Formalizing acceptance of clerkship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I accepted a state Supreme Court clerkship last Friday over the phone. I also sent in a letter over the weekend formally accepting. I was wondering if, in anyone else's experience, there is something else I should be doing, such as signing paperwork formally accepting or something like that. Thanks!

[exitoptions]

It depends on the judge. Based purely on the anecdotes of me and some other clerks I know, it's generally just an e-mail or letter confirming your acceptance of the judge's offer. Most people have some anxiety about whether they "really have the job." It's normal, but not much you can do about it. As a current clerk, I can tell you that it's annoying when hires keep trying to call or check-in with chambers. Just wait until it's time to arrange the turnover.

[Anonymous User]

Most people have some anxiety about whether they "really have the job."

OP here. Thanks. I'd say that's what I have. I'm 99.9% certain I have the job, so just a bit anxious because I don't want to stop my job search if for some bizarre reason I misinterpreted his offer.

[A. Nony Mouse]

If you accepted over the phone and sent in a letter, they know you have the job - they're not going to forget or accidentally hire someone else or anything like that. In my experience, the formal HR paperwork will show up around the week before you start or so - you won't get anything before that.

If you're moving to a new city (or even if you're not) and you need proof of income to rent an apartment, when you get close to the time you'd be looking, you can ask for an offer letter with income on it. But I wouldn't do that until you actually need it.

[Anonymous User]

I'm sure it depends on the judge. In my experience (2 clerkships), I received a letter from the judge confirming my acceptance of the offer.

[Anonymous User]

I accepted a clerkship offer over the phone and never received any kind of follow-up correspondence whatsoever. Should I be concerned? I accepted the offer about three months ago but don't start the clerkship for another year.

[Anonymous User]

I didn't recieve a letter. Judge called, I accepted. Then immediately I got an email from the judge reaffirming that and that I can contanct person x at HR regarding salary info or any other question. About 2 months before I started I got an email from HR with documents to fill out (I had the option of filling it out on the first day as well). I am sure everyjudge will handle it differently but if a judge calls you and offers you the job and you accept, you should be fine however it goes. And you likely will go many months without any correspondance before hearing anything once you accept.

p.s. couple of months before I moved for the clerkship, I did ask the HR person to send me (which she did) a letter stating my salary and offer position so I can use it for apartment hunt near the place of clerkship.

[ZyzzBrah]

I have an SSC clerkship for next year

Accepted on the phone and got a letter confirming it, nothing more--don't worry.

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted my second clerkship last week. For my first one, I got it in the fall of 3L year (for the following year), and I think I just got an email from the judge and the judge's law clerk the next day. It wasn't until the summer when I began the moving process that I asked for a formal letter from HR.

For my upcoming clerkship, it's in a different city and requires me moving quickly, so I emailed HR right away asking for a confirmation letter. Part of the reason was the legitimate need for proof of employment/salary for finding housing. Part was to get it in writing because I still can't believe I got the job.

[Anonymous User]

Do you have an email address of someone in chambers? If you want, after a few weeks or so, you can email with an "update" of your life.

Like, "Hey clerk, just wanted to stop in and say hello to you and the rest of chambers. I remember Judge Judy told me about his time as a public defender, and that really led me to register for a legal aid clinic. I'm really looking forward to my clerkship with Judge Judy starting next fall or whenever!"

Of course, make it seem natural and less awkward. Congrats.

[Anonymous User]

Do you have an email address of someone in chambers? If you want, after a few weeks or so, you can email with an "update" of your life.

Like, "Hey clerk, just wanted to stop in and say hello to you and the rest of chambers. I remember Judge Judy told me about his time as a public defender, and that really led me to register for a legal aid clinic. I'm really looking forward to my clerkship with Judge Judy starting next fall or whenever!"

Of course, make it seem natural and less awkward. Congrats.

Please don't do this, at least not now. In my opinion, the "casual hello and let's get lunch/coffee" e-mail works best towards the end of the current clerkship term. That way, you can use the time to talk about transitioning into the clerkship, chambers quirks, etc.

My first judge sent me a letter confirming my clerkship, my second judge did not. OP: as everyone else has already mentioned, you should hear something the closer you get to your start date, but I wouldn't fret if you hear nothing between now and a month before your clerkship starts.

[Opinions_R_Us]

Do you have an email address of someone in chambers? If you want, after a few weeks or so, you can email with an "update" of your life.

Like, "Hey clerk, just wanted to stop in and say hello to you and the rest of chambers. I remember Judge Judy told me about his time as a public defender, and that really led me to register for a legal aid clinic. I'm really looking forward to my clerkship with Judge Judy starting next fall or whenever!"

Of course, make it seem natural and less awkward. Congrats.

Please don't do this, at least not now. In my opinion, the "casual hello and let's get lunch/coffee" e-mail works best towards the end of the current clerkship term. That way, you can use the time to talk about transitioning into the clerkship, chambers quirks, etc.

My first judge sent me a letter confirming my clerkship, my second judge did not. OP: as everyone else has already mentioned, you should hear something the closer you get to your start date, but I wouldn't fret if you hear nothing between now and a month before your clerkship starts.

I agree with the above. Don't do this! Your judge and his/her clerks won't care about the "update on your life" and may be wondering if they made a mistake if you are deluging them with "look what an awesome person you hired" updates.

Every judge does things their own way but in my case, I call to make an offer to my clerks and follow it up with a letter confirming the arrangement and asking for a written response accepting the offer. Because this is so far in advance of the beginning of the clerkship term, we don't send the information to HR who sends out all the employment paperwork until months later. Some of the smarter incoming clerks will quietly contact my current clerks about the timeline of the hiring process if they are concerned about the security of the offer.

[BVest]

www.top-law-schools.com.org