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I'd like all your input on what you'd do in this situation. I accepted a state level clerkship in the Spring to begin in a few weeks. Prior to accepting a clerkship, I was told by my dream job (gov't job-won't get more specific than that) that there were no openings in the near future and he'ed recommend I take the clerkship and that I should stay in contact during my clerkship. Well today I get an email saying the gov't job would like to schedule a second round interview. So I reached out to a contact at the gov't position and was told that they had a few immediate openings as well as projected openings in the future. Here is my question to all of you: would you still go to the interview? If I were to get offered and told that I'd need to start immediately or risk losing the position what would you do, keeping in mind that the position would be my dream job (and by dream job I don't just mean field, I mean location, office, etc.)

Anonymous User wrote:I'd like all your input on what you'd do in this situation. I accepted a state level clerkship in the Spring to begin in a few weeks. Prior to accepting a clerkship, I was told by my dream job (gov't job-won't get more specific than that) that there were no openings in the near future and he'ed recommend I take the clerkship and that I should stay in contact during my clerkship. Well today I get an email saying the gov't job would like to schedule a second round interview. So I reached out to a contact at the gov't position and was told that they had a few immediate openings as well as projected openings in the future. Here is my question to all of you: would you still go to the interview? If I were to get offered and told that I'd need to start immediately or risk losing the position what would you do, keeping in mind that the position would be my dream job (and by dream job I don't just mean field, I mean location, office, etc.)

Question: would this dream job have you practicing in front of this judge?

If so, that's a very good reason not back out.

If not, I'd seriously consider reneging on the clerkship. I'm usually in the camp that you never say no to a judge, but if this really is the thing you want and it won't burn bridges in the long run, I'd at least consider it. Not an outright yes, but I would definitely look long and hard at it.

Citizen Genet wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'd like all your input on what you'd do in this situation. I accepted a state level clerkship in the Spring to begin in a few weeks. Prior to accepting a clerkship, I was told by my dream job (gov't job-won't get more specific than that) that there were no openings in the near future and he'ed recommend I take the clerkship and that I should stay in contact during my clerkship. Well today I get an email saying the gov't job would like to schedule a second round interview. So I reached out to a contact at the gov't position and was told that they had a few immediate openings as well as projected openings in the future. Here is my question to all of you: would you still go to the interview? If I were to get offered and told that I'd need to start immediately or risk losing the position what would you do, keeping in mind that the position would be my dream job (and by dream job I don't just mean field, I mean location, office, etc.)

Question: would this dream job have you practicing in front of this judge?

If so, that's a very good reason not back out.

If not, I'd seriously consider reneging on the clerkship. I'm usually in the camp that you never say no to a judge, but if this really is the thing you want and it won't burn bridges in the long run, I'd at least consider it. Not an outright yes, but I would definitely look long and hard at it.

OP Here. No the dream position would not have me in front of this particular judge, though the judge may be friendly with judges that I may be in front of (I don't know for sure, just speculating).

From what I hear, state level judges are not as assholish about reneging that federal judges. In your case, I would’ve reneged easily if it was few months out, the problem is that you are renegging few weeks out--which puts the judge in a very difficult position. SO it really boils down to your judge's temperament. For example, I had an offer from a magistrate judge and accepted but later on I got an offer from a district judge. I asked the mag. judge if I can take the district judge offer and she said "I would". So you just have to gauge if your judge is one of those understanding judges or those vindictive assholes that would make your life miserable if you reneg (especially if your dream job is in the same state as your state judge). Right now, you only have one job. The second job is just a possibility. I do not see why it will hurt to interview for the second job. I would be very cautious of not losing the only job you have. Talking to the judge's current/former clerk's indirectly about his temperament (without showing your cards) might be the best way to go. Having said all that, if it was me, if it is a state trial judge, I got the dream job for certain...I would probably reng lol At the end of the day, the judge won't have a problem replacing you, if he thought somone was a better fit than you, he wouldnt have offered you the job out of some sort of loyality or sentiment -- so just the same, you have to do what's best for you.

OP. I can give a bit more info, it's not a trial level judge but rather appellate.

There isn't going to be a right answer here. It's completely dependent upon your judge.

OutCold wrote:There isn't going to be a right answer here. It's completely dependent upon your judge.

This.