Judge as employment-placement resource Forum

[Anonymous User]

I think everyone who has clerked would agree that each judge has a different level of involvement when it comes to helping their clerks find employment post-clerkship. I am working now with a judge who is notorious for not placing phone calls or doing much advocacy work in the way of helping clerks, but is nevertheless willing to be a reference and take phone calls. Does anybody have any particular advice as to how to best take advantage of this kind of judge's network? Is there any way to ask, more or less, something along the lines of "how can I get access to your rolodex"?

[Anonymous User]

I think everyone who has clerked would agree that each judge has a different level of involvement when it comes to helping their clerks find employment post-clerkship. I am working now with a judge who is notorious for not placing phone calls or doing much advocacy work in the way of helping clerks, but is nevertheless willing to be a reference and take phone calls. Does anybody have any particular advice as to how to best take advantage of this kind of judge's network? Is there any way to ask, more or less, something along the lines of "how can I get access to your rolodex"?

I think the best way to do it is to compile a list of places you'd like to apply/people you'd like to work for and ask the judge for advice. Ask, for example, "What do you think about such-and-such firm? Would it be a good fit?" If your judge doesn't like to do active outreach to potential employers, this might be the best way of gauging where a judge's relationships are and how strong they are. That can shape your application practices and help you get a good job.

Note: I'm doing this based on speculation as my judge has a very different philosophy to yours (hence the anon). But I think it makes sense.

[Anonymous User]

Anon because I worked for two similar judges, first as an intern and then as a clerk. I'm now clerking for a third judge whose philosophy is very different and does write letters and make calls.

I generally echo the above poster, and I'd emphasize that asking for specific career advice and specific questions about employers/attorneys is the best way to get this started. If they are willing to give insight on the direction you want to take, try to ask follow-up questions about the people they know who have made those decisions (or make hiring decisions now). As above anon indicated, their answers to these questions will tell you a lot about what they think it takes to make that move, what the decision-makers think about it, and what relationships the judge has in those arenas. I do think you have to be patient when taking this route, because you have to establish some context for each question you ask---I don't think judges like this will just give you their rolodex either.

[Anonymous User]

I wonder if judges might be a little more paternalistic given the current circumstances we now face - both in terms of the public health crisis, as well as the economic crisis. I don't know if judges took more "care" of their clerks in 08/09 as things began to unravel, or if the attitude has always been something along the lines of - you're here for 1 year (or 2 years), no exceptions - and then I dont owe you anything after that

[Anonymous User]

I wonder if judges might be a little more paternalistic given the current circumstances we now face - both in terms of the public health crisis, as well as the economic crisis. I don't know if judges took more "care" of their clerks in 08/09 as things began to unravel, or if the attitude has always been something along the lines of - you're here for 1 year (or 2 years), no exceptions - and then I dont owe you anything after that

Obviously varies from one judge to the next, but several judges are keeping some of their clerks on for another six months to a year especially if their firms won't take them back.

[Anonymous User]

I think everyone who has clerked would agree that each judge has a different level of involvement when it comes to helping their clerks find employment post-clerkship. I am working now with a judge who is notorious for not placing phone calls or doing much advocacy work in the way of helping clerks, but is nevertheless willing to be a reference and take phone calls. Does anybody have any particular advice as to how to best take advantage of this kind of judge's network? Is there any way to ask, more or less, something along the lines of "how can I get access to your rolodex"?

Assuming you’re applying to firms, or some place else where people are going to list online somewhere that they clerked for your judge, I think it’s totally appropriate to reach out directly to them with something along the lines of “Hi, I’m a current clerk for Judge X. I’m looking for jobs right now, but as you can imagine, the market is not great. Any chance you’d be willing to chat on the phone for a few minutes? I’d be interested in any advice you might have”.

More than likely they will be happy to help you, and if their firm is hiring, they will probably be willing to push your application