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I have clerked for a couple of years at a District Court and am starting to apply to firms, but may have an opportunity to clerk at a COA for 6 months. Would clerking for less than a year with a COA be a boost in my big law job search, or would it be less worthwhile because it wouldn't be for a full year?

roguepawn wrote:I have clerked for a couple of years at a District Court and am starting to apply to firms, but may have an opportunity to clerk at a COA for 6 months. Would clerking for less than a year with a COA be a boost in my big law job search, or would it be less worthwhile because it wouldn't be for a full year?

I can't say for certain, but I would think that anyone who had clerked would think it was a boost. That first six months is when you're going to learn the most anyway. That said, if the exit date is outside the normal clerkship cycle, it may mess with your timing a little bit.

BVest wrote:

roguepawn wrote:I have clerked for a couple of years at a District Court and am starting to apply to firms, but may have an opportunity to clerk at a COA for 6 months. Would clerking for less than a year with a COA be a boost in my big law job search, or would it be less worthwhile because it wouldn't be for a full year?

I can't say for certain, but I would think that anyone who had clerked would think it was a boost. That first six months is when you're going to learn the most anyway. That said, if the exit date is outside the normal clerkship cycle, it may mess with your timing a little bit.

Totally agree with this. The learning curve drops off dramatically after six months. Also, I don't think most big firms care how long the clerkship was. I have known people who basically clerked for nine months because of when their next job needed them and the firms treat it like a full clerkship. Honestly, I don't even have months on my calendar. So if the COA clerkship is from 2016-2017 or whatever, it won't look out of place at all.

brick_wall wrote:

BVest wrote:

roguepawn wrote:I have clerked for a couple of years at a District Court and am starting to apply to firms, but may have an opportunity to clerk at a COA for 6 months. Would clerking for less than a year with a COA be a boost in my big law job search, or would it be less worthwhile because it wouldn't be for a full year?

I can't say for certain, but I would think that anyone who had clerked would think it was a boost. That first six months is when you're going to learn the most anyway. That said, if the exit date is outside the normal clerkship cycle, it may mess with your timing a little bit.

Totally agree with this. The learning curve drops off dramatically after six months. Also, I don't think most big firms care how long the clerkship was. I have known people who basically clerked for nine months because of when their next job needed them and the firms treat it like a full clerkship. Honestly, I don't even have months on my calendar. So if the COA clerkship is from 2016-2017 or whatever, it won't look out of place at all.

"I don't even have months on my calendar."

Funniest typo I've seen today haha

Edit: This was an accidental anon from mobile using (what I guess must be the) anonymous quote feature. Username is flawedargument.

Wish I could do a 6mo COA clerkship.
So yes, it's worth it in terms of the experience. I don't know what it means for clerkship bonus or whatnot though.

Anonymous User wrote:

brick_wall wrote:

BVest wrote:

roguepawn wrote:I have clerked for a couple of years at a District Court and am starting to apply to firms, but may have an opportunity to clerk at a COA for 6 months. Would clerking for less than a year with a COA be a boost in my big law job search, or would it be less worthwhile because it wouldn't be for a full year?

I can't say for certain, but I would think that anyone who had clerked would think it was a boost. That first six months is when you're going to learn the most anyway. That said, if the exit date is outside the normal clerkship cycle, it may mess with your timing a little bit.

Totally agree with this. The learning curve drops off dramatically after six months. Also, I don't think most big firms care how long the clerkship was. I have known people who basically clerked for nine months because of when their next job needed them and the firms treat it like a full clerkship. Honestly, I don't even have months on my calendar. So if the COA clerkship is from 2016-2017 or whatever, it won't look out of place at all.

"I don't even have months on my calendar."

Funniest typo I've seen today haha

Edit: This was an accidental anon from mobile using (what I guess must be the) anonymous quote feature. Username is flawedargument.

I don't even know what a quail looks like...

But yeah, I meant "on my resume." Glad I could brighten your day.