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I’m a rising 2L who’s considering applying for federal clerkships. I’m interested in litigation.

I’ve accepted an SA offer with a v100 in a city with very few biglaw firms (and only one that’s comparable to my own). I want to spend my career in this city. With that being said, how would a federal clerkship affect my career?

Skill development, judicial and and political appointments, government job opportunities, networking and business development

Only do a clerkship if you sincerely like legal research and writing and don’t mind the paycut for a year. Tales of the networking opportunities are highly exaggerated. Most people do clerkships because it’s prestigious and it’s “the thing” you’re supposed to do.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:54 pm

Only do a clerkship if you sincerely like legal research and writing and don’t mind the paycut for a year. Tales of the networking opportunities are highly exaggerated. Most people do clerkships because it’s prestigious and it’s “the thing” you’re supposed to do.

I somewhat disagree with the networking point.

A clerkship can be a fantastic networking opportunity, especially if you are conservative and go to the FedSoc events. The networking potential, however, really depends on the judge you clerk for and your willingness to get out and network yourself. Some judges are more connected than others, and some are more willing to open up their network to their clerks than others.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:26 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:54 pm

Only do a clerkship if you sincerely like legal research and writing and don’t mind the paycut for a year. Tales of the networking opportunities are highly exaggerated. Most people do clerkships because it’s prestigious and it’s “the thing” you’re supposed to do.

I somewhat disagree with the networking point.

A clerkship can be a fantastic networking opportunity, especially if you are conservative and go to the FedSoc events. The networking potential, however, really depends on the judge you clerk for and your willingness to get out and network yourself. Some judges are more connected than others, and some are more willing to open up their network to their clerks than others.

These comments make sense, but I think that since the OP wants to stay in this particular city, which sounds relatively small, if they can clerk in this city, it will help a lot with their position in the local community. I went to law school and have practiced in relatively small markets, and connections operate a little differently. Local judges know people, and people know the local judges. So from a networking/connections angle, clerking for a judge in the small(er) community where you want to build your practice is almost always going to be valuable. If the OP’s option is to clerk halfway across the country, or they want to move from their city to a much more national kind of position, I agree that the networking value is much less certain.

I also think there are certain federal government positions that won’t look at people who haven’t clerked, but that may not be pertinent to the OP as it sounds like they’re not trying to get to DC or anything.

It’s true that if you hate research and writing, you won’t enjoy clerking, but then, you probably won’t enjoy lit, either.

I do think that for lit, clerking gives you a perspective/training that you can’t get elsewhere. But in case it wasn’t already obvious, I clerked and had a good experience, so I probably would think that. I’m sure you can still end up a brilliant litigator without clerking, but I still think it’s worth doing.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:54 pm

Only do a clerkship if you sincerely like legal research and writing and don’t mind the paycut for a year. Tales of the networking opportunities are highly exaggerated. Most people do clerkships because it’s prestigious and it’s “the thing” you’re supposed to do.

This seems like a take from someone who didn't clerk. Judges are generally extremely well-connected, especially in their local areas, and good at giving legs up. Frankly you don't become a federal judge if you don't know a lot of powerful people, and nobody will turn down a call from a federal judge. Then you have all of your judge's other clerks, who will generally have successful careers themselves, and whoever you run into along the way. And at the highest levels of litigation, you usually have to clerk to get in the door, or at least to get in the door easily, which is kind of dumb but descriptively the way the world works.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 23, 2022 1:49 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:54 pm

Only do a clerkship if you sincerely like legal research and writing and don’t mind the paycut for a year. Tales of the networking opportunities are highly exaggerated. Most people do clerkships because it’s prestigious and it’s “the thing” you’re supposed to do.

This seems like a take from someone who didn't clerk. Judges are generally extremely well-connected, especially in their local areas, and good at giving legs up. Frankly you don't become a federal judge if you don't know a lot of powerful people, and nobody will turn down a call from a federal judge. Then you have all of your judge's other clerks, who will generally have successful careers themselves, and whoever you run into along the way. And at the highest levels of litigation, you usually have to clerk to get in the door, or at least to get in the door easily, which is kind of dumb but descriptively the way the world works.

I’m the poster referenced above. I actually did clerk: first on a court of appeals far across the country and then second for a DJ in my local area. The CoA judge had local connections but I don’t intend to work there. I haven’t hit up the DJ for any advice or anything yet but I suppose I might if I ever choose to leave my current firm. Point taken, I suppose.