New Jersey Trial Clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello. I was recently offered a clerkship with a New Jersey trial court. I’m happy to have the offer, but I have some concerns about my exit opportunities after the clerkship and also the pay (to a lesser extent). From what I can find online it sounds like the exit opportunities for a state trial clerkship are pretty bad.

I’m a median student at a T14 school. I had an SA position secured pre-Covid but the program was canceled because of the pandemic and the firm did not give out offers.

My #1 goal is to graduate with a job, but ideally I’d like to go into private practice. Big law would be great, but I realize that’s a long shot at this point. I’d be happy working in midlaw. Is that a realistic outcome after a NJ trial clerkship? I have no preference on where I live and am willing to live in any region.

Would I be better off turning down the clerkship and continuing the job hunt?

[ughbugchugplug]

Hello. I was recently offered a clerkship with a New Jersey trial court. I’m happy to have the offer, but I have some concerns about my exit opportunities after the clerkship and also the pay (to a lesser extent). From what I can find online it sounds like the exit opportunities for a state trial clerkship are pretty bad.

I’m a median student at a T14 school. I had an SA position secured pre-Covid but the program was canceled because of the pandemic and the firm did not give out offers.

My #1 goal is to graduate with a job, but ideally I’d like to go into private practice. Big law would be great, but I realize that’s a long shot at this point. I’d be happy working in midlaw. Is that a realistic outcome after a NJ trial clerkship? I have no preference on where I live and am willing to live in any region.

Would I be better off turning down the clerkship and continuing the job hunt?

NJ state clerkship are great for working in the state and very good experiences. They are not pathways to big law - honestly even NJ Supreme Court clerks have a mixed record of getting NY, though they are in high demand for NJ big firms

[ughbugchugplug]

Hello. I was recently offered a clerkship with a New Jersey trial court. I’m happy to have the offer, but I have some concerns about my exit opportunities after the clerkship and also the pay (to a lesser extent). From what I can find online it sounds like the exit opportunities for a state trial clerkship are pretty bad.

I’m a median student at a T14 school. I had an SA position secured pre-Covid but the program was canceled because of the pandemic and the firm did not give out offers.

My #1 goal is to graduate with a job, but ideally I’d like to go into private practice. Big law would be great, but I realize that’s a long shot at this point. I’d be happy working in midlaw. Is that a realistic outcome after a NJ trial clerkship? I have no preference on where I live and am willing to live in any region.

Would I be better off turning down the clerkship and continuing the job hunt?

NJ state clerkship are great for working in the state and very good experiences. They are not pathways to big law - honestly even NJ Supreme Court clerks have a mixed record of getting NY, though they are in high demand for NJ big firms

Just saw you want mid law as well. I have a friend who did a trial level clerkship and then went to one of the best firms in NJ. Not sure to what extent that was her (she has a very compelling personality/background otherwise) and to what extent that’s normal