::Brooke::

tldh

I've tried to PM you but for some reason I haven't been able to do it.  When I click on PM under your name it sends me to my home page and I can't figure it out - I really am a computer idiot.

Anyway,  if you want to talk privately about what is going on with your clerkship, I'm willing to listen and offer any advice I can or just a sympathetic ear.  I never did a judicial clerkship (again, I think that's what you said you are doing), but I spent enough time in judge's chambers and had friends who were judicial clerks to maybe help.  I have also mentored a few newbie attorneys and law clerks.

bablingbrooke

Sorry, been in court all morning.  I'll PM you...stand by.

bablingbrooke

Right, so it won't let me PM you either.  Weirdness.  So I'm going to be using lots of abbreviations instead--brace yourself!

I've been clerking at the PD.  Trying to get into fed court (AUSA or FD) and would love a judicial clerkship post-3L but word on the street is that most fed judges hired already (even though we weren't allowed to submit apps until last week!) but never say never!  I have no choice but to try to stay upbeat, even though it looks pretty grim right now. 

tldh

I just paged Banana to see what's going on.

If it doesn't begin to work, I'll try to answer here.

tldh

It sounds like you are in the same situation that I'm in right now.  The vast majority of hirings are done through networking and judicial clerkships are included in this.  Just because you couldn't submit apps until recently doesn't mean the judges haven't picked who they are going to hire.  I doubt anyone has received an official offer yet though.

I was approached by a judge as a 3L and asked to submit a resume.  The current judicial clerk was going to be leaving and it was made clear that submitting the resume would be a formality.  I wasn't interested in a clerkship because, in all honesty, it would have been a step back given the resume I already had.  Also, clerkships are no longer a guarantee of a big offer at a firm.  A lot of the clerks I knew wound up being a couple years behind the rest of us professionally when they went out into the real world. 

On the other hand, at my first firm after being licensed, I had been told that they'd probably have to lay me off in a month or so if their finances didn't straighten out.  The managing partner heard through the grapevine that there was an opening at a another firm.  Turns out, they were getting ready to make an offer to someone else.  Partner convinced them not to make the offer until they had at least talked to me.  Guess what - they gave the offer to me.

So there really is always hope.  I know school just started but I'd recommend going to every lecture, CLE or reception where there will be practicing attorneys.  If you don't have them, get business cards made.  Another thing to check out is a student section to any local bar associations - volunteer at any marathons, golf outings, etc.  You may try the career services people at your school but this is a judgement call.  When I was there our school's counselors where god awful.  A new Dean immediately cleaned house and having dealt with them over the past year, I love them. Transferring as a 3L kind of put you behind the 8 ball with networking but it's not too late.

Good Luck.
Tricia

tldh

I just thought of something else.  Since you were at your Boston school for 2 years, their CP office or alumni association may be willing to give you the names of their grads who are in your area.  It's worth a shot.  You may find one who practices at the federal level that can give you a good lay of the land.  Remember that you only need one person who can show you to the open doors.

bablingbrooke

Oh trust me, I've annoyed the hell out of my local alums  But thanks for the tip!