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Parental leave/pregnancy during district clerkship
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm
by clementine343
Looking for anyone who has experience with either having a baby or being the partner of someone who had a baby during a one-year federal clerkship. I'm preparing to tell my judge that I am expecting and would love any insight from those who have already navigated this situation. I am already aware that, as far as I understand, I am not entitled to any leave benefits or job protection. Thanks in advance!
Re: Parental leave/pregnancy during district clerkship
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 1:35 pm
by Leif Erikson
clementine343 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm
Looking for anyone who has experience with either having a baby or being the partner of someone who had a baby during a one-year federal clerkship. I'm preparing to tell my judge that I am expecting and would love any insight from those who have already navigated this situation. I am already aware that, as far as I understand, I am not entitled to any leave benefits or job protection. Thanks in advance!
Congratulations! I have no first-hand experience but I know of clerks who've been pregnant/given birth while clerking. Sometimes, their judges have hired a temporary law clerk; other times, I've heard of a particularly productive co-clerk handling all of the work while their co-clerk was on leave. Since you're at the district court level, I'm assuming you have one, maybe two, co-clerks?
Depending on your relationship with your judge, I'd go to them and offer some plan of action, e.g., I'm due on X date and anticipate needing Y amount of time on leave. I think your judge's response (i.e., whether to hire a temporary law clerk or just have your co-clerk(s) handle the work) will come down to where you are in your clerkship. If you just started recently, your judge might be more inclined to hire a temporary law clerk, for instance.
What's your relationship like with the JA? If you can trust them, I would ask them how to proceed.
Congrats again (both on the clerkship and your pregnancy)
Re: Parental leave/pregnancy during district clerkship
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 7:07 pm
by clementine343
Leif Erikson wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 1:35 pm
clementine343 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm
Looking for anyone who has experience with either having a baby or being the partner of someone who had a baby during a one-year federal clerkship. I'm preparing to tell my judge that I am expecting and would love any insight from those who have already navigated this situation. I am already aware that, as far as I understand, I am not entitled to any leave benefits or job protection. Thanks in advance!
Congratulations! I have no first-hand experience but I know of clerks who've been pregnant/given birth while clerking. Sometimes, their judges have hired a temporary law clerk; other times, I've heard of a particularly productive co-clerk handling all of the work while their co-clerk was on leave. Since you're at the district court level, I'm assuming you have one, maybe two, co-clerks?
Depending on your relationship with your judge, I'd go to them and offer some plan of action, e.g., I'm due on X date and anticipate needing Y amount of time on leave. I think your judge's response (i.e., whether to hire a temporary law clerk or just have your co-clerk(s) handle the work) will come down to where you are in your clerkship. If you just started recently, your judge might be more inclined to hire a temporary law clerk, for instance.
What's your relationship like with the JA? If you can trust them, I would ask them how to proceed.
Congrats again (both on the clerkship and your pregnancy)
Thank you for such an encouraging response! I have a two fantastic co-clerks, and it is generally a very supportive chambers. Approaching our JA first is a great idea, and will hopefully calm my nerves a bit before approaching my judge!
Re: Parental leave/pregnancy during district clerkship
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:57 am
by clementine343
Thought I should provide an update in case any women come across this post in the future. I received an overall positive response from my judge, who expressed that there is likely a way for someone to fill in for me while I take some leave. I may also be able to extend my end date to make up for any leave taken. Please feel free to PM me if this is a situation you find yourself in, and I am happy to share more.
Re: Parental leave/pregnancy during district clerkship
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 10:26 am
by Anonymous User
clementine343 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:57 am
Thought I should provide an update in case any women come across this post in the future. I received an overall positive response from my judge, who expressed that there is likely a way for someone to fill in for me while I take some leave. I may also be able to extend my end date to make up for any leave taken. Please feel free to PM me if this is a situation you find yourself in, and I am happy to share more.
That's great! A clerk on EDNY with me was in your position and she found a friend who filled in for her during her leave. (Found the article:
https://abovethelaw.com/2018/07/revolut ... clerkship/) So people have done it and I have tremendous respect for those doing it because a lot of judges are still insane about leaves and the only way the culture will change is to show that the world won't fall apart if someone takes a leave. Thanks for being on the forefront!