Any Chance of Getting Hired into NYC BigLaw with Three Clerkships? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Triple clerk here who ended up as a triple clerk for a variety of weird personal and professional reasons (did not plan this). Want to go into NYC BigLaw after this next (last) one but worried I’ll be unhireable as firms tend to look suspiciously on triple clerks.

Every one was with a different kind of court FWIW and I have one year of BigLaw experience.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

[Wild Card]

You should apply very, very broadly. Like, to the whole V100. You'll get a bunch of callbacks and, hopefully, you'll be able to convert a few into offers.

[Anonymous User]

You should apply very, very broadly. Like, to the whole V100. You'll get a bunch of callbacks and, hopefully, you'll be able to convert a few into offers.

Does this mean it will be tough sledding (apply very broadly) or not that hard (will get a bunch of callbacks)? Just trying to gauge expectations.

[Wild Card]

You should apply very, very broadly. Like, to the whole V100. You'll get a bunch of callbacks and, hopefully, you'll be able to convert a few into offers.

Does this mean it will be tough sledding (apply very broadly) or not that hard (will get a bunch of callbacks)? Just trying to gauge expectations.

It was a crapshoot for me, but I clerked twice at the district level. Circuit court clerks fare much better.

I got callbacks from firms across the V100, lit boutiques, and midlaw firms. You just don't know what a firm's hiring needs will be.

[Anonymous User]

You should apply very, very broadly. Like, to the whole V100. You'll get a bunch of callbacks and, hopefully, you'll be able to convert a few into offers.

Does this mean it will be tough sledding (apply very broadly) or not that hard (will get a bunch of callbacks)? Just trying to gauge expectations.

It was a crapshoot for me, but I clerked twice at the district level. Circuit court clerks fare much better.

I got callbacks from firms across the V100, lit boutiques, and midlaw firms. You just don't know what a firm's hiring needs will be.

Got it, good to know. Two district is also somewhat unusual so perhaps it will be similar. Sounds like you had plenty of options, however.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

Clerkships were Flyover Magistrate/Major Metro D.Ct/Fed. COA. School was lower T14 and graduated MCL. Not sure how much that changes things.

[Anonymous User]

This is going to be a major red flag for firms. Signals you'd rather not be in private practice, doesn't add much to your skillset after the first 1-2 clerkships and you'd be a midlevel with barely any experience. Hiring partners are going to see this as indecisive at best.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

Clerkships were Flyover Magistrate/Major Metro D.Ct/Fed. COA. School was lower T14 and graduated MCL. Not sure how much that changes things.

A lot. That makes you a very competitive applicant for even the top firms. I think you are worrying too much.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

Clerkships were Flyover Magistrate/Major Metro D.Ct/Fed. COA. School was lower T14 and graduated MCL. Not sure how much that changes things.

Would you consider taking a haircut on your year group? A firm might be more willing to take you on if you're only coming in with 2 years' credit rather than 3.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

Clerkships were Flyover Magistrate/Major Metro D.Ct/Fed. COA. School was lower T14 and graduated MCL. Not sure how much that changes things.

Would you consider taking a haircut on your year group? A firm might be more willing to take you on if you're only coming in with 2 years' credit rather than 3.

Yes for sure. I don’t really care about taking a haircut. My bigger worry is I’m not sure how to broach that or how upfront to be. I’m worried that some places just won’t think of that/decide it’s too much of a headache/against policy/etc.

[Anonymous User]

This is going to be a major red flag for firms. Signals you'd rather not be in private practice, doesn't add much to your skillset after the first 1-2 clerkships and you'd be a midlevel with barely any experience. Hiring partners are going to see this as indecisive at best.

This is not a "major" red flag lol. Major red flag is like a big gap in your resume or failing a background check. It comes down to how this guy describes it in his interviews lol.

[Anonymous User]

This is going to be a major red flag for firms. Signals you'd rather not be in private practice, doesn't add much to your skillset after the first 1-2 clerkships and you'd be a midlevel with barely any experience. Hiring partners are going to see this as indecisive at best.

This is not a "major" red flag lol. Major red flag is like a big gap in your resume or failing a background check. It comes down to how this guy describes it in his interviews lol.

I mean if they get that far.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

Clerkships were Flyover Magistrate/Major Metro D.Ct/Fed. COA. School was lower T14 and graduated MCL. Not sure how much that changes things.

Would you consider taking a haircut on your year group? A firm might be more willing to take you on if you're only coming in with 2 years' credit rather than 3.

Yes for sure. I don’t really care about taking a haircut. My bigger worry is I’m not sure how to broach that or how upfront to be. I’m worried that some places just won’t think of that/decide it’s too much of a headache/against policy/etc.

TITCR. If I were in your shoes, I'd embrace your skillset in the CL (clerking at all three levels gives you X skills, and you're very excited to apply that to practice), but ignore the class year hit initially. TBH the magistrate clerkship is more practical and will give you some useful skills for stupid discovery disputes. If you get radio silence, then you can send a letter of continued interest and flag that you're willing to take a class year hit.

Would also recommend hitting the more lit focused firms and boutiques, rather than more corporate focused V10/NYC focused firms. Also, networking is big as always - sometimes just finding the right person to forward your resume will give you the opportunity to make your case.

[Anonymous User]

This will depends on the school you went to, your grades, and what types of clerkships you did. All of that is much more important than whether you did 2 or 3 clerkships.

Clerkships were Flyover Magistrate/Major Metro D.Ct/Fed. COA. School was lower T14 and graduated MCL. Not sure how much that changes things.

Would you consider taking a haircut on your year group? A firm might be more willing to take you on if you're only coming in with 2 years' credit rather than 3.

Yes for sure. I don’t really care about taking a haircut. My bigger worry is I’m not sure how to broach that or how upfront to be. I’m worried that some places just won’t think of that/decide it’s too much of a headache/against policy/etc.

TITCR. If I were in your shoes, I'd embrace your skillset in the CL (clerking at all three levels gives you X skills, and you're very excited to apply that to practice), but ignore the class year hit initially. TBH the magistrate clerkship is more practical and will give you some useful skills for stupid discovery disputes. If you get radio silence, then you can send a letter of continued interest and flag that you're willing to take a class year hit.

Would also recommend hitting the more lit focused firms and boutiques, rather than more corporate focused V10/NYC focused firms. Also, networking is big as always - sometimes just finding the right person to forward your resume will give you the opportunity to make your case.

Makes sense. To be clear, want to be in NYC, so not really an option to just ignore NYC firms, but see your point about more lit focused places rather than massive M&A shops that have litigation as a side-hustle.

[Wild Card]

Circuit is perfect. You'll be fine. Also helps that all your clerkships are different. Nobody's going to give you a hard time about it.

My advice still stands, though. You need to apply broadly.

[Anonymous User]

Circuit is perfect. You'll be fine. Also helps that all your clerkships are different. Nobody's going to give you a hard time about it.

My advice still stands, though. You need to apply broadly.

"No one" might be a bit aggressive. Could totally see some older hiring partners in nitty-gritty lit practices doing exactly that. No harm in applying broadly though.