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Post-Clerkship Hiring Amid Covid

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:23 am
by Anonymous User
I am currently more than halfway through a one year state clerkship in a state where clerkships are the "normal" path to getting an associate job. My judge is pretty well-respected and is invested in getting me a job. I have also been reaching out on my own to contacts.
Before Coronavirus started, I had been getting interviews etc. But now obviously everything is at a standstill. I had one interview right before the shutdown and one who called me on the day the shutdown was announced and said they'll contact me when they reopen.
As the situation gets progressively worse, I am getting very very nervous about my prospects for next year.
I would be happy at either of the firms I interviewed with. I also applied to the AG's office and would be happy there but who knows when they're hiring
Anyone have any advice, words of comfort, etc?

I don't even think I'd be eligible for unemployment worst case scenario if I don't have anything lined up when my clerkship ends because technically no one is firing me.

Re: Post-Clerkship Hiring Amid Covid

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:19 pm
by Anonymous User
I don't have any of words of advice for you, but I just wanted to let you know that there are other clerks who are in the same boat as you. I have also focused my applications on government work, but everything seems to be moving slower right now. Keep your head up! A lot can happen in the next few months.

Re: Post-Clerkship Hiring Amid Covid

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:11 pm
by Anonymous User
Sorry I don't have any advice for the job search portion. I clerked last year, but obviously that was a much different environment. I'm mostly here to comment on the unemployment. I clerked at a federal district court and when I left the job (due to term ending) during the exit interview the HR person told me that I could apply for unemployment. As I had a big law job lined up after, and wasn't in special need for the money I didn't end up applying, but maybe this applies to you? I don't know what your state laws for unemployment benefits are (I'm from a midwestern state with, in my opinion, pretty liberal/strong unemployment laws) but it's still worth looking into in case you don't find anything by the time your clerkship ends. Calling the unemployment office might not be such a good idea now (they're probably extremely busy) but in the next month or so, I recommend you call to ask about whether you would qualify based on your job ending. No harm, in my opinion.