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Currently clerking for an AIII judge. I split 2L between biglaw and a state/local gov agency, and went with the latter after graduation, in part because clerking would give me a reset. Starting to think about next steps. Any advice about how to go about evaluating what to do?

I don't think I'd like biglaw litigation, but maybe other practice areas like investigations or regulatory are worth looking into? Having clerked for a bit now, I think legal research and writing can be fun but often times it can be boring when it's a random procedural or evidentiary issue or the like. The adversarial BS in litigation also can annoy me; all the unnecessary posturing and discovery BS and what not. I honestly have no idea what corp associates do but I'd be open to that if it was a good fit. I don't have the best focus when it comes to long-term intensive projects, so maybe the start/stop aspect would jive well with me.

I generally liked the government job and the pay/WLB were weirdly good, but I'm not sure if I would want to do it forever and exit options seem more limited than a firm. DOJ/SEC have always been of interest and while it may be doable from the state/local place (AUSA more so than SEC), it would be far from certain. On the positive side for my old job, pay was very competitive (better than federal somehow), great benefits, good WLB, and pretty substantive experience (already have a few depos under my belt). I'll probably go back to the government job, but the biglaw money, prestige, and exit options are very enticing; especially coming in as a third year with a clerkship bonus...

Unless you need the money (which it sounds like you don't), go with the government job that you think you'll find decently interesting and fulfilling and that pays you an amount that you can tolerate. Most biglaw folks leave (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) by around year 7, so if you go that route, you're just looking at a few years of toiling away and being miserable*** before having to make a similar decision like the one you're making now again in a few years.

***not all biglaw associates are unhappy but most are

As someone that has done civil litigation both a boutique and at a big firm, I would take the government job and never look back.