Biglaw: Clerkship vs. LS Prestige Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi folks:

I went to a top 15-30 law school and did very well. I have clerked for two terms (state supreme, federal district) and will be starting my third in August (2/9/DC COA). Family obligations mean I will then move to a specific major market (NY, DC, CHI, LA) where I did *not* clerk or go to LS.

My question is this: I know law school prestige REALLY matters when applying to summer associate positions. When applying to litigation firms in this major market where I didn’t clerk or attend school, am I still going to be hamstrung by my only-adequate law school prestige? Imagine snooty litigation firms that hire clerks: large firms like GD&C down to boutiques like Susman or Kellogg.

Obviously every hiring partner will vary, I just was generally curious if a raft of clerkships make the law school less/entirely unimportant or if there’s a large contingent that wants T14 or bust.

Any advice would be welcomed. Not thrilled about being forced to relocate, but trying to make the best of it.

[LBJ's Hair]

I mean maybe at the margins, but you can't change your alma mater, so what's the point of worrying about this?

the places that might ding you based on credentials - like KH or whatever - are places that reject tons of HYS + CA2 clerks. so, just apply and see what happens.

[Elston Gunn]

Your clerkships more than “make up” for your school in terms of prestige. And, in any case, big firms in big markets (especially NY) are very used to hiring top students from non-T14s, so you weren’t facing all that big a barrier in the first place.

The more challenging thing for you will be the three clerkships. Some partners will look a bit askance at that and wonder if you really want to practice (and may expect you to take a class year haircut, so you come in as a 3rd year). So you just need to make sure you have a good explanation for your path thus far and why you really want private practice.

[Anonymous User]

I mean maybe at the margins, but you can't change your alma mater, so what's the point of worrying about this?

the places that might ding you based on credentials - like KH or whatever - are places that reject tons of HYS + CA2 clerks. so, just apply and see what happens.

Excellent point- just trying to set my expectations, I suppose. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Your clerkships more than “make up” for your school in terms of prestige. And, in any case, big firms in big markets (especially NY) are very used to hiring top students from non-T14s, so you weren’t facing all that big a barrier in the first place.

The more challenging thing for you will be the three clerkships. Some partners will look a bit askance at that and wonder if you really want to practice (and may expect you to take a class year haircut, so you come in as a 3rd year). So you just need to make sure you have a good explanation for your path thus far and why you really want private practice.

That’s really helpful advice. Candidly, I really wanted the experience of working at all three levels and thought I’d do it before my salary expectations got insane. But I’ll think of a more elegant way of putting it, and emphasize why the experience was meant to be in service of eventually practicing.

Thanks!