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Edit: Thanks for the advice!

Option A. You'd be surprised at how random getting clerkship offer(s) actually goes.

Cart before horse, imo.

what gives you the impression that you are the only candidate for a federal clerkship?

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Anonymous User wrote:

El Pollito wrote:what gives you the impression that you are the only candidate for a federal clerkship?

Posting is not listed anywhere / things said by judge in setting up this interview. Could be wrong, but I don't think it's that unusual for some judges to extend only one interview invite at a time rather than interviewing a bunch of people and then deciding between them. Not saying I might be the only candidate; just the only one being interviewed at this time.

Anonymous User wrote:Option A. You'd be surprised at how random getting clerkship offer(s) actually goes.

Cart before horse, imo.

Thanks for the advice.

So do you think the clerkship is worth doing even if it's a 2 year district clerkship not in a place I'd want to work long term? I realize this is probably more of a personal decision, but I'd be interested in hearing people's thoughts on the value of it vs. sticking it out in the litigation dept. of the firm in my home market and trying to either get a better clerkship later or exit into something without clerking.

It is going to be a completely personal thing. But 2 years in somewhere you don't really want to be longterm doesn't sounds great, although I am sure it would still be a good experience. If you have gotten 3 clerkship interviews already, you are qualified. A couple of years in a firm will only improve your resume for most judges.

I really think your best options are: (1) cancel the interview; (2) be totally forthcoming with the judge about the fact that you have interviews for an earlier term and would prefer that term. I would lean toward the latter.

I'm not suggesting you tell the judge that you're having doubts about the other aspects of clerking for him/her (location or the fact that it's a two-year position), but I think it'd be reasonable to explain that you are excited to clerk and that for personal and professional reasons you'd prefer to do it in the earlier term. Then just ask, in light of that fact, whether he or she would prefer that you withdraw yourself from consideration from his position or if he'd be okay with your interviewing anyway. Judges are human beings, too; as long as you give an honest, reasonable explanation and leave the decision up to him, he's very unlikely to hold it against you. If he's truly interviewing one person at a time, he might not be in a rush to fill the position. There's a non-zero chance that he'll interview you, offer you a position, and allow you to call the other judges to ask where you stand before you respond to his offer. There's also a chance he'll say he's not interested in you anymore, but that just leaves you in the same position you would have been if you'd canceled the interview.

Good luck.

newbienew wrote:I really think your best options are: (1) cancel the interview; (2) be totally forthcoming with the judge about the fact that you have interviews for an earlier term and would prefer that term. I would lean toward the latter.

I'm not suggesting you tell the judge that you're having doubts about the other aspects of clerking for him/her (location or the fact that it's a two-year position), but I think it'd be reasonable to explain that you are excited to clerk and that for personal and professional reasons you'd prefer to do it in the earlier term. Then just ask, in light of that fact, whether he or she would prefer that you withdraw yourself from consideration from his position or if he'd be okay with your interviewing anyway. Judges are human beings, too; as long as you give an honest, reasonable explanation and leave the decision up to him, he's very unlikely to hold it against you. If he's truly interviewing one person at a time, he might not be in a rush to fill the position. There's a non-zero chance that he'll interview you, offer you a position, and allow you to call the other judges to ask where you stand before you respond to his offer. There's also a chance he'll say he's not interested in you anymore, but that just leaves you in the same position you would have been if you'd canceled the interview.

Good luck.

Great advice, thanks!