2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring Forum

(Seek and share information about clerkship applications, clerkship hiring timelines, and post-clerkship employment opportunities)
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2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Sep 12, 2017 9:54 am

Thought I might as well get this thread started. It's really early to apply, but is there any movement out there?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:54 pm

Most of started less than a month ago. I don't know anyone who's started applying yet.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:59 pm

Most of started less than a month ago. I don't know anyone who's started applying yet.
Several clerks in my district have off-cycle start/end dates, some whose clerkship is concluding this winter and some this spring. They've been applying for early 2018 start dates at firms.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by BulletTooth » Tue Sep 12, 2017 10:28 pm

Tag

Mobster1983

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Mobster1983 » Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:13 am

Applied to DOJ Honors and plan on a couple other honor programs over the next few weeks. Will see how that goes before looking some more.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by deuceindc » Fri Sep 22, 2017 3:47 pm

Feeling bullish today: First-Year Associate Hiring Set to Increase at Law Firms. Granted, we're all probably looking to land a year of seniority + signing bonus, but increased demand for junior associates is good for us.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:07 am

SDNY/DE bankruptcy clerk here. When is everyone planning to begin their job search?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:39 am

(2/9/D.C. Clerk) myself and one other co clerk are likely looking to apply soonish. Word is that some litigation boutiques may have started informal conversations.

What is everyone doing re: writing samples where judge isn't allowing any written product to be used? Do firms actually look at the writing sample?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:09 am

Anonymous User wrote:(2/9/D.C. Clerk) myself and one other co clerk are likely looking to apply soonish. Word is that some litigation boutiques may have started informal conversations.

What is everyone doing re: writing samples where judge isn't allowing any written product to be used? Do firms actually look at the writing sample?
2-year clerk here. In the past few months I have had a handful interviews in BigLaw and BigFed. My judge does allow me to use my work product but, FWIW, not once has an interviewer mentioned my writing sample. It may be different for lit boutiques but I don't think the larger employers care very much.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by peter2009 » Thu Oct 05, 2017 2:41 pm

Anonymous User wrote:SDNY/DE bankruptcy clerk here. When is everyone planning to begin their job search?
The sooner the better. A lot of people wait until January but there is no downside to starting now.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:24 pm

Anonymous User wrote:(2/9/D.C. Clerk) myself and one other co clerk are likely looking to apply soonish. Word is that some litigation boutiques may have started informal conversations.

What is everyone doing re: writing samples where judge isn't allowing any written product to be used? Do firms actually look at the writing sample?
Also 2/9/DC and can confirm re: litigation boutiques—and not just informal conversations. For boutiques that only hire clerks, I don't think there's any downside in applying now and there can be real upside.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Oct 05, 2017 8:40 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:(2/9/D.C. Clerk) myself and one other co clerk are likely looking to apply soonish. Word is that some litigation boutiques may have started informal conversations.

What is everyone doing re: writing samples where judge isn't allowing any written product to be used? Do firms actually look at the writing sample?
2-year clerk here. In the past few months I have had a handful interviews in BigLaw and BigFed. My judge does allow me to use my work product but, FWIW, not once has an interviewer mentioned my writing sample. It may be different for lit boutiques but I don't think the larger employers care very much.
For those whose judges permit using work product as a writing sample: are you using a draft of the opinion (that includes no edits by the judge) or just submitting the published opinion (with an explanation that it includes the judge's edits)?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:33 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:(2/9/D.C. Clerk) myself and one other co clerk are likely looking to apply soonish. Word is that some litigation boutiques may have started informal conversations.

What is everyone doing re: writing samples where judge isn't allowing any written product to be used? Do firms actually look at the writing sample?
2-year clerk here. In the past few months I have had a handful interviews in BigLaw and BigFed. My judge does allow me to use my work product but, FWIW, not once has an interviewer mentioned my writing sample. It may be different for lit boutiques but I don't think the larger employers care very much.
For those whose judges permit using work product as a writing sample: are you using a draft of the opinion (that includes no edits by the judge) or just submitting the published opinion (with an explanation that it includes the judge's edits)?
I use an unedited (by the judge) draft opinion.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by sportsstatboy » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:03 pm

tag

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by michaelm55 » Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:38 pm

I am one year through a two-year federal district clerkship, and graduated top-third from a top-14 law school. I have been applying since July 2017 to begin in the fall of 2018, and have received some offers, including a big law offer. It is never too early to start.

The one bit of advice I would offer is to focus on job postings for specific positions, not general emails to firm recruiters. The latter are generally less effective in my experience.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by deuceindc » Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:48 pm

michaelm55 wrote: The one bit of advice I would offer is to focus on job postings for specific positions, not general emails to firm recruiters. The latter are generally less effective in my experience.
Are you talking about positions that specify a fall 2018(/otherwise post-clerkship) start date, or do you mean positions that firms are advertising as available? I've gotten some positive feedback on the former (1:1 application:CB) but I'm hesitant to apply to the latter because, well, I'm not really available to start working in the next 10 months.

ETA: anyone have luck applying through clerkship-specific recruiters at firms?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by JakeTappers » Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:47 pm

deuceindc wrote:
michaelm55 wrote: The one bit of advice I would offer is to focus on job postings for specific positions, not general emails to firm recruiters. The latter are generally less effective in my experience.
Are you talking about positions that specify a fall 2018(/otherwise post-clerkship) start date, or do you mean positions that firms are advertising as available? I've gotten some positive feedback on the former (1:1 application:CB) but I'm hesitant to apply to the latter because, well, I'm not really available to start working in the next 10 months.

ETA: anyone have luck applying through clerkship-specific recruiters at firms?
Shit, these exist??

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by JakeTappers » Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:05 pm

michaelm55 wrote:I am one year through a two-year federal district clerkship, and graduated top-third from a top-14 law school. I have been applying since July 2017 to begin in the fall of 2018, and have received some offers, including a big law offer. It is never too early to start.

The one bit of advice I would offer is to focus on job postings for specific positions, not general emails to firm recruiters. The latter are generally less effective in my experience.
Oft-asked questions here, but how detailed are/were you being in your cover letter or emails? Just hey i'm a clerk, here's my resume and whatever else is requested, or a bunch of shit about what you've done and learned and what attracts you to the firm?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:44 pm

I hear Susman is starting to get going. Word is clerk receptions will be next month.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:39 pm

Anonymous User wrote:I hear Susman is starting to get going. Word is clerk receptions will be next month.
Can confirm, got the LA recruiting letter this morning.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:33 pm

Anyone have advice for negotiating a below-market clerkship bonus upwards? Should this proceed through my recruiter, or should I take the in-house firm hiring coordinator at his word when he said to reach out to him with questions?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:40 pm

So... should we be just sending resumes and transcripts to firms of interest?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by JakeTappers » Fri Oct 20, 2017 10:42 pm

michaelm55 wrote:I am one year through a two-year federal district clerkship, and graduated top-third from a top-14 law school. I have been applying since July 2017 to begin in the fall of 2018, and have received some offers, including a big law offer. It is never too early to start.

The one bit of advice I would offer is to focus on job postings for specific positions, not general emails to firm recruiters. The latter are generally less effective in my experience.
Appreciate this advice greatly. But through the v100 I’m only seeing a handful of lit positions listed. Is there another place to look rather than just the firm websites?

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:23 pm

So, would BIGLAW be interested in someone with a temporary clerkship? Graduated top 25% from T-10, took a temporary clerkship because it was in a good market.

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Re: 2017-2018 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:44 am

Anonymous User wrote:So, would BIGLAW be interested in someone with a temporary clerkship? Graduated top 25% from T-10, took a temporary clerkship because it was in a good market.
My impression is that a temp clerkship is a small plus on your resume. You're biglaw-eligible based on grades/school, so depends on firms' needs and your capabilities and fit.

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