2019-2020 Post-Clerkship Hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about hiring in Texas? I've been checking LinkedIn and other job boards religiously, and applying to anything for which I even sort of fit the description, but no dice.

My clerkship term ends in early August and I have turned myself into a ball of anxiety about unemployment. It doesn't help that I can't afford to keep living in my current city with no income, and that I'm not barred in the state where my parents live (and going back home is my only option outside of living in my car).

Anyone have any advice about explaining my upcoming resume gap in later interviews or things to do to FILL the resume gap? Volunteer work with the local legal aid? I've considered doing secretary work just to keep my car from being repossessed.

I'm so sorry about this. I tried applying in Texas and felt pretty confident about my chances. You probably got similar responses: some of the national firms with regional offices indicated interests but couldn't commit right now, and the Texas firms pushed me towards lateral recruiting. I think recruiting or showing an interest in bankruptcy is probably the way to go right now. Beyond that, I don't know. My prayers go up for all similarly situated!

I was in your position a month or so ago (I posted about Texas and my fear of unemployment just above). Since March, I have not heard of anything from the firms that were interested in hiring me. I ultimately pursued and accepted another clerkship here in the state about two-three weeks ago. Tbh just going through OSCAR gave me a sense of certainty - it's a listing of judges that DO need someone to fill their clerkship slots for 2020-21, and that gave me hope than constantly trying to find new firms to mass mail my resume to. I'm not sure if there are any more clerkship slots for open for TX judges (or in the region) this term; the last time I checked was three weeks ago. But if you're gonna be unemployed, getting a paying job is definitely better especially if you are willing to do another clerkship for one more term, which by all accounts should be fine for the resume given the circumstances.

To give some semblance of hope for you and some readers holding out for firm jobs, two term clerks in our courthouse are starting positions in AM150-200 firms in TX in a couple of weeks. Apparently they interviewed while the COVID lockdowns were still going on and got their offers during that time too. I, for one, also had an interview with a Pacific Northwest biglaw firm which ultimately didn't work out. Interviews may be happening, and some firms may be hiring, but the spectre of unemployment at this time is just so great that I, being risk averse, would recommend looking at other options, like another clerkship.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have ideas on the best way to apply for law firm positions for those of us now unexpectedly in the job market? I unfortunately missed the boat on the traditional post-clerkship hiring cycle as I had no interest in not returning to my firm and by the time it became clear that returning was not assured it was too late. I'm wondering if it is better to spam applications as a "post-clerkship" applicant, or to apply to lateral postings. My inclination is that any clerks applying at this point would essentially be treated as lateral applicants but perhaps some firms are still doing more traditional post-clerkship hiring. Has anyone been successful one way or the other?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have ideas on the best way to apply for law firm positions for those of us now unexpectedly in the job market? I unfortunately missed the boat on the traditional post-clerkship hiring cycle as I had no interest in not returning to my firm and by the time it became clear that returning was not assured it was too late. I'm wondering if it is better to spam applications as a "post-clerkship" applicant, or to apply to lateral postings. My inclination is that any clerks applying at this point would essentially be treated as lateral applicants but perhaps some firms are still doing more traditional post-clerkship hiring. Has anyone been successful one way or the other?

I don't know how helpful this will be, but I clerked after a couple of years of non-firm work and then wanted to go to a firm after my clerkship. For personal reasons, I didn't know where I was going to be moving after my clerkship until late March/early April. So I didn't apply to anything until then. I applied to everything I could find. I ended up in biglaw but frankly it was I had an in at the firm. I didn't get the offer until late May.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have ideas on the best way to apply for law firm positions for those of us now unexpectedly in the job market? I unfortunately missed the boat on the traditional post-clerkship hiring cycle as I had no interest in not returning to my firm and by the time it became clear that returning was not assured it was too late. I'm wondering if it is better to spam applications as a "post-clerkship" applicant, or to apply to lateral postings. My inclination is that any clerks applying at this point would essentially be treated as lateral applicants but perhaps some firms are still doing more traditional post-clerkship hiring. Has anyone been successful one way or the other?

Take this with a massive grain of salt, as I don't REALLY know, but: I'd apply to lateral positions instead of applying as a post-clerkship applicant. Reports on this board aside, I have not heard of any post-clerkship applicant getting a job post-COVID, and the usual bonus makes us unattractive. If you can sell yourself as a lateral fit, I'd do it.

Of course, some places may have purely post-clerkship openings? and for those, go nuts. But if you have a choice, I'd apply as a lateral. Personally.

But really, who the hell knows. Sorry friends. This year's been brutal.

[Anonymous User]

Are people just not receiving any interviews? or getting interviews but not proceeding further?

[theswisswereright]

Are people just not receiving any interviews? or getting interviews but not proceeding further?

This is just my experience, but I hardly even see any job postings that I'd be eligible for. Lots of firms have notices on their websites that basically amount to "we aren't hiring, don't bother."

I'm already applying for positions that ask for two years of experience when all I have is the clerkship, and for the most part, I'm not getting interviews. The interviews I HAVE had, few as they have been, have mostly ended in rejections (second clerkships) or ghosting (firms).

I've seen next to nothing at entry level or encouraging clerks to apply.

[Anonymous User]

Are people just not receiving any interviews? or getting interviews but not proceeding further?

Both. I finished up interviewing with a firm right before the shelter-in-place orders were issued and was told all hiring was frozen. Firms I've applied to since then have expressed interest but said they can't hire anyone else until there is more economic certainty.

[Anonymous User]

At least some post-clerkship hiring seems to be continuing, so there is hope. One clerk in our chambers who interviewed pre-shutdown was recently offered a post-clerk position (with bonus) at a lit boutique.

[Anonymous User]

Any LA movement?

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing the answer is no, but if you’re a 2L summering at a biglaw firm and you don’t want to return, is there any reason to reject a return offer immediately? I have top grades at a top school, maybe an outside shot at SCOTUS, and will clerk on 2/9/DC after graduating.

[cheaptilts]

I’m guessing the answer is no, but if you’re a 2L summering at a biglaw firm and you don’t want to return, is there any reason to reject a return offer immediately? I have top grades at a top school, maybe an outside shot at SCOTUS, and will clerk on 2/9/DC after graduating.

No.

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing the answer is no, but if you’re a 2L summering at a biglaw firm and you don’t want to return, is there any reason to reject a return offer immediately? I have top grades at a top school, maybe an outside shot at SCOTUS, and will clerk on 2/9/DC after graduating.

No.

Thanks. Is the better route to accept and renege later if you get something you like more or to say some variant of that you’ll get back to them later?

[cheaptilts]

I’m guessing the answer is no, but if you’re a 2L summering at a biglaw firm and you don’t want to return, is there any reason to reject a return offer immediately? I have top grades at a top school, maybe an outside shot at SCOTUS, and will clerk on 2/9/DC after graduating.

No.

Thanks. Is the better route to accept and renege later if you get something you like more or to say some variant of that you’ll get back to them later?

The former. Though this all may be moot, as your judge May not allow you to accept offers of employment prior to your clerkship. You should run it by her first.

[Anonymous User]

I also had good credentials and summered at a biglaw firm planning to come back (or at least thinking it was plenty likely I'd come back). My first judge preferred if I did not immediately accept an offer, and my firm was willing to leave it open. I ended up spending three years (including that first clerkship) doing other non-firm things, and my firm left the offer open throughout. I ultimately did not return to that firm. I certainly felt somewhat bad once I made the decision to go elsewhere, but there had always been a good chance that I would go back and so I think it was a reasonable way to handle things.

[Anon-non-anon]

I’m guessing the answer is no, but if you’re a 2L summering at a biglaw firm and you don’t want to return, is there any reason to reject a return offer immediately? I have top grades at a top school, maybe an outside shot at SCOTUS, and will clerk on 2/9/DC after graduating.

No.

Thanks. Is the better route to accept and renege later if you get something you like more or to say some variant of that you’ll get back to them later?

This is a pretty common thing to deal with. I think reasonable minds could differ between (a) telling them you don't think the judge wants clerks to accept offers in advance (unless that's a flat out lie, okay if a suspicion or unverified in my book) and (b) just accepting (as long as judge doesnt have a strict rule) and reneging later if need be.

In this economy I would prob lean a little more toward the second option if your judge allows it, but it's not like the firm can't change their mind either and so (just my guess) accepting the offer isn't much more of a guarantee post clerkship. That said, they might cut the person who didn't accept the offer rather than fire someone (kind of) who did.

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing the answer is no, but if you’re a 2L summering at a biglaw firm and you don’t want to return, is there any reason to reject a return offer immediately? I have top grades at a top school, maybe an outside shot at SCOTUS, and will clerk on 2/9/DC after graduating.

No.

Thanks. Is the better route to accept and renege later if you get something you like more or to say some variant of that you’ll get back to them later?

I summered at a V10, the firm knew I was clerking, and they didn't ask me to decide at the end of the summer--they just said stay in touch during your clerkship and let us know when you decide whether you're going to accept. So cross your fingers for that.

I think if they'd asked, I probably would have said I wasn't sure how my judge would feel about accepting pre-clerkship and hoped that would hold them off for awhile. Maybe the calculus is different given the economy and if you have an offer you should take it. However, I would have felt a little weird interviewing other places during my clerkship out of fear the word would get back to the firm where I'd accepted.

I'm thinking that the firm will probably be happy to let you take your time since, given the economic situation, they probably won't lose much sleep if you decide not to come back. Their biggest concern is probably having too many summers accept offers rather than too few.

[Anonymous User]

Very late in the game, but it looks like some lit boutique hiring in NYC may be picking up a bit. Maybe some of the smaller firms have weathered the instability and have a better sense of their needs.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else still looking? Finished my clerkship a little over a month ago and am just starting to get some interviews.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else still looking? Finished my clerkship a little over a month ago and am just starting to get some interviews.

I finished toward the end of August and am still looking. I've talked to recruiters, I've applied to everything and its brother that MIGHT be a fit, I've reached out to alumni, and it's a whole lot of silence.

I'm working in a contract position right now, but that's going to be over toward the end of the year. I'm hoping I can convince them to extend the term a little.