2016-17 Post-Clerkship Hiring Thread Forum

[anodyne]

I know it's early, but was wondering if anyone has started reaching out to firms for next year. The consensus seems to be that most firms start hiring around January and that most hiring occurs between then and ~March.

[anodyne]

Surely people have started interviewing?

[Anonymous User]

Our chambers has received solicitations from various fellowships, but none from firms. I think it's early.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Surely people have started interviewing?

It's early. Jan-March is more like the whole-hiring-process timeline, people aren't interviewing in November to get hired in January. (And even then there's a lot of variation and many people won't get something till later in the year.)

[Anonymous User]

I received a solicitation from a V20 firm in which they stated that they are actively recruiting current law clerks for an October 2017 start date, in at least a few of their offices (major markets).

I thought it was pretty early to begin applying, but I will be submitting my materials anyway. I just worry that should I get an offer, I am going to be in an awkward situation, because it is not my top choice of firms. I guess I will deal with that problem when the time comes though.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard from a friend that her co-clerk already has an interview with a big DC firm. It freaked me out significantly, but then I just sat myself down and said "No, I refuse to play into this madness of rushing to make hiring earlier and earlier and earlier."

Unless and until I hear from a significant number of people that firms are moving earlier, I ain't budging.

[Redamon1]

How do firms know who is clerking where? Do folks receive solicitations via LinkedIn or something? Or do generic solicitation letters go out to chambers to reach the clerks who are there at the time?

[Anonymous User]

How do firms know who is clerking where? Do folks receive solicitations via LinkedIn or something? Or do generic solicitation letters go out to chambers to reach the clerks who are there at the time?

Usually the latter. Most courts do not allow you to put on linkedin the specific court you are clerking for, and especially the specific judge. That's why, if you look on linkedin, the majority of clerks are listed as working for "U.S. District Courts" or "U.S. Court of Appeals."

[Anonymous User]

This is just a random thought; I have no idea if it's accurate. But I think perhaps some of the V20 firms will be hesitant to push clerk hiring too far back into the fall for two reasons. First, it's common knowledge that the bulk of applying/interviewing occurs in the new year, and firms don't want to give away all their litigation spots to early movers at the risk of missing more attractive applicants during the ordinary window. Second, fall is prime hiring season for federal agencies and DOJ. I am on my second clerkship, and I'm competing for a number of federal positions right now; if all of these jobs fall through, then I will contemplate applying to DC firms (or perhaps sticking with the firm where I did my SA, which is in a less desirable secondary market). But I am not going to apply to firms at this point, because it would be a waste of time should I land a position at DOJ or whatever.

Again--just random spitballing, I have no idea how recruiters think.

[TatteredDignity]

This is just a random thought; I have no idea if it's accurate. But I think perhaps some of the V20 firms will be hesitant to push clerk hiring too far back into the fall for two reasons. First, it's common knowledge that the bulk of applying/interviewing occurs in the new year, and firms don't want to give away all their litigation spots to early movers at the risk of missing more attractive applicants during the ordinary window. Second, fall is prime hiring season for federal agencies and DOJ. I am on my second clerkship, and I'm competing for a number of federal positions right now; if all of these jobs fall through, then I will contemplate applying to DC firms (or perhaps sticking with the firm where I did my SA, which is in a less desirable secondary market). But I am not going to apply to firms at this point, because it would be a waste of time should I land a position at DOJ or whatever.

Again--just random spitballing, I have no idea how recruiters think.

I didn't know DOJ and the agencies hire this far in advance. Are you eligible for honors?

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone just returning to their summer firm? When is a good timing to reach out to them if my offer has been kept open? It's been total silence from the firm.

[Anonymous User]

Now that DOJ Honors has posted finalists, here's a bump for those of us left out in the cold.

Speaking of, anyone else not have a 2L summer firm to go back to?

[Jchance]

tag

[Anonymous User]

Can't apply anywhere until my wife finds out where she's going to grad school, which isn't til Feb-Apr., and is most likely in SF or LA. I'm one of the few unicorns who struck out at OCI but got a fed clerkship, so I am very dubious of the "oh you'll find a job anywhere after clerking" refrain.

Feels bad man.

[blahblewblah]

Can't apply anywhere until my wife finds out where she's going to grad school, which isn't til Feb-Apr., and is most likely in SF or LA. I'm one of the few unicorns who struck out at OCI but got a fed clerkship, so I am very dubious of the "oh you'll find a job anywhere after clerking" refrain.

Feels bad man.

If you know that your wife will most likely be in LA or SF, why not apply for jobs there starting right after the beginning of th year? At least see if you can get an offer or two before she decides. While February isn't too bad, if she doesn't find out until April, that is on the late side to start applying. Also, I don't know what feels bad. Your employment situation is way better than the vast majority of law school grads.

[Boltsfan]

Now that DOJ Honors has posted finalists, here's a bump for those of us left out in the cold.

Speaking of, anyone else not have a 2L summer firm to go back to?

I have a COA clerkship and I have a co-clerk who didn't summer with a firm. I also have a couple friends clerking at various district courts that did externships and don't have firms. You are not alone and this is not unusual.

I'm wondering how many people actually go back to their summer firm from a clerkship? I was planning to, but decided to apply to DOJ on what I thought was a hailmary only to land it and tell my firm no thanks. One of my co-clerks is planning on going back to her firm, but I think she's open to other options. I've heard that head hunters are going to start calling after the new year.

[Anonymous User]

I have a DOJ Honors offer that I'm 50/50 on taking because of the political situation.

I've reached out to some smaller firms with more public interesty practices (union-side labor law, gov't clients, etc.). It's unpredictable whether they're willing to consider people this early -- I've heard "come back in April" and "we're looking now" and in between.

So my very amateur advice if you're looking for non-biglaw is to start lining up informational interviews now and see what's up. Every firm is different and there's no way to know what the sitch is until you talk to someone on the inside.

[Anonymous User]

Link to last year's thread. Looks like we've got a long road to hoe.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... +clerkship

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Kellogg or Keker?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know when we should start applying in DC? I've heard mixed reviews (some say now, others say don't send stuff until February).

[Anonymous User]

Also interested...

[clerk1251]

Anyone know when we should start applying in DC? I've heard mixed reviews (some say now, others say don't send stuff until February).

Everyone I've talked to in my courthouse, as well as friends that have formerly clerked, have said that it is still to early.

Closer to February seems to be the norm. Seems like the general mentality is that if you apply to early and get dinged because they aren't looking, you can't apply again in two months. Further, everyone at firms are a bit checked out on account of the upcoming holidays. A lot of firms don't evaluate their needs until the new year. I'd say keep an eye out on firm openings, but otherwise, hold off before sending anything unsolicited.

I've only put in one application for a V20 firm that had an opening posted on their website, stating that they were actively accepting clerkship applications at the moment. However, based on contacts inside that firm, they won't actually start reviewing the collected applications until Feb.

[hiima3L]

Anyone know when we should start applying in DC? I've heard mixed reviews (some say now, others say don't send stuff until February).

Everyone I've talked to in my courthouse, as well as friends that have formerly clerked, have said that it is still to early.

Closer to February seems to be the norm. Seems like the general mentality is that if you apply to early and get dinged because they aren't looking, you can't apply again in two months. Further, everyone at firms are a bit checked out on account of the upcoming holidays. A lot of firms don't evaluate their needs until the new year. I'd say keep an eye out on firm openings, but otherwise, hold off before sending anything unsolicited.

I've only put in one application for a V20 firm that had an opening posted on their website, stating that they were actively accepting clerkship applications at the moment. However, based on contacts inside that firm, they won't actually start reviewing the collected applications until Feb.

Is this DC-specific? Or generally the case in other major cities?

[clerk1251]

Anyone know when we should start applying in DC? I've heard mixed reviews (some say now, others say don't send stuff until February).

Everyone I've talked to in my courthouse, as well as friends that have formerly clerked, have said that it is still to early.

Closer to February seems to be the norm. Seems like the general mentality is that if you apply to early and get dinged because they aren't looking, you can't apply again in two months. Further, everyone at firms are a bit checked out on account of the upcoming holidays. A lot of firms don't evaluate their needs until the new year. I'd say keep an eye out on firm openings, but otherwise, hold off before sending anything unsolicited.

I've only put in one application for a V20 firm that had an opening posted on their website, stating that they were actively accepting clerkship applications at the moment. However, based on contacts inside that firm, they won't actually start reviewing the collected applications until Feb.

Is this DC-specific? Or generally the case in other major cities?

Both. DC specific in the sense that I and my co-clerk are both looking for DC, but I'm also considering other major markets, and the same would apply.

[Anonymous User]

I have 2 friends who have each already interviewed with about 5 NY V20 firms for a fall start (one who already accepted an offer), and I have an interview set up with a major DC firm for early January. I think hiring gets pushed earlier and earlier each year in this constant race to the bottom (see clerk hiring and OCI dates).

FWIW, I think the boutiques hire later, and the bigger big law firms are always going to need associates in the junior and mid-level ranks, so the specific hiring needs aren't as relevant for them. But this is all completely anecdotal evidence.