Explaining Gap in Resume? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’m a current federal law clerk with another federal clerkship lined up for the 2023-2024 term. My current clerkship ends at the end of July, and I don’t have anything lined up yet for the gap year (due to my circumstances, I wasn’t able to start applying for positions until a month or so ago). If I don’t get anything to fill the gap, will firms ask about it? And what’s a good explanation?

[Anonymous User]

I’m a current federal law clerk with another federal clerkship lined up for the 2023-2024 term. My current clerkship ends at the end of July, and I don’t have anything lined up yet for the gap year (due to my circumstances, I wasn’t able to start applying for positions until a month or so ago). If I don’t get anything to fill the gap, will firms ask about it? And what’s a good explanation?

What is the harm of cold emailing recruiting at firms, explain your situation, and asking if they need a warm body for x months.

Go for it. Test the waters and see what happens. I also think a public interest play might be your best hand here … same strategy applies there as well.

[Anonymous User]

Talk to your school's career services (they should help alumni, too). You could be a good fit for some public interest group that wants someone part time working remotely. That could be the best of both worlds if you want to enjoy the off year but also still have something on your resume (and make a little cash).

[Anonymous User]

Must be a difference in ... personal circumstances, because my main worry in this situation would be being unemployed for a year not how it would look. If you really don't need to work, I guess just travel the world, and tell people that you took a sabbatical by choice that fit your clerkship schedule.

One issue tho is that you'd then be looking for a positions potentially as a 4th year associate, with no firm experience. Same holds if you just do PI in between too.

[Saami]

If you have two federal clerkships lined up, surely you're competitive enough to line up a job between now and July?

[Anonymous User]

This looks weird, and you should find employment if at all possible

[enibs]

Don’t obsess about it. Get a job for the gap year if you can. If you can’t, list something for the gap year, whether it’s travel, tutoring, charitable work or something else. And be prepared to take hit on class year of one or two years.

[sparty99]

Don’t obsess about it. Get a job for the gap year if you can. If you can’t, list something for the gap year, whether it’s travel, tutoring, charitable work or something else. And be prepared to take hit on class year of one or two years.

This isnt a big deal unless you need the money. No one cares. I don't care. You can always put that you were self employed of the years on resume instead of months. Two federal clerkship? No one care. I literally have coworkers quitting their jobs to travel right now. Don't work about HR bs. Live your life.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks everyone for your comments and advice.

I’ve submitted some cold emails and applications to firms but haven’t really heard much by way of response. Not sure if that’ll change as we get closer to fall, but hopefully I’ll hear something soon.

Also, I was in BigLaw prior to my current clerkship so I have enough in savings to be fine for a year. But I’d rather have something to do and to put on my resume (I’m not really interested in just sitting around or traveling). Plus it would be nice to not have to burn through savings.

I think the advice about reaching out to my law school’s career services is a good idea (which I will do).