Worth doing clerkship process? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi

I just find it hard to get a straight answer from our clerkship office about competitiveness. T14, 3.65ish, LR, strong prior work experience, Big Law DC offer. Is it worth going through clerkship process now or wait until work experience? Long term interest in government work.

[Wild Card]

It's an ongoing process. You apply year after year until you land something. Judges get hundreds of applications, so they would forget you if they passed you over.

You seem impressive on paper, but hopefully you offer that something else that will help you stand out.

[namefromplace]

Where would your GPA put you at in rankings at your T14? I would think at most schools it would be somewhere around Top 20%-Top 30%? In which case you'd have a shot at some less-competitive District Courts but, without connections, luck, or more work experience, would be unlikely to get much traction elsewhere.
But as above poster said, there isn't harm in trying now.

[Fireworks2016]

Hi

I just find it hard to get a straight answer from our clerkship office about competitiveness. T14, 3.65ish, LR, strong prior work experience, Big Law DC offer. Is it worth going through clerkship process now or wait until work experience? Long term interest in government work.

I think you’d certainly be competitive for some D. Ct. Clerkships now. On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with doing 1-3 years in biglaw and using a clerkship as a pivot to government work when you’re done. Super common to go that route. As a double-clerk straight out of law school, I wish I had done that ...