Hi everyone -
I have a tricky situation I’d love folks’ input on.
I’m currently a clerk at the federal district court level and will end my clerkship in 2021. Last year, I clerked at the appellate level. I just got an opportunity (out of nowhere) to clerk with an incredible feeder judge, but the offer isn’t until 2022.
I’m debating going to a firm for the 2021-2022 year but am wondering if I so apply if and when I should disclose the 2022 clerkship, either during the application process or once I begin. I’m also wondering if, let’s say I’m there from September 2021-September 2022, I’ll receive my clerkship bonus or if I’ll be required to pay it back.
Any and all thoughts welcome!
Joining firm pre-clerkship Forum
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Anonymous User
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Re: Joining firm pre-clerkship
Not what you asked, but are you sure that the extra appellate clerkship is worth it? Only a handful of judges--Katzmann, Garland, Pryor, Sutton--currently send 50%+ of their clerks to SCOTUS. I would be hesitant to add a third clerkship unless (a) you really want to clerk on SCOTUS and (b) the clerkship will *significantly* enhance your SCOTUS prospects. So like maybe Pryor, but not Ikuta or Oldham.
You might try looking at state or federal government as well if that's something you'd be open to. A friend who clerked for Pryor filled his awkward pre-Pryor gap with a year working for the Alabama SG.
You might try looking at state or federal government as well if that's something you'd be open to. A friend who clerked for Pryor filled his awkward pre-Pryor gap with a year working for the Alabama SG.
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Anonymous User
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- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Joining firm pre-clerkship
Sounds to me that it isn't a question of whether to take the third clerkship but rather what to do for the year in between, so I will save my comments on whether you should take the third one but echo the prior anon's statements.
I think you should disclose it if you're going to a true feeder. Firms might see it as an easter-egg opportunity of taking the hit but currying favor with you so that they have to compete less if you make it all the way to SCOTUS. I got firms to bite on a one-year gap between my district-court and court-of-appeals clerkship, and neither was a feeder-level judge/district. I think not disclosing it, you run the risk of burning the bridge with a firm you potentially really like when you bail on them. And you'll more than likely need a year after your third clerkship before you would potentially get to SCOTUS, so you'll need someone to take you on then, as well.
I think you should disclose it if you're going to a true feeder. Firms might see it as an easter-egg opportunity of taking the hit but currying favor with you so that they have to compete less if you make it all the way to SCOTUS. I got firms to bite on a one-year gap between my district-court and court-of-appeals clerkship, and neither was a feeder-level judge/district. I think not disclosing it, you run the risk of burning the bridge with a firm you potentially really like when you bail on them. And you'll more than likely need a year after your third clerkship before you would potentially get to SCOTUS, so you'll need someone to take you on then, as well.
