If so, it may be problematic - one of our externs had to choose between a summer at a firm and a summer in chambers because our ethics guidelines don't permit a chambers employee to also work for a firm that appears before the court.

drich88 wrote:Wow thanks that's really helpful. What are the chances that everyone would agree to a split summer? I know it's a long shot but if the firms can be that intense...

About 0. Chambers I was in made interns adhere to all the ethical policies that clerks should. E.g. no public political endorsements during the summer etc...

The chances of a firm wanting you as bad as the story I gave I think would be really rare. This was a secondary market where everyone knew everyone, so I think that's why they offered.

I split my 1L summer between a firm and a district court judicial internship. It's certainly possible.

gregfootball2001 wrote:I split my 1L summer between a firm and a district court judicial internship. It's certainly possible.

Were the firm and the court in the same city? Or was there pretty much no chance that the firm would ever appear before the court?

The sense I'm getting is that splitting is pretty unlikely but I guess you never know

drich88 wrote:

gregfootball2001 wrote:I split my 1L summer between a firm and a district court judicial internship. It's certainly possible.

Were the firm and the court in the same city? Or was there pretty much no chance that the firm would ever appear before the court?

The sense I'm getting is that splitting is pretty unlikely but I guess you never know

Both were in the same city - they didn't have anything in front of the judge at that time, but it was never mentioned as an issue. An internship is really different. I mean, I was there for 6 weeks. I didn't work on that many different things. There were other interns there as well. It was never a concern.

I'm the anon from above, and it was definitely a problem for short-term interns/externs in my judge's chambers. If you're really that interested in a split summer, OP, I guess you just have to ask (and be prepared for a "no"); it sounds like it varies depending on location and judge.