2019-2020 Post-Clerkship Hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Surprised this hasn't been posted yet, last two years these threads went up a bit earlier. But my understanding from those threads is that it's about time for people to start dusting off their resumes and get ready to mass-apply, at least depending on the target market.

Anyone have any basic questions? When do you plan on applying, or have you already started?

[Anonymous User]

Consensus from earlier threads seem to be that in the Texas market, no need to apply to firms until Dec-Jan because stuff doesn't move until Feb-March at the earliest. Anyone have other info/intentions?

[Anon-non-anon]

Entering second year of 2 year clerkship so I tracked last year's hiring. Some unicorn fellowship position deadlines are already coming up, but recruiting for firms in earnest (at least in NYC area) gets hotter in November, with interviews and stuff concentrated in January / February I think. Already have a few receptions coming up though.

Good luck all and I hope this stays a bit more active than last year's.

[Anonymous User]

Consensus from earlier threads seem to be that in the Texas market, no need to apply to firms until Dec-Jan because stuff doesn't move until Feb-March at the earliest. Anyone have other info/intentions?

If you're targeting TX boutiques they may be more flexible in terms of timing.

[Anonymous User]

Current clerk with 2020 end date and ultra basic questions. (Please don’t quote and mods if this can’t stay anon, please just delete it instead.)

By way of background, I worked for a firm for a short time before clerking. No official offer to return on the table yet but I’d still prefer the firm not know I’m looking around at other firms until I have one locked down. Just easier that way. So my questions are:

1) Do I literally just cold e-mail firm recruiting personnel with a cover letter/resume/writing sample?
2) How necessary is a recruiter to get a firm job? And if I use one, can I trust them not to tell my old firm I’m looking?
3) How do I facilitate conflicts checks without asking the old firm for my conflicts list? Or is that even possible?

Thanks in advance. TLS has been a goldmine of advice over the years.

[Anonymous User]

2) How necessary is a recruiter to get a firm job? And if I use one, can I trust them not to tell my old firm I’m looking?

Most firms won't accept recruiters for law clerk positions, if you look at their information on their website.

[Anonymous User]

--

[Anonymous User]

2) How necessary is a recruiter to get a firm job? And if I use one, can I trust them not to tell my old firm I’m looking?

Most firms won't accept recruiters for law clerk positions, if you look at their information on their website.

Quoted anon here - yes, I noticed that for some firms. Wasn’t sure if those firms were outliers, so it’s helpful to know that’s the norm. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Couple general questions to keep this thread alive:

Resume thoughts? Is it safe to completely remove my pre-law school work experience at this stage, or maybe reduce all to one line at the bottom? Once I add stuff from 3L, my bar admission and my clerkship, I'm way over the 1-page rule of thumb so I need to aggressively cut stuff.

If you're in a city where firms host receptions for clerks, are they worth going to? Seems like they should be way less mandatory than they were in the OCI context.

By way of background, I worked for a firm for a short time before clerking. No official offer to return on the table yet but I’d still prefer the firm not know I’m looking around at other firms until I have one locked down.

I'm sure a bunch of us posting and lurking are people who already or likely will have offers but are interested in "trading up" and anon seems appropriate. So a related question: what's the best way to answer "Why aren't you going back to your 2L summer firm?" Geography is probably the best answer if it's applicable. If they're in the same city, probably just talk about how you've done your homework and you think the new firm's practices better fit your interests and career goals, right? And definitely don't say you'd be unhappy to go back to your 2L firm, or mention $$ or prestige.

[nixy]

Is it safe to completely remove my pre-law school work experience at this stage, or maybe reduce all to one line at the bottom?

Absolutely. I think if you can reduce it to one line at the bottom it's good to have a little sense of what else you've done, but unless it's something very relevant/interesting to employers (e.g. you're applying to an energy practice in Houston and you used to work in oil/gas, or a med mal group and you used to be an RN), it doesn't need to be at all prominent (and I'm assuming if something like that were the case you wouldn't be asking this way).

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have a sense of the timeline for CA firms? And do firms outside of the biggest hubs (LA/SFO) have a need for COA clerks? I'd be more interested in OC/San Diego, but haven't seen as many postings for post-clerkship positions in the past.

[Anon-non-anon]

Anybody hear from fellowships for 2020?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have a sense of the timeline for CA firms? And do firms outside of the biggest hubs (LA/SFO) have a need for COA clerks? I'd be more interested in OC/San Diego, but haven't seen as many postings for post-clerkship positions in the past.

Former DJ clerk/CA attorney here. My clerkship ended in 2017 and I targeted only CA. Firms started the hiring process at the beginning of the year. We got flooded with recruiting letters in early January 2017. For personal reasons, I didn't know where I was going to move until March, and by then it really felt like I missed the boat. I got a few (seemingly earnest) responses from firms saying they had already filled their open positions. My co-clerk, as well as other judges' clerks, got several interviews and offers in the spring. I ended up getting an offer from a friend's firm in April because they had an unexpected opening.

As a COA clerk, the world is your oyster. If you clerked for the 9th circuit, I guarantee you will get a job wherever you want. Firms seem to be on a hiring spree right now, so I think you're in a great position, though admittedly this is based off my friends who are lateraling as mid/senior associates.

[beepboopbeep]

If you clerked for the 9th circuit, I guarantee you will get a job wherever you want.

As someone who has been involved with hiring at a CA firm, I do not guarantee this, unless you just mean geographically.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard of significant movement in NYC, including at the smaller, elite lit boutiques.

[Anonymous User]

which nyc firms? in person interviews only or also offers? thank you!

[cali7802000]

Which firms in nyc have you heard of? and does this movement consist solely of in-person interviews or also offers? finally, have firms been sending mailers/letters to Second Circuit and SDNY chambers already? thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Yes we’ve gotten close to a dozen recruiting letters already, including Holwell Shuster, Selendy & Gay, Patterson, and, MoloLamken.

I’ve heard of in person interviews and offers at those firms, as well of some of the tiny boutiques (think Shapiro Arato style firms).

[Anonymous User]

Yes we’ve gotten close to a dozen recruiting letters already, including Holwell Shuster, Selendy & Gay, Patterson, and, MoloLamken.

Echoing this, but want to clarify for the anon who asked which firms that at least my chambers has not received any recruiting letters from the larger firms. They've all been the litigation boutiques so far.

[cali7802000]

Thank you to both of the responses! If you remember, I would appreciate updates on when your chambers see letters from the larger nyc firms.

[Anonymous User]

We’ve gotten a couple from middling V100 firms as well.

[Anonymous User]

Checking out of this thread. Accepted an offer for fall 2020 after my clerkship. Good luck to all.

[Anonymous User]

Also to one of the previous questions, we’ve gotten letters from Fried Frank and Jenner & Block NYC and Kirkland now.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats anon! Can you at least say what market and type of firm (boutique or big law) you ended up taking?

[Anonymous User]

Congrats anon! Can you at least say what market and type of firm (boutique or big law) you ended up taking?

Want to keep it vague, but:

NYC, firm is not on the V100.