Clerking with work experience
Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 12:57 pm
I'm a 2015 grad doing enforcement work for a major federal agency. I'm currently applying for clerkships, and if I get one, it would most likely be during the 2019-20 term. I want to know if doing this would be a mistake.
My current work involves some (but personally, not enough) litigation. Further, litigation is federal court is ultimately handled by DOJ, with my agency playing support. In order of preference, I'd like to (1) litigate for the federal government, (2) litigate for the private sector, (3) stay at my current job, and (4) not be unemployed. I view clerkship as a means of transitioning to #1 and #2, which would cost me #3 and risk #4. So, more specifically, I'm curious to know to what extent TLS thinks a clerkship would help with the transition, and how my timing affects the risk of #4.
I know that there are a few other "clerking with experience" threads out there. Notwithstanding, I think my circumstance are a little different. First, I don't do full bore litigation now. Second, my learning curve is relatively front loaded--at this point (and certainly by this time next year), I have as much responsibility as I will ever have. It's a lot of responsibility and obviously/hopefully I'll continue to get better at my job, but I don't expect to learn more by virtue of my job changing, so the experiential opportunity cost is lower.
Anyways, I'm soliciting opinions. I can fill in more details if necessary (though I don't want to out myself). Thanks.
My current work involves some (but personally, not enough) litigation. Further, litigation is federal court is ultimately handled by DOJ, with my agency playing support. In order of preference, I'd like to (1) litigate for the federal government, (2) litigate for the private sector, (3) stay at my current job, and (4) not be unemployed. I view clerkship as a means of transitioning to #1 and #2, which would cost me #3 and risk #4. So, more specifically, I'm curious to know to what extent TLS thinks a clerkship would help with the transition, and how my timing affects the risk of #4.
I know that there are a few other "clerking with experience" threads out there. Notwithstanding, I think my circumstance are a little different. First, I don't do full bore litigation now. Second, my learning curve is relatively front loaded--at this point (and certainly by this time next year), I have as much responsibility as I will ever have. It's a lot of responsibility and obviously/hopefully I'll continue to get better at my job, but I don't expect to learn more by virtue of my job changing, so the experiential opportunity cost is lower.
Anyways, I'm soliciting opinions. I can fill in more details if necessary (though I don't want to out myself). Thanks.