Should I try to get an appellate clerkship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

At HYS. Will be doing litigation in biglaw and then clerking on a district court (think CDCA/EDNY/EDVA/NDCA/NDIL). My career goals right now are ideally to become a biglaw partner (I'd like to start some generational wealth doing work I find interesting), though obviously that's subject to change as I move through my career. I don't really have much interest in appellate work. Should I be pursuing an appellate clerkship as well, either for the year before or after my district court clerkship?

Pros
- prestigious
- seems like a great/unique experience
- could be helpful in helping me transition into government at some point, which could be a critical pathway to an eventual partnership


Cons
- another year of reduced pay
- another year away from biglaw (less learning, schmoozing, and runway time)
- doesn't seem as useful as a district court clerkship, especially if I'm not interested in appellate work.

Would sincerely appreciate any thoughts on this! Thank you!

[crazywafflez]

I don't think there's a real need to pursue the clerkship. You'll get plenty from the Dist. Ct. one and your goals don't require it. Do your one year, get your signing bonus and take off.

[Anonymous User]

Based on your goals I would reccomend against doing it. You need that runway time. You're in a great position now and don't need an appellate clerkship and it may even interrupt things if you're in the firm in between. (i.e., clerk, firm, clerk, then back to firm). that being said i don't think choosing to clerk again will like be a huge hindrance or anything.

If you want to be an appellate partner of course I would gun for appellate no matter what.

[Anonymous User]

IMO you should do it. There are lifelong benefits like a good mentor (assuming your judge is interested in mentorship, but most will at least hop on the phone to discuss career decisions etc.), access to another clerk network, a resume boost. And to make partner, you have to be an excellent lawyer -- just grinding isn't enough. Clerking at the COA no doubt made me a better litigator, writer, thinker, etc. Even doing trial work, I often craft strategy based on the appeal down the line.