2024-2025 post clerkship hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Adding a data point that Kellogg Hansen is currently scheduling callbacks.

[Anonymous User]

As a data point, just got a ding from Williams & Connolly DC.

Sorry to hear that. When'd you apply?

Towards the beginning of the month.

[Anonymous User]

How screwed am I if I haven't started applying yet? Current double-clerk coming off a COA in the fall, with a year or two of biglaw before that.

Obviously, I am getting my apps ready now but maybe if I am already kind of screwed it'll be a good admonition for future clerks!

If you're screwed, I am also screwed (same details and timing, except I have a ding from a hail mary app to SG). Last year my coclerk was interviewing in Mar/Apr so I think we are fine. Coclerk went to an above-market botique in Cali. NYC and DC move a bit faster. Worst case, we go back to our old firms.

OP here. Happy to report that interviews are starting to trickle in, although not from shiny boutiques (might have missed the boat with the usual suspects there, although I'm sure other factors may be at play). Future clerks -- make your moves early!

How early is "early"? Like in the fall, Oct-Nov range?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any insight on Zuckerman? Pay, culture, how many rounds of interviews, etc?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard anything about Simpson Thacher? Are they hiring at this point?

[Anonymous User]

I was told December and January were really hot months for interviews, but does anyone feel like that timing is off, at least for the DC market? One ding from Gibson, otherwise radio silence. And seems like some firms are just posting DC apps now? Looking mostly at biglaw firms and not boutiques.

District court clerkship in major district, T14 magna/previous biglaw experience, fwiw.

[Anonymous User]

How screwed am I if I haven't started applying yet? Current double-clerk coming off a COA in the fall, with a year or two of biglaw before that.

Obviously, I am getting my apps ready now but maybe if I am already kind of screwed it'll be a good admonition for future clerks!

If you're screwed, I am also screwed (same details and timing, except I have a ding from a hail mary app to SG). Last year my coclerk was interviewing in Mar/Apr so I think we are fine. Coclerk went to an above-market botique in Cali. NYC and DC move a bit faster. Worst case, we go back to our old firms.

OP here. Happy to report that interviews are starting to trickle in, although not from shiny boutiques (might have missed the boat with the usual suspects there, although I'm sure other factors may be at play). Future clerks -- make your moves early!

How early is "early"? Like in the fall, Oct-Nov range?

Late November or early December is probably considered early. Many firms aren't even accepting or reviewing applications at that point. Some of the more elite ones are though.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Skadden's or Orrick's appellate groups?

[Anonymous User]

I am a district court clerk who accepted an honors attorney position that may be rescinded due to Trump's EO on hiring. How fucked am I if I start applying to big law jobs next week? I only did government internships in law school. I received some big law recruiting letters sent to chambers but I think those were months ago. I have no idea if this is considered really late to start the process

[Anonymous User]

I am a district court clerk who accepted an honors attorney position that may be rescinded due to Trump's EO on hiring. How fucked am I if I start applying to big law jobs next week? I only did government internships in law school. I received some big law recruiting letters sent to chambers but I think those were months ago. I have no idea if this is considered really late to start the process

You should be fine. Plenty of firms are still hiring. We've been receiving recruiting letters every week and some big firms (Kirkland, Gibson) haven't even held their NYC clerkship receptions yet.

[Anonymous User]

I am a district court clerk who accepted an honors attorney position that may be rescinded due to Trump's EO on hiring. How fucked am I if I start applying to big law jobs next week? I only did government internships in law school. I received some big law recruiting letters sent to chambers but I think those were months ago. I have no idea if this is considered really late to start the process

You should be fine. Plenty of firms are still hiring. We've been receiving recruiting letters every week and some big firms (Kirkland, Gibson) haven't even held their NYC clerkship receptions yet.

Yeah, Paul Hastings is having their DC reception next week.

[Anonymous User]

I am a district court clerk who accepted an honors attorney position that may be rescinded due to Trump's EO on hiring. How fucked am I if I start applying to big law jobs next week? I only did government internships in law school. I received some big law recruiting letters sent to chambers but I think those were months ago. I have no idea if this is considered really late to start the process

You should be fine. Plenty of firms are still hiring. We've been receiving recruiting letters every week and some big firms (Kirkland, Gibson) haven't even held their NYC clerkship receptions yet.

Yeah, Paul Hastings is having their DC reception next week.

Original poster here — thank you. I am not clerking on the east coast, so cannot go to the receptions, but wanted to be in DC. I do remember getting a Paul Hastings recruitment letter a few months ago, so it is good to know that doesn’t mean their hiring happened months ago too. I got a notice this afternoon that my job offer was rescinded.

[Anonymous User]

Hey all,

I'm a current clerk set to wrap up in March. I accepted an offer at a BigFed agency that just got revoked (thanks, Elon) and am now fairly adrift as to what I'll do next. I'm fortunate not to have any debt or significant geographical ties, but obviously I now have a very abbreviated timeline to figure something else out. BigLaw is not something I've ever wanted to pursue, and I don't think that's about to change, so I'm racking my brain for other paths still available to me.

I'm wondering if anyone else is in the same boat right now, and if so, what are you planning next?

[Anonymous User]

Are postings for judicial clerks for litigation jobs only? I was set to work for a financial regulatory agency and I would be particularly interested in regulatory positions, but I am not sure if it would be appropriate to apply to clerk postings.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from firms like Susman, wachtell, mololamken, patterson, or wilkinson in NY? I submitted apps in december and haven't heard back. Would be helpful to know if they're extending interviews/offers already. Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

Any offers/rejections in SF?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Skadden's or Orrick's appellate groups?

Orrick appellate hiring sucks. Went in for a callback, emailed back and forth with their recruiting people for a month or two after that (asking for more materials, etc.), and they ghosted me. Heard from a half-dozen appellate-y friends that they had similar experiences. (One eventually got an offer, but Orrick had gone radio silent for so long that they had already applied to, interviewed with, and accepted an offer from another group.) Seemed like a good group once you're there, but the hiring process left me with a horrible impression.

[Anonymous User]

Delete

[Anonymous User]

When should I start getting concerned about the crickets?

[Anonymous User]

When should I start getting concerned about the crickets?

April/May. Not kidding.

[Anonymous User]

Really? A few rejection emails so far but mostly nothing from standard DC biglaw. (Applying exclusively to appellate groups so maybe that changes things?)

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from firms like Susman, wachtell, mololamken, patterson, or wilkinson in NY? I submitted apps in december and haven't heard back. Would be helpful to know if they're extending interviews/offers already. Thank you!

Bumping this. Has anyone heard back (or heard of other hearing back) from these firms in NY?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from firms like Susman, wachtell, mololamken, patterson, or wilkinson in NY? I submitted apps in december and haven't heard back. Would be helpful to know if they're extending interviews/offers already. Thank you!

Bumping this. Has anyone heard back (or heard of other hearing back) from these firms in NY?

Susman NY made some offers in December.

Really? A few rejection emails so far but mostly nothing from standard DC biglaw. (Applying exclusively to appellate groups so maybe that changes things?)

Which firms have sent out rejection emails?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from firms like Susman, wachtell, mololamken, patterson, or wilkinson in NY? I submitted apps in december and haven't heard back. Would be helpful to know if they're extending interviews/offers already. Thank you!

Bumping this. Has anyone heard back (or heard of other hearing back) from these firms in NY?

I don't know about Wachtell. Otherwise, I have or a friend has heard back from all these firms.

[Anonymous User]

any offers gone out at Patterson?