transfer to HYS? Forum

[Danteshek]

Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with clerking. I'm externing for a district court judge right now, and I DO NOT envy them. They work until 9PM every night ...

[UCLAtransfer]

Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with clerking. I'm externing for a district court judge right now, and I DO NOT envy them. They work until 9PM every night ...

First off, at least at the district court level I think working until 9 every night is hardly the norm. In my experience from externing full time during the semester (in C.D. Cal.), and getting to know clerks from 6-7 different chambers, they almost universally worked 40-50 hour weeks, with the occasional exceptions when there was a paticularly busy calendar coming up.

But even if that weren't the case, that's kind of like saying "I don't know why everyone is so obsessed with getting a Biglaw job, the hours are terrible." People don't do it for the hours, they do it for what you get out of it. (For Biglaw, $$$ and exit options.)

You clerk because you get to work on tons of interesting issues and contribute substantively in a major way that you wouldn't be able to dream of doing as a junior associate. If you want to be a litigator I don't think there is any better way to spend a year.

Plus, that doesn't even take into account the prestige, the networking opportunities, or the opportunities you get to be mentored by a federal judge.

[Verity]

I would've said any of HYS if you didn't want LA Biglaw. Try to get as much $$$ as possible, and stay and do LR. Then profit.

But apply to all HYS anyway, just to keep your options open.

[Danteshek]

Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with clerking. I'm externing for a district court judge right now, and I DO NOT envy them. They work until 9PM every night ...

First off, at least at the district court level I think working until 9 every night is hardly the norm. In my experience from externing full time during the semester (in C.D. Cal.), and getting to know clerks from 6-7 different chambers, they almost universally worked 40-50 hour weeks, with the occasional exceptions when there was a paticularly busy calendar coming up.

But even if that weren't the case, that's kind of like saying "I don't know why everyone is so obsessed with getting a Biglaw job, the hours are terrible." People don't do it for the hours, they do it for what you get out of it. (For Biglaw, $$$ and exit options.)

You clerk because you get to work on tons of interesting issues and contribute substantively in a major way that you wouldn't be able to dream of doing as a junior associate. If you want to be a litigator I don't think there is any better way to spend a year.

Plus, that doesn't even take into account the prestige, the networking opportunities, or the opportunities you get to be mentored by a federal judge.

Still not convinced. Forgot to mention that they work most weekends. Btw, I am also in C.D. Cal.

[Corwin]

would you mind writing a guide to 1L? Average numbers coming in and a ridiculously successful 1L year........ congrats!

Thanks - I'll think about writing something up. I'm pretty busy this summer, but I've got way too much hubris to sit idly by when someone has expressed a desire to listen to me talk.

At any rate, I'm happy to answer questions. I'm not sure how much help I can be, because I honestly don't know why I did so well. I walked out of first semester finals praying for median. That's kind of the trick though - no one does 1L more than once, so no one knows which of their actions factored most strongly into their grades. There's just not enough data. I have a few guesses, though.

I'd definitely be interested in reading a write up as well. Congrats on doing so well your first year! In regards to transferring, I think anyone who gets Yale should go. But anything else if you definitely want Biglaw in LA? Meh.

[somethingdemure]

Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with clerking. I'm externing for a district court judge right now, and I DO NOT envy them. They work until 9PM every night ...

I think working as a federal appellate clerk is about as close as most of us will ever get to creating the law. That's exciting to me.

[Oban]

Not sure why everyone is so obsessed with clerking. I'm externing for a district court judge right now, and I DO NOT envy them. They work until 9PM every night ...

I think working as a federal appellate clerk is about as close as most of us will ever get to creating the law. That's exciting to me.

I'd argue that working for a state supreme court would be closer to creating the law, more changes happen in state court because much of what goes on federal court is application of state law or interpreting federal statutes as apposed to organic common law growth.

Anyway that is besides the point, Clerking for any judge, but especially AIII or SCOTUS is arguably the best thing you can do for both your legal mind and you career, anyone who doesn't understand that is a rube.