Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any word from LA firms?

Bonus points for intel on the following firms: Loeb & Loeb, Kendall Brill, Manatt, Fox Rothschild, Sheppard Mullin, Davis Wright Tremaine, Mitchell Silberberg.

[Anonymous User]

Hueston Hennigan is interviewing clerks

[Anonymous User]

Hueston Hennigan is interviewing clerks

Yes

[Anonymous User]

Any movement in the smaller so cal markets (OC and San Diego)?

[Anonymous User]

For those who did two clerkships and now on the job hunt/accepted a job, how are firms treating your class year?

I will begin two clerkships after one year at a firm (covid delays aside). So I think I would be an incoming fourth year when I apply? I'm worried that will be a turn off for firms and that I might have to come in as a third year.

Am sort of in this position, and have had friends in this position, but only a few data points so grain of salt etc.

I am absolutely going to have to take a hit on class year, and to be honest I don't think it's a bad thing. With an up-or-out model, you want a little longer to form relationships before you're getting looked at for partner, and clerking experience is just not the same as firm experience - particularly the more senior you are. Factor in that your previous firm experience may have been in an area / of a type that doesn't translate to your new firm, and it can really be a benefit to take a hit on class year. I also know of firms, even ones that really value clerkships, that just won't count both years of clerking towards your class year - even if it was district/COA.

On the other hand, pre-COVID in a strong economy, I know people who have not had to take a hit; but I think they were really limiting their options by making that a dealbreaker.

[Anonymous User]

For those who did two clerkships and now on the job hunt/accepted a job, how are firms treating your class year?

I will begin two clerkships after one year at a firm (covid delays aside). So I think I would be an incoming fourth year when I apply? I'm worried that will be a turn off for firms and that I might have to come in as a third year.

Am sort of in this position, and have had friends in this position, but only a few data points so grain of salt etc.

I am absolutely going to have to take a hit on class year, and to be honest I don't think it's a bad thing. With an up-or-out model, you want a little longer to form relationships before you're getting looked at for partner, and clerking experience is just not the same as firm experience - particularly the more senior you are. Factor in that your previous firm experience may have been in an area / of a type that doesn't translate to your new firm, and it can really be a benefit to take a hit on class year. I also know of firms, even ones that really value clerkships, that just won't count both years of clerking towards your class year - even if it was district/COA.

On the other hand, pre-COVID in a strong economy, I know people who have not had to take a hit; but I think they were really limiting their options by making that a dealbreaker.

Sort of same for me. I did two, two-year clerkships (district/appellate) and got one year of credit for each. I wouldn't have wanted anything more than that.

[Goldie]

I did two clerkships and a one-year litigation fellowship and went through the hiring process a year ago. I had varying offers: two years of credit for partnership and compensation purposes, a split of two years for partnership and three years for compensation, and three years of credit for partnership and compensation. So in my experience this is variable by firm.

[Anonymous User]

Any word from:
- Stoel Rives
- Fish
- Cooley
- Knobbe

[Anonymous User]

anyone know if lit boutiques are doing zoom receptions for clerks?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hearing of movement outside CA and NY? Applying to DoJ and firms in DC, Chicago, and a few mid-major markets. Probably applied to 25+ firms (between cold emails and soft connections) and 15+ Gov't positions in the past 3 months. 2 screeners and rejections/radio silence everywhere else.

[Anonymous User]

Is there a protocol on if/how long you can sit on offers? I'm a DE/SDNY BK clerk interviewing with NY restructuring groups, but my interviews will likely be spread out over weeks. If I get an early offers, can I expect a hard deadline, should I ask about it, etc?

I'd like to do all my interviews and have all of my answers in hand when I make a decision, but I'm not going to gamble on an offer being pulled, if that's a possibility.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hearing of movement outside CA and NY? Applying to DoJ and firms in DC, Chicago, and a few mid-major markets. Probably applied to 25+ firms (between cold emails and soft connections) and 15+ Gov't positions in the past 3 months. 2 screeners and rejections/radio silence everywhere else.

Have you been targeting Govt. Honors Programs or applying on USAjobs? Ive been focusing on Honors Programs but am wondering if its acceptable to apply for positions on USAjobs for this fall?

[Anonymous User]

First time clerk here trying to gauge what’s normal/standard practice. I have offers expiring next month but don’t finish clerking until the fall. Seems a bit early to make a candidate commit. Or is that just how it is?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hearing of movement outside CA and NY? Applying to DoJ and firms in DC, Chicago, and a few mid-major markets. Probably applied to 25+ firms (between cold emails and soft connections) and 15+ Gov't positions in the past 3 months. 2 screeners and rejections/radio silence everywhere else.

Have you been targeting Govt. Honors Programs or applying on USAjobs? Ive been focusing on Honors Programs but am wondering if its acceptable to apply for positions on USAjobs for this fall?

Jobs that require at least 1 year experience (assuming you clerked right after graduation) usually require that experience at the time of application, so you may not end up being qualified for very many of the available positions, but it's still acceptable to apply. Worst thing that happens is you don't get it - no one is going to remember or hold it against you.

[Anonymous User]

First time clerk here trying to gauge what’s normal/standard practice. I have offers expiring next month but don’t finish clerking until the fall. Seems a bit early to make a candidate commit. Or is that just how it is?

It's kinda just how it is. This is the dilemma of applying so early. You get the security of locking down a job (which is nothing to sneeze at), but you have to commit to passing on other opportunities. (Or you can always accept, keep applying, and renege if necessary, but I feel like that's a little more complicated out of the OCI context. But still, it's your life/career.)

[lavarman84]

Anyone hearing of movement outside CA and NY? Applying to DoJ and firms in DC, Chicago, and a few mid-major markets. Probably applied to 25+ firms (between cold emails and soft connections) and 15+ Gov't positions in the past 3 months. 2 screeners and rejections/radio silence everywhere else.

Have you been targeting Govt. Honors Programs or applying on USAjobs? Ive been focusing on Honors Programs but am wondering if its acceptable to apply for positions on USAjobs for this fall?

Jobs that require at least 1 year experience (assuming you clerked right after graduation) usually require that experience at the time of application, so you may not end up being qualified for very many of the available positions, but it's still acceptable to apply. Worst thing that happens is you don't get it - no one is going to remember or hold it against you.

If you don't have the requisite experience and are applying via USA Jobs, you're wasting your time. They won't refer your materials unless you meet the minimum qualifications.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hearing of movement outside CA and NY? Applying to DoJ and firms in DC, Chicago, and a few mid-major markets. Probably applied to 25+ firms (between cold emails and soft connections) and 15+ Gov't positions in the past 3 months. 2 screeners and rejections/radio silence everywhere else.

Have you been targeting Govt. Honors Programs or applying on USAjobs? Ive been focusing on Honors Programs but am wondering if its acceptable to apply for positions on USAjobs for this fall?

Jobs that require at least 1 year experience (assuming you clerked right after graduation) usually require that experience at the time of application, so you may not end up being qualified for very many of the available positions, but it's still acceptable to apply. Worst thing that happens is you don't get it - no one is going to remember or hold it against you.

If you don't have the requisite experience and are applying via USA Jobs, you're wasting your time. They won't refer your materials unless you meet the minimum qualifications.

Right, I should have been clearer. If you’re not qualified there’s no point in applying. If you are qualified enough to bother applying, there’s no reason not to. However, if you do end up applying to something you don’t meet the minimum requirements for, it will be a waste of time, but no one is going to hold it against you/remember that you did so. (I kind of left out a few steps.) I was mostly responding to the word “acceptable” - it’s not unacceptable to apply, but if you don’t meet the requirements it won’t do you any good.

[clerk2020]

Anyone heard from the following firms:
Susman NY/LA
Selendy & Gay
Wilkinson Stekloff
MoloLamken DC or NY
Kaplan Hecker
Holwell Shuster
Zuckerman DC

[Anonymous User]

Anyone talk to Orrick?

[Anonymous User]

Are you all using recruiters or applying directly through firm websites? Any thoughts on what's preferred? I've definitely seen at least one firm say on their website they won't be looking at apps sent through recruiters, but that may be isolated.

[Anonymous User]

Are you all using recruiters or applying directly through firm websites? Any thoughts on what's preferred? I've definitely seen at least one firm say on their website they won't be looking at apps sent through recruiters, but that may be isolated.

You may be forfeiting a clerkship bonus by going through a recruiter. Firms don't generally want to pay both the recruiter for their services and the applicant for a clerkship bonus. YMMV -- that's just what I've heard.

More to the point though, I successfully wrapped up my application cycle in November without a recruiter and cancelled some other first-round and CB interviews. I really don't think you need to use one -- even setting aside the above.

[Anonymous User]

Are you all using recruiters or applying directly through firm websites? Any thoughts on what's preferred? I've definitely seen at least one firm say on their website they won't be looking at apps sent through recruiters, but that may be isolated.

You may be forfeiting a clerkship bonus by going through a recruiter. Firms don't generally want to pay both the recruiter for their services and the applicant for a clerkship bonus. YMMV -- that's just what I've heard.

More to the point though, I successfully wrapped up my application cycle in November without a recruiter and cancelled some other first-round and CB interviews. I really don't think you need to use one -- even setting aside the above.

I've personally never heard of a firm declining to extend a bonus due to a recruiter, but I'm sure it's possible. As a datapoint, I used a recruiter and received several offers (V10) with the expected clerkship bonus.

[Anonymous User]

Are you all using recruiters or applying directly through firm websites? Any thoughts on what's preferred? I've definitely seen at least one firm say on their website they won't be looking at apps sent through recruiters, but that may be isolated.

You may be forfeiting a clerkship bonus by going through a recruiter. Firms don't generally want to pay both the recruiter for their services and the applicant for a clerkship bonus. YMMV -- that's just what I've heard.

More to the point though, I successfully wrapped up my application cycle in November without a recruiter and cancelled some other first-round and CB interviews. I really don't think you need to use one -- even setting aside the above.

did you end up in biglaw or boutique? also which market?

[Anonymous User]

Are you all using recruiters or applying directly through firm websites? Any thoughts on what's preferred? I've definitely seen at least one firm say on their website they won't be looking at apps sent through recruiters, but that may be isolated.

You may be forfeiting a clerkship bonus by going through a recruiter. Firms don't generally want to pay both the recruiter for their services and the applicant for a clerkship bonus. YMMV -- that's just what I've heard.

More to the point though, I successfully wrapped up my application cycle in November without a recruiter and cancelled some other first-round and CB interviews. I really don't think you need to use one -- even setting aside the above.

did you end up in biglaw or boutique? also which market?

Previous anon — I went with a biglaw shop in a secondary market (think Charlotte, Denver, etc.). The firm gave a substantially above-market clerkship bonus, but otherwise has pretty standard comp.

[Anonymous User]

Any post-clerkship movement with MTO (LA)?