Law School Student 08/10/2023

Balancing Career Aspirations: District Court Clerkship versus SCOTUS Clerkship Ambitions

A law student at YSH aims to practice law in their home state, which is far from the east coast. They are considering a district court clerkship and, if circumstances permit, they might even aspire for a SCOTUS clerkship. Despite these aspirations, they wish to maintain solid professional connections in their home state, possibly California or Illinois, with a long-term interest in serving in the state government. Should their desire to clerk in a district court where they want to practice override the pursuit of maximizing chances for a SCOTUS clerkship? Could they still be considered a strong candidate even if they forego a feeder district court judge? Share your advice on this topic.