Six Month Clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,
Just wanted to get TLS' view on my upcoming clerkship. I accepted a clerkship for six months with a district court judge in my town. Basically, she normally only does two year terms, but her current clerk needs to leave early. I interviewed with her and accepted the offer. She can't keep me on past six months, however, as she already has someone else slated to start in September. I'm a mid-level associate in a secondary market, btw.

Just a few questions for anyone with experience on this. 1) Is my clerkship going to be viewed as less prestigious by employers since it's only for six months? I don't really care, but just wanted to know if employers would view me as someone who couldn't get a year-long clerkship. 2) Will I receive a prorated clerkship bonus if I move to a new firm? Obviously a firm would be reluctant to give me a full bonus after only six months, but I think a prorated bonus seems fair. 3) Has anyone had success in networking with another judge for a longer clerkship after finishing a short, six month clerkship?

Thanks,
Andrew

[axel.foley]

I think if you express to the judge your interest in continuing to clerk after the 6 month period is over with another judge s/he should be able to help you out. The judge will also be aware that a 6 month clerkship is unusual and she may know another judge in the district or circuit with an opening.

[kyle1978]

If its the judge I'm thinking of (last name rhymes with Gin), I believe s/he will assist in helping you find another judge to clerk for. Not sure about the pro-rated $$$

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the advice regarding securing a longer clerkship. Any other thoughts regarding comp and relative prestige of this short clerkship?

[Anonymous User]

Any other thoughts? My practice group leader wasn't happy when I told him I was leaving and basically said this isn't a real clerkship and no one would think of it as such. Is he right? Am I just wasting my time?

[Anonymous User]

Any other thoughts? My practice group leader wasn't happy when I told him I was leaving and basically said this isn't a real clerkship and no one would think of it as such. Is he right? Am I just wasting my time?

The person who hires you upon completion of your clerkship will certainly not think that. Clerkships are amazing experiences, and there is a lot to be gained in 6 months. I think your major concern is people thinking you were fired.

YMMV, but I left my biglaw job for a temporary state court clerkship against the advice of everyone I knew. It was less prestigious, people will think you were fired, blah blah blah. I didn't really care. I knew I wanted to clerk and clerk in this particular market, so I jumped at the opportunity. I expressed to my judge, before accepting and again when I started, that I would like to clerk for a federal judge, and she said she would keep that in mind. A month after starting, out of nowhere, she called me into chambers and began going through her federal judge contacts. Within two weeks of that meeting, I secured a district clerkship. When I was reapplying to big law jobs, a few people asked me about the temporary clerkship. I pretty much said the same thing to them as I said here, minus the state judge putting me in touch with the federal judge. I definitely think the temporary clerkship caused some people to glance over my resume and not give me an interview, but there were enough that didn't, and I ultimately returned to big law with no drop in class or salary in the market I wanted.

Not everyone has two federal clerkship lined up immediately after law school!!!

[Anonymous User]

Any other thoughts? My practice group leader wasn't happy when I told him I was leaving and basically said this isn't a real clerkship and no one would think of it as such. Is he right? Am I just wasting my time?

The person who hires you upon completion of your clerkship will certainly not think that. Clerkships are amazing experiences, and there is a lot to be gained in 6 months. I think your major concern is people thinking you were fired.

YMMV, but I left my biglaw job for a temporary state court clerkship against the advice of everyone I knew. It was less prestigious, people will think you were fired, blah blah blah. I didn't really care. I knew I wanted to clerk and clerk in this particular market, so I jumped at the opportunity. I expressed to my judge, before accepting and again when I started, that I would like to clerk for a federal judge, and she said she would keep that in mind. A month after starting, out of nowhere, she called me into chambers and began going through her federal judge contacts. Within two weeks of that meeting, I secured a district clerkship. When I was reapplying to big law jobs, a few people asked me about the temporary clerkship. I pretty much said the same thing to them as I said here, minus the state judge putting me in touch with the federal judge. I definitely think the temporary clerkship caused some people to glance over my resume and not give me an interview, but there were enough that didn't, and I ultimately returned to big law with no drop in class or salary in the market I wanted.

Not everyone has two federal clerkship lined up immediately after law school!!!

Thank you! This is actually very helpful.