declining 2d year of clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I wondered if anyone has any experience/advice about declining the second year of a 1 or 2-year clerkship. I'm at a district court and the judge gives us the option of staying a second year. I don't plan on extending; I think the judge said when I started that we would talk about timing the end of my clerkship sometime next month. I'm not very worried about my judge being offended or anything, but I want to decline in the best possible way and wondered if you all have any advice or experiences to share. TYIA

[arklaw13]

If it were me I'd blame it on money. I'm sure they would understand (assuming you have a biglaw gig lined up).

[Anonymous User]

I took my 2nd year and was offered to stay longer. I declined saying I wanted to move back closer to my family. Most judges are understanding. So if you have family reasons or wanting to make higher salary, I think they are fine with it. The biggest thing is letting them know ahead of time instead of at the last minute!

[rpupkin]

I wouldn't worry about the conversation. It would be one thing if you were asking to leave a two-year clerkship early. But your judge gives his or her clerks the option of leaving after one year--which is pretty cool of the judge, btw. There's nothing at all wrong with explaining that you're looking forward to working at a firm (with the higher salary) and/or that you want to be closer to friends and family.

[Anonymous User]

I wouldn't worry about the conversation. It would be one thing if you were asking to leave a two-year clerkship early. But your judge gives his or her clerks the option of leaving after one year--which is pretty cool of the judge, btw. There's nothing at all wrong with explaining that you're looking forward to working at a firm (with the higher salary) and/or that you want to be closer to friends and family.

This.

My judge more or less has the same policy. Hell, he probably wouldn't care if one of us left before a year was over so long as we got a replacement in time. (The career clerk is a different story, however.)

If you can legitimately say it's due to money, i.e., you've got a firm job lined up, that is totally understandable. As much as I love clerking, living paycheck-to-paycheck is rough and is making me question staying a 2nd year.