Gap between graduation and clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

Graduating in May and starting a district clerkship in November. I don't have the resources to sit around for 6 months, and am wondering what my options are for employment in the meantime? I'm in a bigger legal market, and I would like to do something paid. If not I'll probably just do some pro bono and grubhub/bartend. Has anybody else run into this problem? Any help would be appreciated.

[Sackboy]

I'd see if any firms in your market are hiring summer law clerks. Tons of firms that have no intention of giving return offers hire law clerks both during the summer and school year. They're generally smaller shops. I'd ask your school career services office if they know of any.

[wwwcol]

I'd see if any firms in your market are hiring summer law clerks. Tons of firms that have no intention of giving return offers hire law clerks both during the summer and school year. They're generally smaller shops. I'd ask your school career services office if they know of any.

great way to create conflicts issues if you’re doing biglaw later. Not worth it for the $15 or whatever you’d make/hr

[Sackboy]

I'd see if any firms in your market are hiring summer law clerks. Tons of firms that have no intention of giving return offers hire law clerks both during the summer and school year. They're generally smaller shops. I'd ask your school career services office if they know of any.

great way to create conflicts issues if you’re doing biglaw later. Not worth it for the $15 or whatever you’d make/hr

This is silly flame. Go, Blow & Yourself hiring a $15-20/hr. law clerk aren't going to be servicing the same clients as Skadden. Probably 10% of my T13 class did this for side hustle cash during 3L and a whopping 0 percent of them had conflicts problems.

[nixy]

OP, this probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but most people I know of took out extra loans to cover the bar study period (I'm assuming you'll be taking the bar next summer). Also, I think there can be some issues with doing pro bono work in the period between graduation and getting admitted (I ran into this with one public sector employer; I know people going to the ADA/PD's offices worked in the time between taking the bar and finding out if they passed, but they were going to start jobs there after passing the bar. The issue is finding someone to supervise you and if you've graduated you're not a student any more. That said, I have no idea how widespread an issue this is).

[Anonymous User]

This is for future years’ candidates because the application is closed, but graduates entering a clerkship can apply to DOJ SLIP (and I think get a funnel to honors hiring through that, if interested?). I’m not sure if any offices outside of DC hire SLIP people.

You might also be able to get a summer associate position at a midsize/regional firm if you’re comfortable working full time while studying for the bar. Can’t hurt to reach out to the recruiters and ask.