Applying for 2nd Clerkship After Accepted Offer Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have a two-year gig in a district court after graduation. My firm is aware of this and wants me back after. I’d like to come back too.

But I may have a shot at a COA, which is the kind of opportunity that I’d go for over anything else. This is all hypothetical, but how would that look if I end up applying and getting a COA clerkship? Aside from clawing back whatever bar stipend I get, is it a career mistake to shoot for a COA after accepting their offer with the intent to return after the 2 years with the district court? I don’t want to burn bridges or get a reputation for being a flake in my admittedly smaller, collegial home market.

[Anonymous User]

I have a two-year gig in a district court after graduation. My firm is aware of this and wants me back after. I’d like to come back too.

But I may have a shot at a COA, which is the kind of opportunity that I’d go for over anything else. This is all hypothetical, but how would that look if I end up applying and getting a COA clerkship? Aside from clawing back whatever bar stipend I get, is it a career mistake to shoot for a COA after accepting their offer with the intent to return after the 2 years with the district court? I don’t want to burn bridges or get a reputation for being a flake in my admittedly smaller, collegial home market.

I did basically exactly this (down to the two-year d. ct. clerkship), and when I accepted the COA offer, I called my contact at the firm and told them I'd still like to come back when I finished clerking, but I understood if they couldn't "guarantee" a spot for me. They seemed happy for me and told me to stay in touch and keep them posted when I was looking for post-clerkship employment.

The post-script is that I ultimately went to a firm that offered me an above-market bonus, and not my summer firm, but I still keep in touch with people there and there is no ill-will.

[Anonymous User]

In a small market, I imagine you would be a pretty hot commodity with a COA even if your firm no-offered you. In the one I'm from top candidates often get offers from every major firm in the market because firms don't have a hundred COA clerks to pick from applying to them.

If you're close with a partner or senior associate at your firm, especially one who clerked, you might float it to them, though it will probably get back to the firm's hiring people.

[Anonymous User]

I have a two-year gig in a district court after graduation. My firm is aware of this and wants me back after. I’d like to come back too.

But I may have a shot at a COA, which is the kind of opportunity that I’d go for over anything else. This is all hypothetical, but how would that look if I end up applying and getting a COA clerkship? Aside from clawing back whatever bar stipend I get, is it a career mistake to shoot for a COA after accepting their offer with the intent to return after the 2 years with the district court? I don’t want to burn bridges or get a reputation for being a flake in my admittedly smaller, collegial home market.

I did basically exactly this (down to the two-year d. ct. clerkship), and when I accepted the COA offer, I called my contact at the firm and told them I'd still like to come back when I finished clerking, but I understood if they couldn't "guarantee" a spot for me. They seemed happy for me and told me to stay in touch and keep them posted when I was looking for post-clerkship employment.

The post-script is that I ultimately went to a firm that offered me an above-market bonus, and not my summer firm, but I still keep in touch with people there and there is no ill-will.

That’s good to know. I imagine they will have a similar response, since they were very much in favor of my first clerkship.

[Anonymous User]

In a small market, I imagine you would be a pretty hot commodity with a COA even if your firm no-offered you. In the one I'm from top candidates often get offers from every major firm in the market because firms don't have a hundred COA clerks to pick from applying to them.

If you're close with a partner or senior associate at your firm, especially one who clerked, you might float it to them, though it will probably get back to the firm's hiring people.

I guess I didn’t really consider that. There certainly aren’t a ton of clerks around here period, so I imagine that will weigh in my favor. I can reach out to someone too, just in case.