Clerking after layoff? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi everyone, I’m a 5th year litigator who was recently laid off. Been really depressed about it because I had great reviews and worked very hard to get into big law (I did not do the summer associate -> associate route). I was in a smaller office of a large firm that over-hired and I am paying the price for my lack of seniority.

Been having a hard time getting interviews at other shops, I’m sure largely because it is a red flag to see that I’m applying after leaving my old firm. I’m sure firms I’m applying to, after looking at my resume, think that I left or was fired because of performance issues.

I might have a federal clerkship opportunity, and was wondering if anyone else has experience clerking at the midlevel point in their career and then returning to big law afterwards.

It feels like a step backwards in my career, given that I already did a federal clerkship, but I am thinking this may give me an opportunity to optically reset the narrative on my resume.

Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

Is the clerkship opportunity in a new market that you'd want to practice in? If so, you could pitch the gig as transitional. If the judge is new and/or interesting, you can say that working for that particular judge was too attractive to pass up.

[Anonymous User]

The clerkship is in the same market Im in. The judge is well respected, so I think that is a good angle you mentioned.

Does anyone think clerking again would hurt my chances of returning to big law afterwards?

[Lawman1865]

The clerkship is in the same market Im in. The judge is well respected, so I think that is a good angle you mentioned.

Does anyone think clerking again would hurt my chances of returning to big law afterwards?

I do not have too much expertise in the clerking/litigation paths (I am corporate), but I think the question here may be simply what else is there for you to do? If you are not getting interviews/offers, I would imagine clerking would be better than being unemployed for 6-12 months, no? Perhaps it would be a good idea to chase down the clerking option and continue to pound the pavement for other biglaw/firm jobs, and should you find yourself without a job, you can clerk and explain it away as the previous poster mentioned (prestigious opportunity, etc). There are plenty of ways to sell these kinds of things and will be easier than not having anything to do. An additional plus is that you will have more time to interview for biglaw jobs for next year, and may find yourself in a better position should the economy improve over the next 6-12 months.

I also would not be too hard on yourself, while the slowdown has mostly hit transactional practices, it sounds like firms and businesses are generally slow, so it may just be that you are going out into the job market at a tough time. Best of luck.

[Anonymous User]

I know attorneys of your seniority who clerked and didn’t have problems. One even went associate —> clerk —> counsel.

[sparty99]

Hi everyone, I’m a 5th year litigator who was recently laid off. Been really depressed about it because I had great reviews and worked very hard to get into big law (I did not do the summer associate -> associate route). I was in a smaller office of a large firm that over-hired and I am paying the price for my lack of seniority.

Been having a hard time getting interviews at other shops, I’m sure largely because it is a red flag to see that I’m applying after leaving my old firm. I’m sure firms I’m applying to, after looking at my resume, think that I left or was fired because of performance issues.

I might have a federal clerkship opportunity, and was wondering if anyone else has experience clerking at the midlevel point in their career and then returning to big law afterwards.

It feels like a step backwards in my career, given that I already did a federal clerkship, but I am thinking this may give me an opportunity to optically reset the narrative on my resume.

Thank you!

You should have an easy time getting back to Big Law if you clerk. Some places might not be hiring now because they might be laying off in future or expect a slow down in work due to the fear of recession. Your federal clerkship is a nice fall back if you are able to land for a year or two. I would not worry at all about getting back into big law if you get this position. This will open you up to federal government jobs too. You might also decide that you don't even want to return to Big Law.

[12YrsAnAssociate]

I did a second clerkship 4 years out of law school (so three years at the firm). It really helped me for a number of reasons. It helped with my burnout. It helped me lateral markets. It helped me get out of a pigeon hole I had made for myself when I picked my first firm. It gave me a new perspective because it was a federal trial clerkship where my first clerkship was a federal COA clerkship.

I found it very easy to find a far better job when the clerkship was over, and I was jazzed about practicing law for a bit.

If both of your clerkships are on the same level, I' think you'll need a passable story for why you wanted two clerkships, but I think that's something you can overcome.

[sparty99]

Also, I know people who clerked as third or fifth years and got big law even though they had never worked in Big Law. They started off working for the government, including local city attorneys. They got Big Law after a federal clerkship.

[Wild Card]

A clerkship is a real job with real work. You'll gain valuable and transferable skills.