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Hard to say, because every firm has their own individual point of view on these things. But fwiw, a hiring partner at a biglaw firm I just spoke with said that the difference between a fed. clerkship with a judge in his region and one with a judge he's never heard of is vast. Yes, any federal clerkship is a gold star on your resume but that doesn't mean some people doing the hiring will not be particularly impressed. I would say that if you want to work in LA gun for a clerkship in California before committing to Arizona.

I would say that if you want to work in LA gun for a clerkship in California before committing to Arizona.

Thanks for the response. I would definitely do this but it is a sort of "if you are interested, apply now and get immediate consideration" sort of thing. I feel compelled to either apply by this coming Monday or not at all.

Anyone else have input here? Tomorrow is basically decision time for me. Thanks!

Don't have a ton to offer but since no one else is, I'm clerking in the district with no current intent to stay. Know at least one person that went LA BIGLAW -> DAZ -> LA BIGLAW. Know people that did 9th cir in phx and went all over, obviously. I think we would all need to know a million other factors before being able to give informed advice. And even then it would be personal.

I don't have a lot to offer either - am sort of familiar with D. Az but don't know anything about the LA market. I will say that I think the idea that there is a "vast" difference between clerkships can vary a lot - I know people who clerked in more flyover-y-districts than Arizona who were going off to jobs all over the place, and have seen employers treat out-of-district clerkships/clerkships with judges they don't know with just as much respect as any other. I think a clerkship in your preferred market is definitely ideal, but I would rather have a clerkship in a different market than strike out on clerking. But that will also depend a great deal on what else you bring to the table, in terms of your credentials and current connections to LA and so on.