Exit options from 2 year district court clerkship in flyover district? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Am I shooing myself in the foot by taking a 2-year district court clerkship in the middle of nowhere? Would like to go either the firm route or BigFed when I leave.

[Jchance]

No, what is your credentials? If it is typical for fed. clerkship then you'd be fine. If this was a miracle clerkship, then you might have a tougher time looking for jobs (still possible/doable though). Did you have a 2L summer associate+offer? That matters too.

[emkay625]

I mean, if that's your offer, there's not much you can do about it.

But the answer is no, not necessarily are you screwed. More info is needed though. What class year are you? What did you do/will you do 2L summer? Did you receive an offer? Where are you from originally? School and class rank? And what is your judge's policy about searching for employment during your clerkship? (Some won't let you start looking until a certain time, and that can be detrimental).

[Anonymous User]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

[Anonymous User]

There will be other opportunities. I cancelled a 2 year DCt interview in semi middle of nowhere. Got interviews for one year in major districts including DDC and EDNY afterwards.

[emkay625]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

[Br3v]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. . . . I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

So you go to Mich

[emkay625]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. . . . I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

So you go to Mich

doesn't this mean she/he doesn't go to mich? I wouldn't call Ann arbor a big market....

[Anonymous User]

It's probably northwestern.

[Br3v]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. . . . I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

So you go to Mich

doesn't this mean she/he doesn't go to mich? I wouldn't call Ann arbor a big market....

For some reason I read this as "market" not "big market."

Yeah probably NW, maybe GULC?

[Anonymous User]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. . . . I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

So you go to Mich

doesn't this mean she/he doesn't go to mich? I wouldn't call Ann arbor a big market....

For some reason I read this as "market" not "big market."

Yeah probably NW, maybe GULC?

I was thinking bay area law school + clerkship in Sacramento or Reno.

[Br3v]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. . . . I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

So you go to Mich

doesn't this mean she/he doesn't go to mich? I wouldn't call Ann arbor a big market....

For some reason I read this as "market" not "big market."

Yeah probably NW, maybe GULC?

I was thinking bay area law school + clerkship in Sacramento or Reno.

Ok so "big market" means it's not:
Yale
UVA
Mich
Duke
Cornell

I think the 2 hour thing could easily apply to any of the other 9 though lol

[bl1nds1ght]

I'm aware of at least one non-trad TTT grad in my area who landed a V100 spot after his one year district court clerkship. Keep in mind the area is dominated by that TTT and there is only really one V100 satellite office in town, however.

[ndirish2010]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. . . . I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

So you go to Mich

doesn't this mean she/he doesn't go to mich? I wouldn't call Ann arbor a big market....

For some reason I read this as "market" not "big market."

Yeah probably NW, maybe GULC?

I was thinking bay area law school + clerkship in Sacramento or Reno.

is E.D. Cal. the middle of nowhere now? Haha you guys have high standards.

[jbagelboy]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

late in the game for what? there are lots of 2018 positions open and many 2019 ones coming out over the summer and into the fall. I don't necessarily think waiting for better opportunities with OPs credentials is the worst call. he or she will have others and interview opportunities throughout the summer and into the fall.

[blahblewblah]

I fail to see how a clerkship within a two-hour drive of your target market (where you already have ties) would decrease your chances of landing there after your clerkship. This is doubly true if they are in the same state. Regardless, your logic seems to restrict you to your target market (or I guess clerkships within less than a two hour drive). Certainly could be doable, but a bird in the hand... I would take the interview hands down.

And agreed that calling a place within a 2-hour drive of some big market (bigger than Denver or Nashville) "flyover" seems a little strange.

[emkay625]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

late in the game for what? there are lots of 2018 positions open and many 2019 ones coming out over the summer and into the fall. I don't necessarily think waiting for better opportunities with OPs credentials is the worst call. he or she will have others and interview opportunities throughout the summer and into the fall.

I was under the impression that OP is looking for the 2017-2018 cycle. OP, am I wrong?

[jbagelboy]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

late in the game for what? there are lots of 2018 positions open and many 2019 ones coming out over the summer and into the fall. I don't necessarily think waiting for better opportunities with OPs credentials is the worst call. he or she will have others and interview opportunities throughout the summer and into the fall.

I was under the impression that OP is looking for the 2017-2018 cycle. OP, am I wrong?

Well sure but that's not always realistic or preferable. It would be better to get a one year clerkship in a more desirable location for 2018 than a two year in 2017-19.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Yes, I'm looking for something that starts in 2017.

[jbagelboy]

OP here. Yes, I'm looking for something that starts in 2017.

I suggest broadening your date range if you want what will most boost your career prospects in major markets.

[El Pollito]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

really bad advice given OP's rank

[emkay625]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

really bad advice given OP's rank

Really? He says he wants to clerk in 2017. Even though he's top 10% at a T14, there just aren't a lot of spots left open for that cycle, especially in non-"flyover" districts, as OP has called them. Unless he's willing to sit out a year (which it doesn't seem like he is, since it would likely involve moving back to his home market to the firm he's summering at, which he has said he does not want to do), I think he should take the interview.

[blahblewblah]

I just finished 2L year at a T14. Top 10% of class, secondary journal. Am doing SA in my home market (think Nashville/Denver) but am not keen on going back home now that I've been away from it for a while. I would rather stay in the big market where I went to school (which is about a 2 hr drive from the clerkship).

And I should say, I just got the interview request. I have the option of not scheduling it. It's just that I've been applying all semester and this is the first call I've gotten. Not sure how many other opportunities there will be.

If you are keen on clerking, I would say schedule it. It seems crazy, but it is already late in the game and so you may not get other opportunities.

I'd also say that clerking gives you a better shot at getting a big law offer from another firm in your desired market than 3L OCI will, so clerking is the safer bet. For now, focus on getting an offer from your firm this summer so you have it in your back pocket.

really bad advice given OP's rank

Really? He says he wants to clerk in 2017. Even though he's top 10% at a T14, there just aren't a lot of spots left open for that cycle, especially in non-"flyover" districts, as OP has called them. Unless he's willing to sit out a year (which it doesn't seem like he is, since it would likely involve moving back to his home market to the firm he's summering at, which he has said he does not want to do), I think he should take the interview.

Agree. And although OP has good stats, they are not slam dunk stats that will get him a clerkship anywhere he wants. A clerkship within a 2 hour drive of the target market seems to be pretty darn solid and should set him up to return to that market.