Post-Clerkship Job hunting (fall 2015 hiring cycle) Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:27 am

Whattup. I decided to stay on with my judge for another year because clerking owns, and the pay hike didn't hurt either.

Just wanted to re-emphasize to everyone that you want to keep networking. I'm fortunate enough to be in the market that I want to work in after I finish my term, but setting up phone conversations and whatnot is also tremendously helpful. I've probably had 10-15 phone info interviews and 40+ breakfast/lunch informational interviews during the past year.

Also, hiring was way way way more random than I thought it would be. After talking to other clerks, people were all over the place in terms of when they got their job, and many of the "best" firms didn't hire until later. Two guys I know got spots at V20 firms in April-June, so just keep your eyes open.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:40 am

How are current clerks handling writing samples? Is there some "magic language" that one can put on a sample (court opinion) to say I wrote this, but accounting for feedback received from Judge/co-clerk?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 2:57 pm

run26.2 wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:Would appreciate some intel as well. So far I have been told that I am too early.
Next year about spring time.

I put "With permisssion of Judge xyz, I am submitting this redacted opinion I drafted to serve as my writing sample."

Even though the version I wrote has been published as is without any edits, out of respect for the judge, I added "drafted".

exitoptions · Post by **exitoptions** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:33 pm

Question for you all. On your cover letters do you say precisely what type of litigation you're interested in? Or do you think that reduces your chances of an interview?

bezatru · Post by **bezatru** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:17 pm

I try to be as general as possible unless the position is for a certain type of litigation.

exitoptions · Post by **exitoptions** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:46 pm

bezatru wrote:I try to be as general as possible unless the position is for a certain type of litigation.

Thanks. So for boutiques it probably makes sense to state a particular interest, but for biglaw just say litigation? Any other opinions?

Also, why are cover letters still a thing? Obviously I want to work for you, that's why I'm sending my resume...

BVest · Post by **BVest** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:03 pm

exitoptions wrote:
bezatru wrote:I try to be as general as possible unless the position is for a certain type of litigation.
Thanks. So for boutiques it probably makes sense to state a particular interest, but for biglaw just say litigation? Any other opinions?

Also, why are cover letters still a thing? Obviously I want to work for you, that's why I'm sending my resume...

If you're dying for a modifier, "complex litigation" seems to me to have become largely a buzzword for representing clients who can pay outside of insurance defense.

exitoptions · Post by **exitoptions** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 3:23 pm

BVest wrote:
exitoptions wrote:
bezatru wrote:I try to be as general as possible unless the position is for a certain type of litigation.
Thanks. So for boutiques it probably makes sense to state a particular interest, but for biglaw just say litigation? Any other opinions?

Also, why are cover letters still a thing? Obviously I want to work for you, that's why I'm sending my resume...
If you're dying for a modifier, "complex litigation" seems to me to have become largely a buzzword for representing clients who can pay outside of insurance defense.

Yeah, I guess I'm trying to figure out a way to make sure a firm isn't going to want to stick me in labor litigation or something, without limiting my options too much.

BVest · Post by **BVest** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:11 pm

exitoptions wrote:
BVest wrote:
exitoptions wrote:
bezatru wrote:I try to be as general as possible unless the position is for a certain type of litigation.
Thanks. So for boutiques it probably makes sense to state a particular interest, but for biglaw just say litigation? Any other opinions?

Also, why are cover letters still a thing? Obviously I want to work for you, that's why I'm sending my resume...
If you're dying for a modifier, "complex litigation" seems to me to have become largely a buzzword for representing clients who can pay outside of insurance defense.
Yeah, I guess I'm trying to figure out a way to make sure a firm isn't going to want to stick me in labor litigation or something, without limiting my options too much.

That sounds like something that can be worked out in the interview stage.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:58 pm

ssc current clerk checking in

Going to accept an offer with a v30 major market (same state as clerkship) for 2015 (offer came today and I really liked them). Although this is probably very early in the post clerkship hunt, some firms are looking--but most aren't yet from my understanding.

Good luck to all the clerks out there!! keep hustlin

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:53 pm

Anonymous User wrote:ssc current clerk checking in

Going to accept an offer with a v30 major market (same state as clerkship) for 2015 (offer came today and I really liked them). Although this is probably very early in the post clerkship hunt, some firms are looking--but most aren't yet from my understanding.

Good luck to all the clerks out there!! keep hustlin

I thought firms were not looking at law clerk applicants for fall 2015 until january/feb of 2015? is your situation an exception to the rule or do I have it wrong?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:39 pm

I'm almost certainly an exception to the rule. I was very early (read: lucky) in finding a firm that was willing to look at clerks this far out.

and fwiw none of the other clerks on my court have even applied/contacted firms

CalBar2014 · Post by **CalBar2014** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:20 am

Aside from Munger, Tolles and Keker Van Nest, does anyone know good, smaller firms to practice both high-level trial and appellate litigation in San Francisco? I am looking for a firm under 250 total attorneys firm-wide (whether that be in one office or several).

bruinfan10 · Post by **bruinfan10** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:59 pm

CalBar2014 wrote:Aside from Munger, Tolles and Keker Van Nest, does anyone know good, smaller firms to practice both high-level trial and appellate litigation in San Francisco? I am looking for a firm under 250 total attorneys firm-wide (whether that be in one office or several).

Altshuler Berzon, maybe durie tangri to a lesser extent. There's like a handful of these firms in the whole country (Susman, Bartlit Beck, Kellogg Huber, etc), so I wouldn't expect a list of like five peer firms for KVN in the Bay Area.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:59 pm

CalBar2014 wrote:Aside from Munger, Tolles and Keker Van Nest, does anyone know good, smaller firms to practice both high-level trial and appellate litigation in San Francisco? I am looking for a firm under 250 total attorneys firm-wide (whether that be in one office or several).

Since Howard Rice doesn't exist anymore and is now part of A&P, KVN and MTO are really the only two that spring to mind. There's some appellate work at Farella, but it's not even close to the same tier as the prior two.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:48 pm

Anonymous User wrote:How are current clerks handling writing samples? Is there some "magic language" that one can put on a sample (court opinion) to say I wrote this, but accounting for feedback received from Judge/co-clerk?

It depends on the judge. Just ask the judge what he/she prefers.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:51 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
CalBar2014 wrote:Aside from Munger, Tolles and Keker Van Nest, does anyone know good, smaller firms to practice both high-level trial and appellate litigation in San Francisco? I am looking for a firm under 250 total attorneys firm-wide (whether that be in one office or several).
Since Howard Rice doesn't exist anymore and is now part of A&P, KVN and MTO are really the only two that spring to mind. There's some appellate work at Farella, but it's not even close to the same tier as the prior two.

If you're willing to do plaintiff side work, you might want to look at Lieff Cabraser, Lewis Feinberg, Robbins Geller, and Outten & Golden. These firms all do "high-level trail and appellate litigation" in the Bay Area.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:37 pm

I had applied to Williams and Connolly back in August and just heard back from them. They're starting their associate hiring now, so if any clerks are interested the time to contact WC is now. I would have gone hawg pursuing that but I locked myself into something a week ago.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:57 am

Anonymous User wrote:I had applied to Williams and Connolly back in August and just heard back from them. They're starting their associate hiring now, so if any clerks are interested the time to contact WC is now. I would have gone hawg pursuing that but I locked myself into something a week ago.

Thanks for the info. Mind sharing your stats? I'm currently in a district court clerkship and W&C is my top choice. I previously interviewed there a couple years ago so I'm hoping that I'm competitive. Just looking for a guidepost.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:54 am

Just a friendly neighborhood BUMP from a ssc clerk.

Have a few apps in to gov't positions (AGOs, DA's offices, etc.) and have gotten a few dings.

Just this week did a blitz of cover letter/resume e-mailing to recruiting contacts at private firms in my local market. Other clerks think I'm a bit early, but better early than never. I suppose I will resend stuff in the spring if I hear crickets.

I'd like to have an offer before summer, please. The person who had my position last year already had a V25 offer, so my judge isn't sure what to think of me.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:18 pm

Fed. Dist. Ct. Clerk checking in. Accepted an offer with the DOJ Honors Program just before Thanksgiving (and the same week I found out that I passed the Cali bar, which made it one damn good week).

Now I'm scouting leads for my co-clerks who are looking at firm work in Texas and California. Good luck all!

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:06 pm

For the top tier clerks out there, I've heard Bancroft is looking to hire a couple of people.

nickelanddime · Post by **nickelanddime** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 10:09 pm

Bump. Have people started sending out resumes yet? Are you sending them directly to the HR/Recruiting staff listed on law firm websites, or are you using headhunters?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 10:24 pm

nickelanddime wrote:Bump. Have people started sending out resumes yet? Are you sending them directly to the HR/Recruiting staff listed on law firm websites, or are you using headhunters?

I have sent out about two dozen. Recently was contacted by a partner who said get back in touch closer to the end of my clerkship.

nickelanddime · Post by **nickelanddime** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 10:25 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
nickelanddime wrote:Bump. Have people started sending out resumes yet? Are you sending them directly to the HR/Recruiting staff listed on law firm websites, or are you using headhunters?
I have sent out about two dozen. Recently was contacted by a partner who said get back in touch closer to the end of my clerkship.

Was this biglaw?

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