Top Law Schools

I just started my 1-year-term DJ clerkship in September and want to secure next year's plans as soon as possible. For planning purposes, is there a general timeline when Biglaw makes its offers to law clerks? I'm also fuzzy on how early I should be planning on submitting applications to firms. I've heard folks say no time is too soon, but a recruiter told me a year out is crazy.

Also interested in this. My inclination was to get about a month or so of clerk experience under my belt. That way, if I got a responsive call to interview, I could at least articulate how my experience clerking has been so far. But I started in August, so YMMV. Tried doing some searching on here and it seems as if October may be the usual beginning. That also makes sense because firms' recruiters are wrapping up summer associate hiring so they can turn to clerk hiring. But I'll defer to those with experience from years past.

I was always told you should start applying Feb-March, but it was a couple of years ago now and I don’t know if the timeline has changed. I’ve seen a lot of people start earlier, but many seem not to get anything till later anyway and then they just stress more about their prospects.

And fwiw the timelines definitely seem to vary. The objectively very top candidates tend to get jobs quite quickly, but it can take a lot longer for average candidates (and to be clear those are still great candidates, just average in the context of clerks). I’ve definitely known people not to get anything lined up until near the end of the summer before, so try not to panic too quickly.

I think boutiques may be more flexible in their hiring timelines. I had a job by November.