Value of Fed. Magistrate Clerkship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I see a lot of threads covering "Magistrate v. *some other clerkship variety*," but none examining the stand-alone merits of a fed. magistrate clerkship.

I'll preface things by saying I really want to clerk, and my ultimate goal is to move into big law doing transactional work. I have solid grades (10-15% at a T15-T30), LR, etc., but struck out at big law.

[Citizen Genet]

I see a lot of threads covering "Magistrate v. *some other clerkship variety*," but none examining the stand-alone merits of a fed. magistrate clerkship.

I'll preface things by saying I really want to clerk, and my ultimate goal is to move into big law doing transactional work. I have solid grades (10-15% at a T15-T30), LR, etc., but struck out at big law.

Sorry to give you a non-answer, but have you considered doing a Bankruptcy clerkship? While that's no meal ticket into BigLaw (an MJ isn't either) it will at least give you a better angle on a field closely related to some transactional work.

[Anonymous User]

I see a lot of threads covering "Magistrate v. *some other clerkship variety*," but none examining the stand-alone merits of a fed. magistrate clerkship.

I'll preface things by saying I really want to clerk, and my ultimate goal is to move into big law doing transactional work. I have solid grades (10-15% at a T15-T30), LR, etc., but struck out at big law.

Sorry to give you a non-answer, but have you considered doing a Bankruptcy clerkship? While that's no meal ticket into BigLaw (an MJ isn't either) it will at least give you a better angle on a field closely related to some transactional work.

didn't take bankruptcy. i'm assuming that's a deal breaker.

[Stupendous_Man]

The problem with an MJ clerkship for you is that it has so little overlap with the kind of law you want to do. I agree that a BK clerkship may make more sense, experience-wise. Most firms consider a federal clerkship prestigious on its own, apart from any skills you pick up from the experience, so that could benefit you somewhat. But from what I've seen, very very few transactional attorneys go for a clerkship.

To answer your overall question though, I personally think MJ clerkships are under-appreciated. Sure they're less competitive to get than an Article III clerkship, but you deal with the nitty gritty of all kinds of discovery issues and alternative dispute resolution, which I imagine is what Jr. Associates at are doing anyway. I think you'd get a lot out of the experience, if it's something you want to do. Big firms rarely (if ever) credit you for an MJ clerkship though, in time or money.

I've known a few bankruptcy clerks that didn't take bankruptcy in school. You just need to demonstrate a willingness and aptitude to learn, and get lucky in the hiring process. Good luck!

[schweitziro]

If you want to do transactional I see little value reaching that goal.

[Anonymous User]

It really depends on where the magistrate sits. Some districts just have magistrate judges doing social security cases and referred nonsense discovery motions. Other districts refer the entirety of a case to a magistrate judge for pretrial. You just need to do your research and make sure you end up in a place that fits your goals.