I never thought about clerking because I had a 1L/2L SA gig, want to do/will be doing transactional work, and frankly, didn't think I'd be the best clerk (I've taken a hodgepodge of classes and didn't love civ. pro/evidence/things I assumed you'd have to love to be a good clerk). I've already accepted an offer at a secondary market biglaw firm ("dream job") and assumed I'd just start in Sept.
Yesterday, my CSO sent out an email with a term clerk vacancy in our local dist. ct. chambers for August of this year, which piqued my interest basically because location is perfect, judge is very nice/well-regarded, I wouldn't have to move, and SO could stay at awesome job she loves for one more year. Spoke with clerkship advisor and she said I was a great candidate, had access to great recommenders, and said she was surprised I hadn't considered applying for clerkships before. I meet all the preferred requirements of the judge (ranking, law review editorial board, moot court, and working on a publication).
Should I apply? I'm a K-JD, so this sounds like a really great way to learn (non-SA) work habits and start off on a good foot to be a good attorney (maybe this is totally idealized). I actually really enjoyed legal research and writing, but just wasn't as drawn to litigation. I worry about deferring my offer, especially as a transactional associate. People who have clerked and practice transactional law always say it was still a good experience and they loved it, but because so many transactional people haven't clerked, I generally hear them say that "it's a waste of time." Also, not sure if relevant, but my firm is a Southern firm, so the interactions between associates and partners are different from "regular" biglaw and most people who want to become partners are able to do so early on in their careers.
I realize that it's still a crapshoot to get this clerkship, but from the little I know about clerkships, I know I cannot turn it down if offered, so I am looking for advice as to whether I should even apply.
Future Transactional Atty. (3L), Should I Apply for Local Dist. Ct. Term Clerk Vacancy? Forum
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Re: Future Transactional Atty. (3L), Should I Apply for Local Dist. Ct. Term Clerk Vacancy?
If you can defer your offer at the firm, I'd apply. Clerking is a great job when you're working for a good judge/have good co-workers. Even the things that might not be interesting to do year after year aren't as bad when you know your time doing them is limited. (FDCPA cases, for example.)
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