Can an associate practicing 5+ years in a big law corporate group make a change in career direction and get a judicial clerkship. Possible? Ideas to get it done? Thanks.

Anything is possible. But clerkships tend to concentrate on litigation. A bankruptcy clerkship might be beneficial.

Regardless, apply and see what happens. Be prepared to field questions as to why you seek a change at this stage in your career, particularly if partnership track is along the not-too-distant horizon.

That's actually a very good way to use a clerkship. It can be like B-school -- you go into it because you want to change direction afterward.

Not every judge will look at you, but many will. The growing trend is to hire clerks who have been practicing for a while.

I would ask around among lawyers and law clerks in the district you want to clerk in to find out which judges have a pattern of hiring people a few years out.

Caution: Obviously you will take a massive pay cut! Way bigger than the Obama Pay Cut.

I definitely think this is a developing problem. I'm a clerk in who just went through the job hunting process in Boston. It was tough. I ended up with offers from the top three firms in the city, but it took some work to get my foot in the door and I definitely got the sense the firms weren't looking to hire unless the candidate had an in of some sort/someone to vouch for him.

12:51

When you say work, what do you mean? What did you do above and beyond the traditional cover letter and resume mailing?

Im a soon to be clerk, and am starting to think about these things and how I need to approach the job search as a clerk.

I think it may be tough, 12:02. You'll probably get some judge to bite, but I think the "trend" to hire individuals with some working experience is more in the line of 1-2 years, not 5. Best of luck, though!

This survey is pointless if it doesn't account for whether firms are hiring non-clerks. I mean, Thacher Profit sure as hell isn't hiring clerks, but that doesn't mean it's bad to be a clerk right now.

All else being equal, your job prospects are better as a clerk than as a non-clerk.

Anyone know of EDNY/SDNY judges who prefer to hire folks with 1-2 years of experience?

In one respect, being a non-clerk is better - a non-clerk's current job doesn't have an end date. Mine does.

I concur with 12:51. I'm a COA clerk with great grades from a top school, applying in a secondary market similar to Boston. So far, I've targeted the few V50 firms with offices here, and my mailings have been essentially fruitless. I will, of course, apply more broadly, but I get the feeling that things are difficult this year.

@1:14 - But clerks are the ones going through the process right now. Right now, things aren't bad for students, because they've already made their plans.

I worked for 4 years in a biglaw corporate group before clerking on the COA. My judge appreciates my work experience and doesn't mind that it focused on transactions. The more difficult part is finding a job after clerking. Firms are confused by my clerking, and I always get the question whether I want to be a litigator. I would advise knowing where you want to go after the clerkship, before accepting one.

1:30: By "fruitless" do you mean that firms are ignoring your applications? Or are they outright rejecting you? I've had difficulty in big markets, too.

I'm another COA clerk having trouble finding a job. I worked for a firm for a year before clerking. Went to a good law school, got good grades, etc. Any clerk can get a job somewhere like NY, especially if you don't have a practice group preference. But getting a job elsewhere (especially if you do have a practice group preference) is harder. My sense is also that I'm viewed as a lateral, not a typical clerk because of my experience. Because of that, firms will only hire me if they specifically need a lateral, as opposed to firms who will just hire a lot of clerks and consider them part of their large, first year batch.

Ditto to 1:59. I am also being viewed more as a lateral than a law clerk because of my prior work experience. I am wondering whether that view will be reflected in the clerkship bonus I receive upon accepting a job. In my secondary market, $50,000 is not standard and firms award varying bonuses. I haven't talked compensation with any firms yet, but I am going to fight tooth and nail for a full clerkship bonus.

1:47 - Ignoring. No rejections yet. One screening interview, at which the partner said I'd be an excellent fit etc., but they haven't decided whether they will hire this year.

I hear that the job market in Dublin, Ohio is great!

No, seriously! The COL is low but the QOL is super high!

GO BUCKEYES

i had an interview 2 weeks ago. how long before i just assume the polite letter is in the mail?

Atlanta raising to $35k clerkship bonus.

Does anybody think Bankruptcy Clerks done with their clerkship in 2009 are going to have a difficult time finding employment?

Or in the onslaught of the seemingly probably recession will bankruptcy clerks be in high demand?

It's murder out there. I have excellent grades, decent law school, a year of prior firm experience, but no one is biting.

All this rejection is starting to remind me of high school.

I got a job back in november.

Anyone have Philly-specific information? And does anyone know what standard clerkship bonuses look like in Philly? I know that the big two there pay $50K for federal, but I assume they are way the heck out in front.

why doesn't Lat just go and blow Lateral Link - can he feature them anymore on ATL???

I was just starting to lose hope when, this past week, I received several invitations for interviews. I don't know what the time-line is normally like, but maybe things are just picking up now.

Does anyone have an educated guess on when the clerkship hiring season slows down/ends in LA (based on past clerkship recruiting)?

mag clerk, are you looking in NY?

mag clerk, are you looking in NY?