Exit options from State Supreme Court Clerkship Forum

[lawstudentn24]

Clerking at a State Supreme Court on the East Coast starting in 2026. Graduated top 20% with a 3.7 from a T30 law school (honors awarded). Held executive position on a secondary journal during school.

I want to pursue litigation, I'm just not sure how attractive I am to boutiques with the SSC clerkship. I'm thinking a federal district court clerkship after the SSC could make me a bit more competitive. My career services office has been utterly useless in advising me. They said I should apply to clerk at the federal circuits since I'll have appellate experience. Seems like a longshot with my credentials.

Another option I would be willing to pursue is AUSA, but even then it seems like a federal clerkship is necessary. Any former SSC clerks have some exit advice?

[Crazysnackaroo]

You've got a lot of options. For some places, just the SSC is sufficient, and it doesn't hurt to send out some feelers to boutiques - especially in your state that you're clerking. Outside of your state, it doesn't carry the cache of a fed. dist. ct. clerkship. I think it's fine to apply for Dist Ct. and COA clerkships. It likely is a longshot for COA, but if you apply widely you might snag something.

Re AUSA. Most AUSAs are ADAs for 5-15 years and then jump over to the feds. It's the tried and true path. Really, only very competitive districts are mostly T14/BL/FC packaged folks jumping over. In the offices I've worked with (think District of AZ, WD Tex, ND Tex etc.) 70-80% are former ADAs who've made the jump, less than 20% are some form of biglaw/FC refugees.

(I did not clerk SSC, but had 2 friends who did - one went on to fed clerkships and then biglaw, the other joined the AG criminal appeals division, then line ADA, and is now an AUSA.)

[lawstudentn24]

Great advice thank you! I'm told that where I'm clerking for the SSC is a very competitive district for federal clerkships (DC/MD/VA). I will definitely send out some feelers to boutiques, especially to some of the attorneys that also clerked at the SSC.

I think you're right though, most of the AUSAs in the DC and MD offices seem to be former BL/FC, so it might be worth it to go for FDC clerkship. For certain I could get into the state's AG office but I really need the boutique salary to pay off my loans.

[Anonymous User]

I am clerking on an East Coast SSC and then for a COA judge in the same state. My school is sub T-30. After the clerkships I'm doing normal BigLaw lit. I think getting my COA clerkship was a small miracle and was certainly the result of networking and lots of luck. But it's probably worth shooting your shot, especially with judges in the state who might know your SSC judge.

The advice I got (prior to getting the COA gig) was that my SSC made me competitive for the more prestigious districts in the circuit I'm in (1/3/4). In terms of boutique odds, I do think a USDJ clerkship would make you more competitive--but if it's an unusually well-regarded SSC (DE, NJ, NY, and MA on the east coast) or its the state you want to practice then I seriously doubt you need it for BigLaw or probably many boutiques. Can't speak to the AUSA element.

[lawstudentn24]

I am clerking on an East Coast SSC and then for a COA judge in the same state. My school is sub T-30. After the clerkships I'm doing normal BigLaw lit. I think getting my COA clerkship was a small miracle and was certainly the result of networking and lots of luck. But it's probably worth shooting your shot, especially with judges in the state who might know your SSC judge.

The advice I got (prior to getting the COA gig) was that my SSC made me competitive for the more prestigious districts in the circuit I'm in (1/3/4). In terms of boutique odds, I do think a USDJ clerkship would make you more competitive--but if it's an unusually well-regarded SSC (DE, NJ, NY, and MA on the east coast) or its the state you want to practice then I seriously doubt you need it for BigLaw or probably many boutiques. Can't speak to the AUSA element.

I don't know if any of the SSCs in the 4th circuit are as well regarded as NY, CA or DE. I do want to practice in the state where my SSC is or go to DC, even though the DDC is super competitive. I'll network the best I can and apply for both district and COA.

[Anonymous User]

I am clerking on an East Coast SSC and then for a COA judge in the same state. My school is sub T-30. After the clerkships I'm doing normal BigLaw lit. I think getting my COA clerkship was a small miracle and was certainly the result of networking and lots of luck. But it's probably worth shooting your shot, especially with judges in the state who might know your SSC judge.

The advice I got (prior to getting the COA gig) was that my SSC made me competitive for the more prestigious districts in the circuit I'm in (1/3/4). In terms of boutique odds, I do think a USDJ clerkship would make you more competitive--but if it's an unusually well-regarded SSC (DE, NJ, NY, and MA on the east coast) or its the state you want to practice then I seriously doubt you need it for BigLaw or probably many boutiques. Can't speak to the AUSA element.

I don't know if any of the SSCs in the 4th circuit are as well regarded as NY, CA or DE. I do want to practice in the state where my SSC is or go to DC, even though the DDC is super competitive. I'll network the best I can and apply for both district and COA.

Yeah DDC is tough. But you seem like a strong candidate for district and you never know with COA!

[Updog1234]

I am clerking on an East Coast SSC and then for a COA judge in the same state. My school is sub T-30. After the clerkships I'm doing normal BigLaw lit. I think getting my COA clerkship was a small miracle and was certainly the result of networking and lots of luck. But it's probably worth shooting your shot, especially with judges in the state who might know your SSC judge.

The advice I got (prior to getting the COA gig) was that my SSC made me competitive for the more prestigious districts in the circuit I'm in (1/3/4). In terms of boutique odds, I do think a USDJ clerkship would make you more competitive--but if it's an unusually well-regarded SSC (DE, NJ, NY, and MA on the east coast) or its the state you want to practice then I seriously doubt you need it for BigLaw or probably many boutiques. Can't speak to the AUSA element.

I don't know if any of the SSCs in the 4th circuit are as well regarded as NY, CA or DE. I do want to practice in the state where my SSC is or go to DC, even though the DDC is super competitive. I'll network the best I can and apply for both district and COA.

Yeah DDC is tough. But you seem like a strong candidate for district and you never know with COA!

If you are clerking for Supreme Court of Virginia, I’m sure you’d get looks from some of the big firms in Richmond (McGuire, Hunton, Troutman plus midsize firms like Williams Mullen, Hirschler etc.)