Clerk job hunting thread 2012/2013 Forum

[Anonymous User]

anyone have any luck in DC?

[Anonymous User]

anyone have any luck in DC?

Sidley is not taking clerks either as second-years (meaning went to clerk straight out of law school) or midlevels. Gibson was hiring as of two months ago but not sure where they're at now.

Not sure re: Covington, Wilmer, etc.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the feedback. I have an off-plan (January start) alumni clerkship, so I have no idea as to timing etc. My clerkship is in a major east coast city (not SDNY), but I have kind of a non-traditional resume for DC. Hope I get some positive feedback.

[lolwat]

God damn, I give up.

Hope you guys are having better luck.

[nevdash]

God damn, I give up.

Hope you guys are having better luck.

You were looking in CA, right? Sorry to hear that it's going so roughly, bro. Do you think it's just because your search is so narrow geographically?

[lolwat]

God damn, I give up.

Hope you guys are having better luck.

You were looking in CA, right? Sorry to hear that it's going so roughly, bro. Do you think it's just because your search is so narrow geographically?

Applied to CA, DC, NYC. Out of 100+ applications, three interviews (one in each market, interestingly), all rejected post-interview. I'm starting to run out of firms to reasonably apply to in these markets. I'm hitting up other markets - home market being my first stop - but they don't have tons of midlaw/biglaw firms and I'm honestly significantly less interested in those geographic areas that it makes it difficult to be motivated by anything other than not wanting to be unemployed.

[Anonymous User]

God damn, I give up.

Hope you guys are having better luck.

You were looking in CA, right? Sorry to hear that it's going so roughly, bro. Do you think it's just because your search is so narrow geographically?

Applied to CA, DC, NYC. Out of 100+ applications, three interviews (one in each market, interestingly), all rejected post-interview. I'm starting to run out of firms to reasonably apply to in these markets. I'm hitting up other markets - home market being my first stop - but they don't have tons of midlaw/biglaw firms and I'm honestly significantly less interested in those geographic areas that it makes it difficult to be motivated by anything other than not wanting to be unemployed.

What was your pre-clerkship position or offer status? Is there the possibility of returning to that firm, if you worked for a firm as a summer associate or an associate?

[nevdash]

God damn, I give up.

Hope you guys are having better luck.

You were looking in CA, right? Sorry to hear that it's going so roughly, bro. Do you think it's just because your search is so narrow geographically?

Applied to CA, DC, NYC. Out of 100+ applications, three interviews (one in each market, interestingly), all rejected post-interview. I'm starting to run out of firms to reasonably apply to in these markets. I'm hitting up other markets - home market being my first stop - but they don't have tons of midlaw/biglaw firms and I'm honestly significantly less interested in those geographic areas that it makes it difficult to be motivated by anything other than not wanting to be unemployed.

Maybe it's time to look beyond biglaw/midlaw into small law/gov. It's a huge shame given your strong resume, but being where you want to be is important.

[lolwat]

What was your pre-clerkship position or offer status? Is there the possibility of returning to that firm, if you worked for a firm as a summer associate or an associate?

Unfortunately, I didn't work at a firm 2L or post-graduation. Basically - I don't have anywhere to return to.

Maybe it's time to look beyond biglaw/midlaw into small law/gov. It's a huge shame given your strong resume, but being where you want to be is important.

Yeah, I agree. I'm just frustrated as hell. I'm fine being geographically flexible for a lot of reasons. I'm looking way more broadly than I have been so there are more options, and I'm not totally done looking into midlaw - some of these firms are hard to find in the markets that are dominated by biglaw/elite lit boutiques.

[letsdoit]

What was your pre-clerkship position or offer status? Is there the possibility of returning to that firm, if you worked for a firm as a summer associate or an associate?

Unfortunately, I didn't work at a firm 2L or post-graduation. Basically - I don't have anywhere to return to.

Maybe it's time to look beyond biglaw/midlaw into small law/gov. It's a huge shame given your strong resume, but being where you want to be is important.

Yeah, I agree. I'm just frustrated as hell. I'm fine being geographically flexible for a lot of reasons. I'm looking way more broadly than I have been so there are more options, and I'm not totally done looking into midlaw - some of these firms are hard to find in the markets that are dominated by biglaw/elite lit boutiques.

Do you think its because of your lack of a 2L SA? What were your creds if you dong mind me asking? Sorry to hear about the troubles.

[lolwat]

Do you think its because of your lack of a 2L SA? What were your creds if you dong mind me asking? Sorry to hear about the troubles.

I think it's several things, but the lack of screening interviews to begin with is probably due to a lack of 2L SA and a gap year between graduation and clerkship. Feel free to PM if you'd like to know more, though I'm not sure how much help it'd be, haha.

[Anonymous User]

God damn, I give up.

Hope you guys are having better luck.

You were looking in CA, right? Sorry to hear that it's going so roughly, bro. Do you think it's just because your search is so narrow geographically?

Applied to CA, DC, NYC. Out of 100+ applications, three interviews (one in each market, interestingly), all rejected post-interview. I'm starting to run out of firms to reasonably apply to in these markets. I'm hitting up other markets - home market being my first stop - but they don't have tons of midlaw/biglaw firms and I'm honestly significantly less interested in those geographic areas that it makes it difficult to be motivated by anything other than not wanting to be unemployed.

What kind of firms did you target in CA?

Hoping to go back there after my clerkship, but this thread has scared the poop out of me.

[legalese_retard]

http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_la ... hires.html

Susman Godfrey is looking for new associates in all of their offices. Must have a federal clerkship to be considered. Thought I'd pass this info along for those still looking.

[Anonymous User]

First offer! Satellite office of a national firm in my "popular" home market (think like Austin or Denver). I'm clerking as an alum but didn't come here from a firm (so nowhere to return after the clerkship).

[lolwat]

First offer! Satellite office of a national firm in my "popular" home market (think like Austin or Denver). I'm clerking as an alum but didn't come here from a firm (so nowhere to return after the clerkship).

Grats!

Susman Godfrey is looking for new associates in all of their offices. Must have a federal clerkship to be considered. Thought I'd pass this info along for those still looking.

Haha. They rejected me like, last November or something. I wonder if it's worth sending them something again and being like "sup guys, I know you're still hiring "

[legalese_retard]

First offer! Satellite office of a national firm in my "popular" home market (think like Austin or Denver). I'm clerking as an alum but didn't come here from a firm (so nowhere to return after the clerkship).

Grats!

Susman Godfrey is looking for new associates in all of their offices. Must have a federal clerkship to be considered. Thought I'd pass this info along for those still looking.

Haha. They rejected me like, last November or something. I wonder if it's worth sending them something again and being like "sup guys, I know you're still hiring "

Congrats x2. I also applied to Susman a few weeks ago and received a rejection letter. I think I even applied to a staff attorney position. Oh well, at least they are diligent with their decisions - wish mine wasn't such a no-brainer.

[Anonymous User]

Theres a nalp conference this week, so if anyone sent recent apps and hasn't heard a word, that's a possible reason why.

[insideman]

To those that have had interviews, did they just come after a blanket email (im So and so ,a clerk, and I'm interested in your firm please call) or did they come from other ways?

[Anonymous User]

To those that have had interviews, did they just come after a blanket email (im So and so ,a clerk, and I'm interested in your firm please call) or did they come from other ways?

Blanket email.

[lolwat]

To those that have had interviews, did they just come after a blanket email (im So and so ,a clerk, and I'm interested in your firm please call) or did they come from other ways?

Does that work? O.o

My interviews came from sending applications, either via recruiting contact or online application.

[Anonymous User]

How have references been working, especially for those of you who had worked at least a year after school before clerking? Who have you used as references and at what point in the interview process have you had to provide these references?

Also, have your judges been any help in job-hunting? Surely, some judges must have connections?

[Anonymous User]

From my experience going through this process in the recent past (looking for a firm job in a different market than my clerkship, with no SA):

I got my judge to go to bat for me after I had some interviews lined up. I think it was a small positive for places already seriously considering me.

[lolwat]

IIRC, my judge won't make calls, but is more than happy to give his recommendation if I ever got anyone to call him. I am unsure if this holds true for non-law-firm positions. I should ask, especially since I'm trying to get COA clerkships as well. I've definitely heard of judges using their connections (or even just their position--not as a bad thing, but as "a call from a federal judge") to help people get jobs.

As far as generally -- I'm using two professors (ones I still talk to from time to time, even though I graduated two years ago), a recent previous employer, and my judge as references. But I have never been asked to provide references, and when I have provided them anyway, they have not been called. Anyone calling my judge would have to have their call routed through the main line so I would have known about it. We did have two calls about previous clerks--one was a clerkship call from another judge, and the other was from a firm that I know asks for references--but I think both were post-interview.

[Anonymous User]

I give up. What non-attorney job/career would be interested in hiring a former federal law clerk? I've tried all the big and medium sized firms in my area, and none are hiring. I tried the smaller firms and a lot of them view clerkships as nothing more than a glorified internship.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else still looking? Starting to panic. I'm a T14 grad, district court clerk, no prior SA.

P.S. Foley & Lardner Chicago is looking to hire a current or recent bankruptcy clerk, in case anyone here is looking and qualified