Bigfirm to Clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I know I could have hit the search button and probably found a few of the answers I was looking for, but I provide advice on TLS all the time so I figured that I would just go for it. I think I may be interested in clerking. I really wasn't in law school, but know its something thats becomeing more and more attractive. I'm a URM, at a top firm in that secondary market.

Grades are meh, I did really well 1L year then slacked all the way to median. No journal either. Do I have any shot of clerking after working for a few years? Or am I pretty much done for because of my grades.

[Anonymous User]

How many years out are you? How substantive has your litigation experience been? Where did you go to law school? What type of relationships did you maintain with prominent faculty and what new ones have you formed with connected partners? How geographically flexible are you and would you consider magistrates?

[Anonymous User]

OP-- Great questions. I just started with my firm. I went to a T14. Probably would not consider magistrates, but would be flexible to move. I really want to leave around year 3 if possible. So I know that I have to start thinking about these things now. I have two professors--one who clerked for the Supreme Court--who would recommend me.

I would say that I have some fairly strong connections with connected partners. About as strong as they can be at this stage in my career. I've already had substantive litigation experience. Would say that I'm working on things that third years work on at other firms.

[Anonymous User]

Okay thanks for the context. I think you have a shot at a local district after two years of practice as an alumni clerk, assuming you're not looking in the northeast (Boston, NY, Philly), California, or NDIL. Most judges in those districts will remain grade-sensitive, but there are other districts that may be willing to overlook if you have strong recs and an "in" via someone at your firm. Continue to gain substantive exposure in your practice and start talking to partners who have clerked about your clerkship ambitions, and they can help position you. Also stay in touch with the faculty. No journal/publication is a hit against you but I'm not sure it's fatal.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks a lot that is really good advice. I will definitely keep that in mind, when starting to think about clerkship applications.

[spiritniffler189]

I know I could have hit the search button and probably found a few of the answers I was looking for, but I provide advice on TLS all the time so I figured that I would just go for it. I think I may be interested in clerking. I really wasn't in law school, but know its something thats becomeing more and more attractive. I'm a URM, at a top firm in that secondary market.

Grades are meh, I did really well 1L year then slacked all the way to median. No journal either. Do I have any shot of clerking after working for a few years? Or am I pretty much done for because of my grades.

Hey - I think lack of journal will be the biggest hurdle, so you just need to have a good answer for what else you did in law school. Interviewing after a year or so of working will help. I really came in here to say if you're flexible about moving, apply to Just the Beginning Foundation's clerkship program: http://www.jtb.org/index.php?submenu=sh ... y=programs. And if you have a question about JTB feel free to PM me. Best of luck!