Post-clerkship opportunities in Chicago Forum

(Seek and share information about clerkship applications, clerkship hiring timelines, and post-clerkship employment opportunities)
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting

Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about clerkship applications and clerkship hiring. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.

Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
Anonymous User
Posts: 431639
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Post-clerkship opportunities in Chicago

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 17, 2025 1:10 am

I have one more year to go in a two year clerkship at a not competitive district (think Iowa, Mississippi, something like that). Do not have a biglaw job to go back to.

I want to do litigation in Chicago and am barred in Illinois, but am feeling a bit iffy on my chances. My credentials are pretty great until you look at my transcript: UChicago, law review board, government experience with a niche subject matter focus, etc., but my grades are dead-on median and I've been hearing some nasty things about the market for new lit associates in Chicago.

Not sure which direction I should take. I really want to avoid another clerking a second time because I kinda doubt 7th Circuit is in the cards and I really want to settle down somewhere. Can I safely count on having some market-paying options litigating in Chicago or do I need to search more broadly?

Anonymous User
Posts: 431639
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Post-clerkship opportunities in Chicago

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:32 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jan 17, 2025 1:10 am
I have one more year to go in a two year clerkship at a not competitive district (think Iowa, Mississippi, something like that). Do not have a biglaw job to go back to.

I want to do litigation in Chicago and am barred in Illinois, but am feeling a bit iffy on my chances. My credentials are pretty great until you look at my transcript: UChicago, law review board, government experience with a niche subject matter focus, etc., but my grades are dead-on median and I've been hearing some nasty things about the market for new lit associates in Chicago.

Not sure which direction I should take. I really want to avoid another clerking a second time because I kinda doubt 7th Circuit is in the cards and I really want to settle down somewhere. Can I safely count on having some market-paying options litigating in Chicago or do I need to search more broadly?
I summered at a top Chicago biglaw firm.

It’s gonna depend on the market and hiring needs of the firms next year. Chi is small enough as a market such that one or two larger firms having less of a need for post clerkship hires can have significant knock-on effects.

My sense is that your resume isn’t disqualifying for Kirkland/Sidley/Jenner/Latham, but nor is it compelling. In a regular market, I’d expect you to land somewhere like a Winston.

Hopefully an associate in the market can chime in with more info.

Anonymous User
Posts: 431639
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Post-clerkship opportunities in Chicago

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Jan 18, 2025 4:35 am

OP here. Would be very happy with Winston I think. Some brilliant classmates are there. Other firms on that level also would work.

Anonymous User
Posts: 431639
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Post-clerkship opportunities in Chicago

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jan 22, 2025 1:53 pm

OP here. Anyone have more insight?

Anonymous User
Posts: 431639
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Post-clerkship opportunities in Chicago

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 24, 2025 3:46 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jan 22, 2025 1:53 pm
OP here. Anyone have more insight?
Your resume is quite competitive, you shouldn't have any trouble finding an offer at a decent firm.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


Post Reply Post Anonymous Reply  

Return to “Judicial Clerkships”