Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone looking non-NY, non-CA? DC shops, including boutiques like Zuckerman and big firms like Gibson Dunn, have either instantly rejected me on the papers or stayed totally silent. Chicago has also been quiet, save for a few contacts at firms saying no clerk/lateral hires at the moment due to COVID. DoJ silent as well, with 10-15 referrals reflected on USAJobs. Why did I clerk again?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone looking non-NY, non-CA? DC shops, including boutiques like Zuckerman and big firms like Gibson Dunn, have either instantly rejected me on the papers or stayed totally silent. Chicago has also been quiet, save for a few contacts at firms saying no clerk/lateral hires at the moment due to COVID. DoJ silent as well, with 10-15 referrals reflected on USAJobs. Why did I clerk again?

Amen to this. I am learning that the job market for clerking is either: (1) you are so stellar you can get jobs at the elite-iest boutiques and it was worth it or (2) you are not and no big firm will hire you because they are pulling back lit so you have to go midlaw where lit is thriving. Great way to have a downwardly mobile career

[Anonymous User]

My interviews have been much more fit based - mostly asking about things not on my resume and what I’m trying to do with my life. I haven’t gotten anything behavioral. Also they ask about experiences at my previous firms/clerkships

Agree. No behavioral for me. Some are slightly more substantive in that they want to hear me describe a case or something.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone looking non-NY, non-CA? DC shops, including boutiques like Zuckerman and big firms like Gibson Dunn, have either instantly rejected me on the papers or stayed totally silent. Chicago has also been quiet, save for a few contacts at firms saying no clerk/lateral hires at the moment due to COVID. DoJ silent as well, with 10-15 referrals reflected on USAJobs. Why did I clerk again?

Robbins Russell instading.

Haven't yet but I might throw out an application to Kellogg just because I can.

[Anonymous User]

Would you be willing to talk about your experiences interviewing at elite litigation boutiques?

My first-round interview was quite long, would have been a callback at a biglaw firm and I was asked mostly behavioral questions -- tell me about a time you disagreed with your supervisor/teammate, tell me about a time you managed a project, tell me about a time you failed, tell me about a time you &c.

That's been my experience at one NY boutique so far, but I interviewed at another place that was much closer to a biglaw callback (casual, personality based). I imagine it depends on the firm's size and how much they're looking to vet potential hires after already screening for credentials.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone looking non-NY, non-CA? DC shops, including boutiques like Zuckerman and big firms like Gibson Dunn, have either instantly rejected me on the papers or stayed totally silent. Chicago has also been quiet, save for a few contacts at firms saying no clerk/lateral hires at the moment due to COVID. DoJ silent as well, with 10-15 referrals reflected on USAJobs. Why did I clerk again?

Amen to this. I am learning that the job market for clerking is either: (1) you are so stellar you can get jobs at the elite-iest boutiques and it was worth it or (2) you are not and no big firm will hire you because they are pulling back lit so you have to go midlaw where lit is thriving. Great way to have a downwardly mobile career

What counts as stellar creds? Any COA? Any COA + any district court? Or only some COAs and district courts?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone looking non-NY, non-CA? DC shops, including boutiques like Zuckerman and big firms like Gibson Dunn, have either instantly rejected me on the papers or stayed totally silent. Chicago has also been quiet, save for a few contacts at firms saying no clerk/lateral hires at the moment due to COVID. DoJ silent as well, with 10-15 referrals reflected on USAJobs. Why did I clerk again?

Amen to this. I am learning that the job market for clerking is either: (1) you are so stellar you can get jobs at the elite-iest boutiques and it was worth it or (2) you are not and no big firm will hire you because they are pulling back lit so you have to go midlaw where lit is thriving. Great way to have a downwardly mobile career

What counts as stellar creds? Any COA? Any COA + any district court? Or only some COAs and district courts?

I can only speak for myself but I have very top grades at a t14 with two good clerkships and I got basically one bite. Just think how many 2/9/dc people there are for so few jobs

[Anonymous User]

Anyone looking non-NY, non-CA? DC shops, including boutiques like Zuckerman and big firms like Gibson Dunn, have either instantly rejected me on the papers or stayed totally silent. Chicago has also been quiet, save for a few contacts at firms saying no clerk/lateral hires at the moment due to COVID. DoJ silent as well, with 10-15 referrals reflected on USAJobs. Why did I clerk again?

Amen to this. I am learning that the job market for clerking is either: (1) you are so stellar you can get jobs at the elite-iest boutiques and it was worth it or (2) you are not and no big firm will hire you because they are pulling back lit so you have to go midlaw where lit is thriving. Great way to have a downwardly mobile career

What counts as stellar creds? Any COA? Any COA + any district court? Or only some COAs and district courts?

I can only speak for myself but I have very top grades at a t14 with two good clerkships and I got basically one bite. Just think how many 2/9/dc people there are for so few jobs

I had a really similar experience - not top top grades at a t6 but clearly good enough to clerk, clerkships at d.ct. and COA. For what it's worth: I think this is another off/bad year for post-clerkship hiring. Not as bad as last year, where literally EVERYONE I know could not get hired regardless of credentials and many people couldn't go back to their firms, but bad. It's also weird as to timing, as OCI was pushed back.

Good luck folks. I took the first job that materialized. I also think I'll really like it, but I interviewed for it ... last March.

[Anonymous User]

anyone heard anything from the DC biglaw, like Wilmer, Hogan, A&P, Jenner? the silence is excruciating lol

[Anonymous User]

anyone heard anything from the DC biglaw, like Wilmer, Hogan, A&P, Jenner? the silence is excruciating lol

Can confirm that Williams & Connolly has scheduled interviews, but idk about the firms you listed.

[Anonymous User]

COA -> D. Ct. Clerk in Midwest secondary market here. Top grades and Ed Board at T14, former 1L and 2L SA in Chicago. Sent one app in September to biglaw firm in secondary market I clerked in. Interviewed in late October, offer early December.

There is hope!

[Anonymous User]

COA -> D. Ct. Clerk in Midwest secondary market here. Top grades and Ed Board at T14, former 1L and 2L SA in Chicago. Sent one app in September to biglaw firm in secondary market I clerked in. Interviewed in late October, offer early December.

There is hope!

Good lord, that is a ridiculously slow turnaround. Did you prod them? I would've assumed a ding after like week 3.

[Anonymous User]

Two interviews with elite west-coast boutiques and two rejections. I'm really hoping big law hiring will pick up now that 2L OCI is done or winding down.

[Anonymous User]

Two interviews with elite west-coast boutiques and two rejections. I'm really hoping big law hiring will pick up now that 2L OCI is done or winding down.

Sorry to hear that. I'm being ghosted by east coast boutiques I interviewed with.

[Anonymous User]

Two interviews with elite west-coast boutiques and two rejections. I'm really hoping big law hiring will pick up now that 2L OCI is done or winding down.

Sorry to hear that. I'm being ghosted by east coast boutiques I interviewed with.

I’m being ghosted by the east coast boutiques that never interviewed me so I have one up on you

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

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[F5q4HvB7]

Have elite boutiques (DC/NY) started giving out offers? How soon after the interviews?

[F5q4HvB7]

^ Really apologize for the multiple messages. I thought they weren't going through. I didn't realize they were being held for moderator approval.

[clerk2020]

^ Really apologize for the multiple messages. I thought they weren't going through. I didn't realize they were being held for moderator approval.

My understanding is that some definitely have, but others are still interviewing.

Has anyone heard of any MoloLamken (NY or DC), Kellogg Hansen, Selendy & Gay, Susman Godfrey, or Kaplan Hecker offers?

[Anonymous User]

^ Really apologize for the multiple messages. I thought they weren't going through. I didn't realize they were being held for moderator approval.

My understanding is that some definitely have, but others are still interviewing.

Has anyone heard of any MoloLamken (NY or DC), Kellogg Hansen, Selendy & Gay, Susman Godfrey, or Kaplan Hecker offers?

I think KH and SG do rolling offers and they've been interviewing.

[Anonymous User]

Above anon. Realized the acronyms could refer to multiple firms — I meant Kellogg Hansen and Susman. Have heard some rumors in 2/9/DC where I’m clerking.

[Anonymous User]

Rumor has it that the NY lit shops are doing a ton of hiring this year -- I also personally have heard of a decent # of offers going out from various places, though I've only just started the interview process. Isn't this surprising? I would've thought COVID would've had the opposite effect, although I suppose folks are probably leaving for the government.

[Anonymous User]

Rumor has it that the NY lit shops are doing a ton of hiring this year -- I also personally have heard of a decent # of offers going out from various places, though I've only just started the interview process. Isn't this surprising? I would've thought COVID would've had the opposite effect, although I suppose folks are probably leaving for the government.

What is a "lit shop"? Do you mean a boutique? Those obviously are the exception and not the rule.

RE: interviews, I have only two boutique and one biglaw so far, despite blanketing the V100 months ago.