should I apply to my SSC for after my d ct clerkship? Forum

[objctnyrhnr]

I was wondering if there are any advantages to doing this.

My state is not one of the huge ones, but definitely on the larger side, population-wise (has an intermediate appeals court), and the SSC definitely carries some prestige-related weight from what I have seen/heard. I am wondering if having a SSC clerkship in my home state under my belt will open any doors that I would not have been able to open with just the d. court clerkship, which also happens to be in my home district. Let's assume for the sake of argument that I can't get any circuit clerkships.

For what it's worth, I am very interested in public sector work (DA's, AG's) and have demonstrated success on the trial level and am excited/eager to get back to doing trials (one big count against doing another clerkship is it will be a whole other year before I get to practicing). I also have some success in appeals, but I think that I like trial work more...though I will certainly consider appellate work in the longer term. Longer term goals are possibly AUSA, or maybe just high level DA or AG position, but in my home state. Perhaps politics after that, but who knows.

For reasons I won't go into, and if it's relevant, my home state ties are likely to prevent me from applying to DOJ honors (I might rather go the state route and then try to get directly into my home USAO), but I have not yet decided about that.

Any advice would be appreciated as I gotta make this decision soon.

[objctnyrhnr]

bumpity....

[objctnyrhnr]

bump so somebody can see it and give me some advice

[Anonymous User]

I'm working in my home state's SSC before doing a d.ct. clerkship. If you want to go the DA / AG route then it would probably help you. The SSC judge is going to be well known in those circles and you will be dealing with the kinds of legal issues that those offices most frequently work on. I'm not sure in state SSC are seen as equal to d. ct. at large firms, but it might actually be better for those kinds of positions.

The question you have to answer is whether you want to clerk for another year since you might be able to snag the job without the second clerkship. There's probably not a huge difference in salary so I'd do it, but I like clerking.

[objctnyrhnr]

I'm working in my home state's SSC before doing a d.ct. clerkship. If you want to go the DA / AG route then it would probably help you. The SSC judge is going to be well known in those circles and you will be dealing with the kinds of legal issues that those offices most frequently work on. I'm not sure in state SSC are seen as equal to d. ct. at large firms, but it might actually be better for those kinds of positions.

The question you have to answer is whether you want to clerk for another year since you might be able to snag the job without the second clerkship. There's probably not a huge difference in salary so I'd do it, but I like clerking.

appreciate the input

[onionz]

For what it's worth, I ... have demonstrated success on the trial level and am excited/eager to get back to doing trials .... I also have some success in appeals.

(one big count against doing another clerkship is it will be a whole other year before I get to practicing)

Wait what? If you haven't started practicing, what successes can you have had, especially at *both* trial and appeals level? Clinical work?

Anyway, I think it's pretty obvious that state-level public interest (defenders, prosecutor's office) will appreciate someone who did a state-level clerkship. To what extent probably depends on the specifics of your situation and the office.

[objctnyrhnr]

For what it's worth, I ... have demonstrated success on the trial level and am excited/eager to get back to doing trials .... I also have some success in appeals.

(one big count against doing another clerkship is it will be a whole other year before I get to practicing)

Wait what? If you haven't started practicing, what successes can you have had, especially at *both* trial and appeals level? Clinical work?

Anyway, I think it's pretty obvious that state-level public interest (defenders, prosecutor's office) will appreciate someone who did a state-level clerkship. To what extent probably depends on the specifics of your situation and the office.

For interns that the specific agency believes can handle it, my state grants significant leeway for interns to do entire appellate briefs/arguments and entire trials on their own...under the "supervision" of an attorney.

[mw115]

FWIW,

this thread has some of the same concerns: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 4&t=232713

[Anonymous User]

I think it would absolutely be worth it. I'm clerking at a d. ct. and interned twice at a COA. The work is very, very different and requires a lot of different considerations, skills, etc.

I'm shooting for SSC and fed COAs after this, FWIW.

[objctnyrhnr]

I think it would absolutely be worth it. I'm clerking at a d. ct. and interned twice at a COA. The work is very, very different and requires a lot of different considerations, skills, etc.

I'm shooting for SSC and fed COAs after this, FWIW.

what do you want to do after?