tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521318064826848712.post3723052643335711786..comments2023-10-19T04:51:53.516-05:00Comments on The Legal Dollar: Do Clerkships Make Financial Sense? Part 2Managing Partnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05130017520583425490noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521318064826848712.post-46152599157238374862010-08-31T11:44:54.045-05:002010-08-31T11:44:54.045-05:00NoJobForU - I also like your blog and added it to ...NoJobForU - I also like your blog and added it to my blog list on the right. Hope that's OK.Managing Partnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130017520583425490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521318064826848712.post-1652950090417924662010-08-31T11:43:39.950-05:002010-08-31T11:43:39.950-05:00Hi NoJobForU,
You are certainly right that many p...Hi NoJobForU, <br />You are certainly right that many people may not have a choice in this economy - and a clerkship is better than nothing.<br /><br />You also raise a great point with regard to most associates being gone from firms in a couple of years - typically still with large loan balances to be paid off. You also inquire as to whether having done a clerkship would let you last longer at a firm. As amazing as it might seem, I find that about half of the attrition is due to people selecting themselves out (it really is a stressful and often unpleasant job), but the other half really wants to stay, but there are limited positions available. The second half also typically lasts a little longer - maybe 4-5 years rather than 2-3. With regard to the second half, the real thing that helps them stay there is whether they have been able to get business - or look like they can develop business in the future. Whether they have done a clerkship is typically only relevant if it helps them get business.<br /><br />LoL - with regard to your comment about polishing, I agree that a clerkship may not be the most relevant thing to do outside of a couple of specific areas. However, I would equate it to a pro football player that opts to do extra laps instead of practicing with the team. The extra laps may make them a better runner, but they really need to focus on their teamwork and get in the game.Managing Partnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130017520583425490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521318064826848712.post-84723242031838288862010-08-31T02:26:58.444-05:002010-08-31T02:26:58.444-05:00I can see this analysis as relevant for somebody w...I can see this analysis as relevant for somebody who wants to do trial work, who lives in a jurisdiction where the courts treat filings as a side show to the hearing, and who doesn't want to go into academia or appellate law for a living.<br /><br />In this economy, there are some people who actually don't have a choice between the BIGLAW gig and a clerkship. <br /><br />It's hard to say, really. My big sticking point in all of this is that most associates are gone within a couple of years, so my question would be if a clerkship actually adds more money at the back end of their career. As opposed to being an also-ran who lasted two years in BIGLAW before they were dumped and making a fraction of their salary, would the clerkship buy them a couple of additional years in BIGLAW over the perception that they bring added value? Would the combination of BIGLAW and clerkship make landing a tenure-track position in academia much more likely?<br /><br />Otherwise...<br /><br />Having clerkship and law journal credentials in some case is like polishing a turd. If you're in a diploma mill school and aren't excelling or you want to work in family or criminal law, having a clerkship gives you the sweet double victory of teaching you a useless skill, (that is, if you live in a jurisdiction where the judge only spends 3 seconds reading your filing and only cares about what happens at hearings) and making you unemployable to people who think you're using the job to pay your bills until Jones Day returns your phone call.Chief Constable for the Areahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08824938329626712343noreply@blogger.com