When to apply to firms as a clerk/big law chances? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm starting a 1-year bankruptcy clerkship this August in a fly-over district. I went to a law school that's just outside the top 50, but I was top 2% of my class, on law review (student note was published). I don't want to give too much identifying information, but the city of my clerkship is about 3-4 hours from a large city in which I'd like to apply to large law firms. I have never lived in that city and I don't have many connections there. Does anyone have an idea of what my success there might be? Is it even worth applying? How will firms view a bankruptcy clerk in a fly-over district? I worked at one of the largest law firms in the fly-over state for my two summers of law school, but would really like to move to a bigger city. Although the law firms there are large, only one of them is V100. Does anyone have any thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

As a bankruptcy practitioner, it's really slow. Have you thought about applying to district court spots, maybe in that major city?

[Anonymous User]

As a bankruptcy practitioner, it's really slow. Have you thought about applying to district court spots, maybe in that major city?

I have applied but haven't been called for an interview, although many of the positions say they are interviewing in July. I'm not necessarily only interested in working in bankruptcy, though. I'm also interested in general corporate and commercial law and wouldn't just limit myself to bankruptcy opportunities, unless you don't think firms would consider me for any of their other practice groups.

[Anonymous User]

As a bankruptcy practitioner, it's really slow. Have you thought about applying to district court spots, maybe in that major city?

I have applied but haven't been called for an interview, although many of the positions say they are interviewing in July. I'm not necessarily only interested in working in bankruptcy, though. I'm also interested in general corporate and commercial law and wouldn't just limit myself to bankruptcy opportunities, unless you don't think firms would consider me for any of their other practice groups.

BK clerks definitely do get hired for other stuff, but non-bankruptcy attorneys have a hard time believing that it's substantially like other types of litigation.

At any rate, it is always worth applying.

[Holly Golightly]

My guess is that if your judge likes your work, he/she will be happy to hook you up with people he/she knows in that market.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for the responses. One final question--when do I start applying? As I said, the Clerkship goes from August 2014-August 2015. Should I start applying to firms this fall, or would I be best to wait until I've been on the job as a clerk for a few months?

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for the responses. One final question--when do I start applying? As I said, the Clerkship goes from August 2014-August 2015. Should I start applying to firms this fall, or would I be best to wait until I've been on the job as a clerk for a few months?

I'm a current bankruptcy clerk that got a job for the fall. Definitely start applying this fall.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for the responses. One final question--when do I start applying? As I said, the Clerkship goes from August 2014-August 2015. Should I start applying to firms this fall, or would I be best to wait until I've been on the job as a clerk for a few months?

I'm a current bankruptcy clerk that got a job for the fall. Definitely start applying this fall.

Thanks. Is it at all worth trying to apply at the end of the summer around the time that firms are doing their 2L recruiting so that they might consider leaving a spot open for me? Or do you recommend just waiting until fall after I've started?