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January-January Clerkship and Recruiting
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:02 pm
by Anonymous User
Current clerk who recently began a clerkship (Article III judge) that runs January-January instead of the traditional Fall-Fall. I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into how this might impact post-clerkship recruiting. Not worried about it right this second, but a little worried it will be hard to recruit on the back end. I could always go back to my old firm, where I was for over a year, but I'd like to explore my options a bit.
Re: January-January Clerkship and Recruiting
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:50 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:02 pm
Current clerk who recently began a clerkship (Article III judge) that runs January-January instead of the traditional Fall-Fall. I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into how this might impact post-clerkship recruiting. Not worried about it right this second, but a little worried it will be hard to recruit on the back end. I could always go back to my old firm, where I was for over a year, but I'd like to explore my options a bit.
What recruiting? Do you mean applying for jobs? The January clerks I know did not have trouble getting big law offers with Jan./Feb. start dates. People join and leave firms all year.
But if you're referring to some specific recruiting process I can't speak to that.
Re: January-January Clerkship and Recruiting
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:38 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:02 pm
Current clerk who recently began a clerkship (Article III judge) that runs January-January instead of the traditional Fall-Fall. I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into how this might impact post-clerkship recruiting. Not worried about it right this second, but a little worried it will be hard to recruit on the back end. I could always go back to my old firm, where I was for over a year, but I'd like to explore my options a bit.
You will be fine. You should reach out to firms you are interested in on the earlier side (March/April) as that's kind of the dead period for law firm recruiting departments. They will have other things on their mind from when summer associates begin (May/June) to when 2L OCI ends (October-ish), and reaching out in October may be too late for some firms.
They may tell you to check back later if you reach out that early, but no harm/no foul. Essentially all of my friends who clerked wished they reached out to firms earlier; nobody wishes they did it later.
You should also check in with your judge on their policy and be mindful of conflicts during your clerkship.