Worried about upcoming clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm freaking out because I recently saw three reviews about my judge on LAP that warned that she was an abusive manager and that her chambers was an extremely toxic work environment. One review specifically mentioned that she would pit clerks against one another. I wish I had seen these reviews before accepting but they were not posted until sometime this year (I accepted the clerkship last year). I feel like there's no way to renege now. Could anyone share their own experiences navigating a difficult clerkship? Am I overthinking it? When I interviewed last year, her clerks did warn me that she was a strict boss, I needed thick skin, and that she gave harsh feedback. But being a tough manager is very different from being an abusive and toxic one...

[Anonymous User]

OP, I would consider editing your post. Based on the information you provided about the Judge's gender, the number of LAP reviews, the content of those reviews, and when you said you were hired, it is pretty easy to figure out which Judge you are referring to.

If I am correct, then unfortunately this Judge's reputation is quite well known, as a search on this forum will show you. Either way, I would take a clerk saying that their Judge gives "harsh" feedback and you need "thick skin" in an interview as a huge warning sign. I have found it incredibly difficult to get any current or former clerk to criticize their judge outside of confidence.

Wishing you the best, and hope you get advice from someone who has been through this. If this is who I think it is, and you want to work at their former job, it may be worth a year of pain for the connection. But a year of your life is precious, and it is a lot of time to put up with an abusive working environment--especially for a Judge who has a reputation for firing people early.

[Anonymous User]

Totally fair to be anxious about the upcoming year, and I'm sorry that those clerks did not have a good experience. FWIW, I definitely think LAP attracts a certain type of poster who wants to make an example out of a judge they didn't like. Perhaps those experiences are not indicative of others' or what your experience will be like. Try not to go in thinking it will be a terrible year, otherwise you may view every slight through this lens.

[Anonymous User]

I'm freaking out because I recently saw three reviews about my judge on LAP that warned that she was an abusive manager and that her chambers was an extremely toxic work environment. One review specifically mentioned that she would pit clerks against one another. I wish I had seen these reviews before accepting but they were not posted until sometime this year (I accepted the clerkship last year). I feel like there's no way to renege now. Could anyone share their own experiences navigating a difficult clerkship? Am I overthinking it? When I interviewed last year, her clerks did warn me that she was a strict boss, I needed thick skin, and that she gave harsh feedback. But being a tough manager is very different from being an abusive and toxic one...

Do you mind sharing which judge this is in reference to for others to be equally aware (or even to offer their different experiences)? If not her name, her district or circuit? BTW it's never too late to pull out for ~reasons~

[Anonymous User]

I would recommend that you reach out to former clerks and try to get their candid opinion if possible. If your school's alumni database doesn't have anyone who clerked for this judge, you should just reach out to people on linkedin. The advice I have heard is that a toxic clerkship can be a brutal year and isn't worth it. Does it start this year or in 2026? I personally don't think it would be too late to renege either way since this is new, deal-breaking information for you. I have had a couple friends that reneged on clerkships after finding similar reviews, and they were still able to land clerkships with other judges.

[Anonymous User]

For future posters if in the interview the clerks are telling you the judge is strict, harsh, and you need thick skin that means they're trying to warn you.

[lavarman84]

For future posters if in the interview the clerks are telling you the judge is strict, harsh, and you need thick skin that means they're trying to warn you.

I was going to say the same thing. If clerks are offering neutral responses (instead of saying positive things), that's a signal to dig further. If they're saying negative things about their judge, that's a massive red flag.

OP, only you can decide whether you can do a year clerking for this judge. As another poster said, I'd reach out to former clerks and ask about their experiences (and how they navigated chambers if they say anything remotely negative). I'm sorry you're in this situation.

[Anonymous User]

For future posters if in the interview the clerks are telling you the judge is strict, harsh, and you need thick skin that means they're trying to warn you.

I was going to say the same thing. If clerks are offering neutral responses (instead of saying positive things), that's a signal to dig further. If they're saying negative things about their judge, that's a massive red flag.

OP, only you can decide whether you can do a year clerking for this judge. As another poster said, I'd reach out to former clerks and ask about their experiences (and how they navigated chambers if they say anything remotely negative). I'm sorry you're in this situation.

There are judges who are strict and demanding, and whose clerks will still say extremely positive things about them. If you haven't heard the second part, huge red flag.

[Wild Card]

As long as she doesn't fire you, who cares? Just suck it up for a year.

Imagine you're stuck in a abusive and toxic work environment working 60-100 hours a week for years. Oh, wait, that's biglaw!

[Anonymous User]

As long as she doesn't fire you, who cares? Just suck it up for a year.

Imagine you're stuck in a abusive and toxic work environment working 60-100 hours a week for years. Oh, wait, that's biglaw!

These are fundamentally different than abusive biglaw environemnts. You are trapped in a small area with no workplace protections over a person who is basically above the law and wields enormous power in the legal profession. I get your point that life sucks but I do not for a second think bad biglaw experience is comparable to certain judges.