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I am going to start two clerkships after graduating from CCN. Have district court & one state supreme court in a 9th Circuit state lined up. Probably average or just above median grades, secondary journal, moot court.

I worked at a small firm and a public interest organization during my two summers. What are the odds I can land
1) big law litigation positions in California - either Bay / SV or LA / San Diego?
2) Litigation boutiques that pay close to big law? Again, would prefer CA.
I have CA ties.
3) Elite firms in the state with my state supreme court? Think pacific northwest - I’m not sure about the local market but plan to network often during my SSC clerkship.

I cannot do patent litigation. Have never taken employment courses either. Would be interested in practice groups with strong antitrust, securities, general commercial lit, or just about anything plaintiff side.

I recognize not doing big law during law school may be deleterious to my chances, but I did try - I bombed OCI, didn’t get any interest from CA firms for litigation positions, and overbid bad 1L grades. I then focused on acquiring clerkships and getting decent 2L + 3L grades in the hopes I could build my resume.

Also, would I obtain a two-year clerkship bonus as one of the years was with a State Supreme Court and/or should request I come into a firm as a third year?

You can definitely get BL litigation in CA somewhere, it's not as competitive as people make it out to be and a third-year with both d. ct. and state s. ct. experience is much more attractive than a 1L with bad grades who overbid.

I know Munger pays a clerkship bonus for state s.ct., unsure about any others. You are probably not competitive for Munger unless one of your judges has a connection and can put in a great word. Can't speak for anything else in your post. Good luck .

Re: 3, do you have PNW ties beyond the clerkship? PNW is a lot more tie-sensitive than CA.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sun May 01, 2022 7:40 pm

Re: 3, do you have PNW ties beyond the clerkship? PNW is a lot more tie-sensitive than CA.

I am from a city in PNW very close to a major metro area. Not interested in Perkins Coie specifically.

TY as well to second poster