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I don't want my clerkship to end. Initially, the docket was heavy and I felt overwhelmed, often feeling as if I had no idea what I was doing. As I've gained experience, I've found that I thoroughly enjoy what I do and can't imagine anything else. Simply, I like the research portion of clerking more than anything. I take pride on completely and exhaustively researching an area of law, becoming as much of an expert in it as much as a rookie lawyer can be. Often, I find the attorney's briefings to be deficient, not in terms of writing (I'm not a naturally gifted writer so I can't judge), but in terms of intensely researching and analyzing the issue. But it hit me: the attorneys likely just don't have time to spend hours researching this stuff like I do. Its a sad realization. Its also a bit concerning to me that I have no intention of actually engaging in the day to day aspects of litigation. I'd much rather spend my days in solidarity, researching and writing. Anyone else felt like this and not wanted to start actual practice?

A lot of people like clerking, and a lot of people hate regular practice of law. These people are often called career clerks. Seems like a good job, if you've got a judge you like who doesn't overload you, JSP-12 salary is pretty damn good compared to most lawyers (just not most lawyers who go on to biglaw).

Career clerks are awesome.

the other name for career clerk is legal academic.

anon sequitur wrote:A lot of people like clerking, and a lot of people hate regular practice of law. These people are often called career clerks. Seems like a good job, if you've got a judge you like who doesn't overload you, JSP-12 salary is pretty damn good compared to most lawyers (just not most lawyers who go on to biglaw).

Don't career clerks top out at GS-14?

Emma. wrote:

anon sequitur wrote:A lot of people like clerking, and a lot of people hate regular practice of law. These people are often called career clerks. Seems like a good job, if you've got a judge you like who doesn't overload you, JSP-12 salary is pretty damn good compared to most lawyers (just not most lawyers who go on to biglaw).

Don't career clerks top out at GS-14?

No, I think they can go higher.

Emma. wrote:

anon sequitur wrote:A lot of people like clerking, and a lot of people hate regular practice of law. These people are often called career clerks. Seems like a good job, if you've got a judge you like who doesn't overload you, JSP-12 salary is pretty damn good compared to most lawyers (just not most lawyers who go on to biglaw).

Don't career clerks top out at GS-14?

Yeah, just a typo, js-14. I don't think they can ever get js-15 without some supervisory role. Still, seems like a great salary to most people, especially outside of NY/DC/LA/SF.

How many judges have career clerks and how does one go about getting this gig?

IME, you really just have to ask around - I don't think it's going to be listed anywhere. Getting one is usually about working in a courthouse when an opening arises, which is pretty random. My experience has been that career clerks sort of shuffle around from judge to judge - probably one of the best ways to get a career clerk gig is to have been a career clerk (not helpful, I know, sorry). Do a good job clerking and get your judge's recommendation, too (I don't think anyone's going to hire someone as a career clerk who's never clerked before.)

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Completely agree with all the above (except the money, but I live in a cheap city and career clerks make more than I do). I also felt by the end of my clerking that I really wanted more variety and interaction with different people than career clerking provides. But in a lot of cases it is a pretty awesome quality of life, and can be a lot of fun if you like your judge and fellow chambers-mates. And I definitely know people who miss their clerkships.

jbagelboy wrote:the other name for career clerk is legal academic.

Clerking and academia are super different.

OP here. The only response that swayed me was a desire to progress. I have that in spades. Still, I feel as if this position can't be beat,

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. The only response that swayed me was a desire to progress. I have that in spades. Still, I feel as if this position can't be beat,

Eh. It's sort of like deciding you want to be a TA forever. I couldn't do it.

For what it's worth, the couple of career clerks I knew were happy and good to work with at the court.

OP, at this point in my first clerkship, I felt the way you do right now. Then I did a second clerkship (with a great judge who I liked a lot), and finally got bored with clerking about halfway through. Now I'm in practice, and I couldn't be happier.

So I'd try practice for at least a little bit before you go all-in on becoming a career clerk. Career clerking is great for some people (I have a good friend who loves it), but it closes a lot of doors. And you might eventually find that you like practice more, and clerking less, than it seems right now.

I know someone who clerked for a federal judge, went to big law and did not like the adversarial nature of the work--stayed for 3 years and contacted the judge she clerked for. She is now a career clerk for him/her. There are some big perks (decent salary, low stress, reasonable hours, pretty high level work, and great job security). I would personally rather write briefs than opinions, but many people feel the opposite.