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T30, approx. top 25% and have an offer to clerk in the southeast at a state supreme court (think AL/GA/FL). But no long-term interest in practicing in those states (at least right now, but I'm potentially open to it) and will be heading to another major market next summer for biglaw lit (White Collar/Investigations) and after graduation (assuming I get the return offer).

Interested in doing BL litigation -> trying to get an AUSA position after a few years.

Is it worth it for the experience? Do BL firms care? Would a district court clerkship in addition make me more competitive for USAO hiring down the line (My only concern would be my profile probably isn't strong enough to get one). Would love any insight/thoughts!

A district court clerkship is pretty important got getting an AUSA job, especially going the BigLaw route.

A SSC clerkship is pretty helpful for getting a district court clerkship.

If I was in your shoes, I'd take it. Not crazy uncommon to double clerk.

It's not worth it.

I think a district court clerkship is the best to have, hands down, if you want to be an AUSA. It’s more practical and the office that I am in (as well as many others) value the 1-2 years spent seeing the daily grind of federal criminal practice. An MJ clerkship will show this more so because they are assigned in many districts to handle several miscellaneous proceedings, detention hearings, and even motions to suppress, but you get to touch sentencing—the bread and butter of federal criminal practice—as a DJ clerk.

You’re right that it won’t be easy to snag a district court clerkship right away, but it’s worth applying imo, especially if you have a few years of work experience. I know some folks who have used their SSC clerkships to go to a district court, but clerking for that long can have some diminishing returns. Most DJs in my neck of the woods prefer that clerks have a year of experience before starting, so you could forego the SSC and apply for district judges. I will note that I personally view an SSC clerkship as a great opportunity, but it is most useful if you want to stay in the region. And again, maybe you could fall in love with AL/GA/FL and use that to your advantage.

It's a good experience and pairs well with a federal clerkship. Also helps you get a federal clerkship. If you want to be an AUSA I'd do it plus a district court clerkship. Agree with others that an SSC by itself is pretty meh for being an AUSA. If you pair it with a federal one though you can craft a really good story about having the dual perspective of federal and state and appreciating how federalism plays a role in our legal system etc...

Doing the SSC clerkship would likely help you get a federal district court clerkship in that state - and if the state is Florida, I think at least the SDFL judges generally prefer folks with experience anyways. The SSC clerkship would probably still help with district courts outside of the state, but I don't know if it would help more than a year of experience at a firm. SSC + district court would probably make you a decent candidate for an AUSA position in that district/state though, so if that's a goal then I'd do it.

When you say you have "no long term interest" in the state, what do you mean? I find it hard to imagine how someone gets a SSC clerkship offer from a state they don't care about.

I suggest you don't take a significant pay cut and put your life on hold for a year to live in a state you don't care about doing appellate work that has almost no connection to day-to-day litigation practice.

Others are correct that the SSC might help with a D.Ct. app, especially within the state, but (a) the timeline for that will be rough - presuming you have a SSC offer for 25-26 and your judge is only willing to speak for you after they've worked with you, the earliest clerkship cycle you'll have a realistic shot for is 27-28 and (b) I would not presume that a SSC judge can guarantee a D.Ct. clerkship. (Not as a matter of prestige, but rather they may not be well connected and most every D.Ct. gets far more serious applicants than seats available.)

I'd do the clerkship if you think you'd enjoy it more than biglaw. If you would, then it's not putting your life on hold, it's a good experience and worthwhile resume booster. Now how to tell if you'd enjoy clerking? Well for me clerking was like another year of law school, so if you liked law school you'd probably enjoy clerking

If your end game is to be an AUSA, do it, but only to position yourself for a District Court Clerkship, which would be very possible. 2 clerkships won't hurt your chances with the U.S. Attorney's Office. The federal government (unlike the private sector) never cares that a candidate may be over qualified.