Post-Clerkship Firm Interviewing with Accepted SA Offer Forum

[m27]

I'm currently clerking for a district court judge in a major market. I have to start thinking about whether I want to return to the V30 firm I accepted my SA offer at, or interview around for a better firm with better exit opportunities. Personally, I want to go to a different firm that would put me in the best position to go into government, such as a litigation boutique or V10 with a prominent litigation group. However, my school's career services office told me that I should stick with the V30 firm and not rescind my acceptance for reputational reasons; but if I do want to start interviewing around, I should preemptively rescind. Is this the norm? I think my school is missing the mark with that advice, so I'm wondering what is the best way interview for post-clerkship positions with an accepted SA offer in hand. Any other insight, especially from those who were/are in a similar situation, would be appreciated. Thanks!

[LBJ's Hair]

Your career services is giving you terrible advice, probably because they're worried that it'll hurt the school's reputation if you renege. Ignore them and interview (discreetly). Full-time associates don't quit their jobs before interviewing for lateral opportunities - same idea here.

[2013]

Your career services is giving you terrible advice, probably because they're worried that it'll hurt the school's reputation if you renege. Ignore them and interview (discreetly). Full-time associates don't quit their jobs before interviewing for lateral opportunities - same idea here.

I agree that you should do it discreetly, but I think there’s a difference between accepting an offer and rescinding v. lateraling discreetly.

You’re going to have to blatantly lie to these firms and say you haven’t accepted an offer to return to your firm. If you’re willing to take that risk, so be it.

Just something to consider. I doubt anyone really cares enough to confirm, but they may bring up that question.

[Barrred]

You’re going to have to blatantly lie to these firms and say you haven’t accepted an offer to return to your firm. If you’re willing to take that risk, so be it.

Not sure this is true. They may ask if you were given an offer at your SA firm, and ask why you don't want to go back, but I doubt they would specifically ask if you accepted the SA firm offer. Just be honest and say that you did receive an offer, but you are exploring your options because of X, Y, and Z reasons.

[LBJ's Hair]

Your career services is giving you terrible advice, probably because they're worried that it'll hurt the school's reputation if you renege. Ignore them and interview (discreetly). Full-time associates don't quit their jobs before interviewing for lateral opportunities - same idea here.

I agree that you should do it discreetly, but I think there’s a difference between accepting an offer and rescinding v. lateraling discreetly.

You’re going to have to blatantly lie to these firms and say you haven’t accepted an offer to return to your firm. If you’re willing to take that risk, so be it.

Just something to consider. I doubt anyone really cares enough to confirm, but they may bring up that question.

Firms will ask if you've *received* a return offer, but they're not likely to ask if you've *accepted* it. Why would they care?