Clerkship to Corporate Work? Forum

[Chuck59]

3L with a strong corporate interest, corporate heavy transcript, and 2L SA at a V100 firm in their corporate practice groups.

I've never really considered it until now, but I'm wondering if a clerkship would offer me a second crack at being a corporate associate in a decent firm. Any experiences from people who have done this? How difficult would that transition be? Should I be targeting certain courts/judges? Is it too late to start looking in to the 2015 cycle?

[thesealocust]

One random data point: A bunch of good firms no longer pay clerkship for clerk joining the firm in their corporate practice.

[Emma.]

DE Chancery would of course be huge, but an Art. III clerkship has almost no relevance to corporate work and likely won't be considered an asset. What's wrong with your current firm? Are you just trying to jump up in the vault rankings? What, in your opinion, would constitute a "decent" firm.

As thesealocust points out, many firms no longer pay clerkship bonuses for folks joining in a corporate group. Nor will many firms offer class-year credit. This is a pretty strong indication that firms aren't particularly interested in seeking out clerks for corporate practice groups.

[Chuck59]

What's wrong with your current firm? Are you just trying to jump up in the vault rankings? What, in your opinion, would constitute a "decent" firm?

My "current firm" had a personality fit problem with me so I am in the Vale at the moment. Hence my search for a second chance at the corporate firm life.

And I'm not terribly picky, but a decent market at mid-size or above would probably be ideal. Some ranking or prestige isn't a big deal, but I would like to do reasonably sophisticated work.

[Emma.]

What's wrong with your current firm? Are you just trying to jump up in the vault rankings? What, in your opinion, would constitute a "decent" firm?

My "current firm" had a personality fit problem with me so I am in the Vale at the moment. Hence my search for a second chance at the corporate firm life.

And I'm not terribly picky, but a decent market at mid-size or above would probably be ideal. Some ranking or prestige isn't a big deal, but I would like to do reasonably sophisticated work.

Oh shit. Sorry. I saw 2L SA and assumed that meant offer.

Good luck w your job hunt. What market?

[Chuck59]

What's wrong with your current firm? Are you just trying to jump up in the vault rankings? What, in your opinion, would constitute a "decent" firm?

My "current firm" had a personality fit problem with me so I am in the Vale at the moment. Hence my search for a second chance at the corporate firm life.

And I'm not terribly picky, but a decent market at mid-size or above would probably be ideal. Some ranking or prestige isn't a big deal, but I would like to do reasonably sophisticated work.

Oh shit. Sorry. I saw 2L SA and assumed that meant offer.

Good luck w your job hunt. What market?

I am looking all over the map right now. My summer was in a regional big law firm (SC/NC/GA/VA) but I have some ties in a few other markets.

In general, am I too late to the clerkship game for the 15/16 cycle?

[Emma.]

What's wrong with your current firm? Are you just trying to jump up in the vault rankings? What, in your opinion, would constitute a "decent" firm?

My "current firm" had a personality fit problem with me so I am in the Vale at the moment. Hence my search for a second chance at the corporate firm life.

And I'm not terribly picky, but a decent market at mid-size or above would probably be ideal. Some ranking or prestige isn't a big deal, but I would like to do reasonably sophisticated work.

Oh shit. Sorry. I saw 2L SA and assumed that meant offer.

Good luck w your job hunt. What market?

I am looking all over the map right now. My summer was in a regional big law firm (SC/NC/GA/VA) but I have some ties in a few other markets.

In general, am I too late to the clerkship game for the 15/16 cycle?

Unfortunately, you are very late for 2015. Many judges are now full for 2016. But clerkship hiring is idiosyncratic, and there are certainly still some 2015 positions out there.