Should I just stop trying for federal district? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Have a federal circuit clerkship ending in a few months. I always wanted to do federal circuit and district but after 4 cycles it appears that I just cannot get it. Now federal district apps in SDNY/EDNY will be for 2027+ if I want to stay in New York. At a certain point, should I just drop it and just go be a lawyer and stop worrying about this. Not sure if the benefits outweigh the cons of leaving to clerk as a 4th, 5th, or even 6th year especially if I already have a federal circuit clerkship?

[Anonymous User]

This is a very confusing post. Have you never applied outside of SDNY/EDNY?

[Anonymous User]

I echo the previous poster. If you just want to clerk on any federal district court (or maybe one that isn’t necessarily SDNY), then I am perplexed on why you’re having issues nabbing one with a COA in hand.

[Anonymous User]

Oh sorry, OP here. To clarify, I'm older and can't/don't want to really move out of NYC for a gap year. To also add more information I'll be returning to my firm as a 3rd year after this COA clerkship.

Basically what I'm asking is if I should keep trying for SDNY/EDNY even if it would interupt my work in a firm and I would end up clerking as a 5th or 6th or 7th year. I know clerking is important, but since I already have a COA I'm wondering if there are diminishing returns in a second one that warrants just dropping it at a certain point. Surely as you start to get more senior it becomes less and less advisable to leave the firm for a clerkship?

[Anonymous User]

Oh sorry, OP here. To clarify, I'm older and can't/don't want to really move out of NYC for a gap year. To also add more information I'll be returning to my firm as a 3rd year after this COA clerkship.

Basically what I'm asking is if I should keep trying for SDNY/EDNY even if it would interupt my work in a firm and I would end up clerking as a 5th or 6th or 7th year. I know clerking is important, but since I already have a COA I'm wondering if there are diminishing returns in a second one that warrants just dropping it at a certain point. Surely as you start to get more senior it becomes less and less advisable to leave the firm for a clerkship?

I clerked for a district court judge and thought it was a great experience. With that said, I don't think it's worth it in your circumstances unless you really want to be an AUSA in SDNY or EDNY (and probably not even then). There are diminishing returns, the financial hit will be really significant, and you will be at the stage of your career where you either need to be building up your internal capital for a run at partnership or planning your exit. A one-year district court clerkship will not help you with either of those things.

[Anonymous User]

Oh sorry, OP here. To clarify, I'm older and can't/don't want to really move out of NYC for a gap year. To also add more information I'll be returning to my firm as a 3rd year after this COA clerkship.

Basically what I'm asking is if I should keep trying for SDNY/EDNY even if it would interupt my work in a firm and I would end up clerking as a 5th or 6th or 7th year. I know clerking is important, but since I already have a COA I'm wondering if there are diminishing returns in a second one that warrants just dropping it at a certain point. Surely as you start to get more senior it becomes less and less advisable to leave the firm for a clerkship?

I clerked for a district court judge and thought it was a great experience. With that said, I don't think it's worth it in your circumstances unless you really want to be an AUSA in SDNY or EDNY (and probably not even then). There are diminishing returns, the financial hit will be really significant, and you will be at the stage of your career where you either need to be building up your internal capital for a run at partnership or planning your exit. A one-year district court clerkship will not help you with either of those things.

Thanks those were my thoughts too. Just wanted to confirm I wasn't crazy for thinking that. I'll still probably apply to the extent there are any judges hiring in 2025 or 2026, but I think after that I'll just drop it. A federal COA is certainly enough to carry me through my career I believe.

[Anonymous User]

You can totally get a clerkship in NYC for 2025. Many senior judges hire a few months ahead of the opening, as do so non-senior status judges as well. I hear Korman on EDNY is hiring right now for EDNY.

[Anonymous User]

Also, many SDNY and EDNY judges -- especially the senior status ones -- do not post on OSCAR and just expect applicants to send their materials to their chambers email and/or snail mail. Many of them hire <12 months before the clerkship starts.