Yes, that would be bad. At the least, it would burn a bridge with that firm. And you never know who knows who, who laterals where, etc.Anonymous User wrote:I'm guessing it's just as bad to accept and renege for a post-clerking job as it is for summer associateships? Got an offer today from a firm in my district and it seems like most other firms (that I applied to) aren't moving yet. I don't want to string them along but I also don't want to accept and not be able to play the field (kind of a big motivation behind the clerkship tbh) just because they moved earlier than everyone else.
Just be honest. Thank them for the offer, tell them you are very excited at the prospect of working for the firm, but you still have a couple of applications out and would like to see all of your options before committing. (If it's between two geographic markets, even better - say so.) Ask them for an extension if they give you a deadline. And then let the other firms know you have an offer, and see if you can get them to pick up the pace.
