Should I clerk? Forum

[Anonymous User]

A little background.

Just graduated. ~3.7 GPA from a lower T14. Member of Law Review. Got a job at a good firm in DC. Originally chose not to clerk because I'm a little older and wanted to start making money, but I'm starting to second guess that decision.

Career goals - either partnership or government job. Right now I'm going into litigation with a sprinkle of regulatory. Should I start thinking about clerking, and would I be competition in either DC or EDVA/4th Cir? Don't think I can move again.

[Anonymous User]

This might sound like standard advice, but it's true:

Clerking might be a good fit for your goals, assuming that you want to stay in lit. Read through partner bios on firm websites and you'll notice that a lot of them were fed clerks. And clerking never hurts for gov work, and it's sometimes expressly preferred in job postings.

As for those courts: DC Cir is almost def. out. 4th Cir. is a stretch, but it's happened to people with similar profiles. Much better chance with EDVA, but it'd still be tough. If you're set on clerking and don't mind moving, your chances will go up.

With your stats, biggest obstacle is getting your app to stand out, since there isn't really a shortage of T14 3.7/LR types. Advice would be to make friends with current/former clerks and hustle like crazy.

[Anonymous User]

I'd give it some thought. Keep in mind that you'd be applying for a job that wouldn't start for at least several months and possibly 1 or two years (although some judges, particularly those that hire alums, hire on shorter notice). So if you're even considering doing it, apply now, and figure the rest out if you get an interview or offer. The money isn't bad; if you stayed around DC, you'd be looking at 80k to 90k, given your experience.
If you're set on staying near DC, also consider non-Article III clerkships, like the Court of Federal Claims or Court of Veterans Appeals. These are probably less useful career-wise, but a federal claims clerkship could be useful if you do gov't contracts work.

[Rowinguy2009]

I think it depends on what your ultimate goal is. If it is partnership, I don't think the clerkship credential provides a meaningful bump - your book of business is infinitely more important. Clerking would, in a way, disrupt your development as an associate, thus (imho) negating any bump that comes with the clerkship.

If it is government, a clerkship can be a great way to transition from your firm to the gov job. I am currently doing this (I am almost at the end of my clerkship, which I am doing after two years at a firm. Going to a fed gov job in DC after). Clerking is not only a great credential that improves your resume for government applications, but it also gives you a fantastic answer to the inevitable question "so how do I know you're not just going to leave government to go back to a firm in a couple of years." (Answer - because I left my firm when I didn't have to with the hope that I would go government post clerkship).

[Londonbear]

Partnership in corp or lit? If lit, likely useful. I don't know if it's necessary, depends on the firm. And many firms will pay you a bonus after you clerk and give you credit for the time you spend clerking.

For corp, likely not as useful. You will still get bonus and credit for the time you clerk, so you aren't technically a first year, but you're not going to be doing the same level of work as those in your year for a bit of time.

You can work for a year or two, clerk, and then go back to private practice or gov. Just start applying now.

[Anonymous User]

At various points during law school, I spoke to two highly regarded litigation partners at two major West Coast firms. Neither clerked, and both placed that on their list of regrets.