Value of two appellate clerkships? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I'm clerking for the 3d Circuit in 2017 and am wondering what the value of another appellate clerkship would be. Of course, I wouldn't take any appellate clerkship; I would want a circuit that has a different docket and a judge that's just as nice as my future boss. Right now, I'm thinking of the 9th, specifically 9th outside of California. Thoughts?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Depends on what your post-clerkship plans are and why you want to do another one. Generally I don't think it's going to serve any real purpose beyond putting off real work for another year. If the 2nd clerkship is with a feeder and you want to make your SCOTUS run, sure (I guess; that's out of my league). Or if you are/you're dead set on moving to the location of the second clerkship and you need a year to network/line up a job, maybe (though I think a district court clerkship would still be better for that). Or if you're trying to get a career clerk gig. Or (last one) you just love clerking so much and want another year of the same experience (though again, I'd recommend district court rather than a second appellate gig). But otherwise, it isn't really going to help you much and may make employers think you don't really want to practice.

[Tangerine Gleam]

I concur with A. Nony Mouse completely. When I was in law school, it seemed like doing two COA clerkships might be a good idea. I thought about it myself, but I'm really glad I didn't go that route. Having clerked, I now think that in most circumstances two COA clerkships just doesn't make much sense at all. If you want to do two years, do one appellate clerkship and one trial court clerkship.

[Emma.]

Agree with the others in this thread. I loved my CoA clerkship and would have been tempted to do another just because I had such a great year. But it wouldn't have made much sense career-wise, and I opted for a DCt instead. I'm with another great judge in my second clerkship, and picking up a different skill set than what my first clerkship provided. I think in most cases the only second CoA clerkship that makes sense is going to DC Cir when your goal is gov't work. Or maybe if you are competitive for and really want to take a shot at SCOTUS but for whatever reason didn't land a feeder the first go around.