Clarifying Post Bar Law Clerk Positions
To put it simply, post bar law clerk jobs allow law school graduates to work in the law firm environment. If you perform a search to find post bar law clerk jobs using the words "law clerk" you are likely to see law clerk jobs entailing the typical tasks of performing legal research and/or drafting a variety of documents such as pleadings, motions and contracts. While that is certainly useful work to gain in your first few years out of law school, as you might suspect, most of that work will involve reviewing existing precedents and templates set forth by other attorneys. In other words, you may not be writing on your own. You may not be getting an opportunity to mold your thoughts and narratives into a document (whether a memo or pleading) from scratch.
But if you take a search that involves the words "post bar," and "legal writing" you will find posts like this hiring alert that has a high volume of applications. What makes those posts stand out is that they are for positions that are looking for legal research and writing, but are not reserved for clerks working toward just sitting for the bar exam. These positions involve a higher requirement of original writing , original work and original thought. In other words, these positions may have you doing some of the tasks that ordinarely you would not be doing until after you passed the bar exam.
This means that these post bar law clerk opportunities are for those who have already passed the bar exam (or will shortly be doing so), and in all likelihood, those who are competent enough to have learned everything that you need to know prior to that end goal. That means that post bar law clerk jobs are basically for those who already know how to be lawyers in practice. However, the good news is that if you can do lawyering at the level expected post-bar exam, you should have a decent shot of being offered a full-time position as an attorney (and these positions are far more stable than a traditional clerkship).
Ultimately, post bar law clerk jobs are a way for those who have met the requirements of growing to the level where they are now writing motions, writing pleadings, preparing for hearings, assisting clients and have handled some legal research on their own, to be able to learn under a supervising attorney. And frankly, if you can handle all that, you may find yourself in a much better place once your legal career actually kicks off.
The Perks of Post Bar Clerkships
So now that we have established that post bar law clerk positions exist, we need to discuss why you should care. Well the answer is simple enough, these jobs can lead to amazing experiences and connections. These positions give you an opportunity to enter the legal field before you are sworn in and start making significant connections that you would not otherwise have access to until years later.
Clerking for a judge is also a great way to get your resume in tip top shape. Though now some legal professionals question whether or not the "resume donut" is actually still bad on resumes, it is good to make sure that you have as little negative blank space on your resume as possible, especially considering how this may impact scholarship opportunities. Also, having these relevant experiences listed on your resume will make you look better to future employers.
To narrow down which door you would like to enter, let’s do a little role playing. Let’s say you are going to law school in order to become a district attorney for the district you are from or went to high school in. Well then, you probably want to become a post bar law clerk with a DA who you may one day work for, or at least someone in the DA’s office or related to the law enforcement community.
In contrast, let’s say that you are going to law school in order to take over your family’s firm, which happens to be mainly civil practice. Then you probably want to do a post bar law clerk position with a civil judge who practices in the type of law you are interested in. Why is that, you ask? Well in that case you would be meeting other members of your family’s firm, which can put you in a good position to step into your family members shoes when he or she retires, or even to receive a promotion to partner early. Essentially, if you can make the best of the experience, you can make all sorts of connections through a post bar clerk ship, all of which can potentially help you land a job.
Necessary Qualifications & Skills
The educational requirements for securing a post bar law clerk job are specific, including a graduated J.D. degree from an accredited law school, passing scores in the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), as well as the law exam in the individual state where they will be through the post bar clerk program. Though curriculum may vary slightly from year to year, we have seen law clerks placed at all levels of experience to date. Desirable attributes in candidates include: effective writing skills; strong oral communication skills; analytical and critical thinking proficiency; the ability to work well with others as part of a team; and experience in research and technology within the legal setting. When applying for a position, an applicant should target their resume objectives to a specific specialty or profession and detail the educational achievements which apply to the specific position they are applying to through their cover letter.
Finding Post Bar Law Clerk Positions
There are several methods that you can employ to find post-bar law clerk positions. The first step is to know where to look for openings. Start with resources such as your law school’s career services office, which may have a dedicated resource page. Career services may also send e-communications whenever a job posting comes across their desk. Finally, if the school invites employers to come on campus for an annual job fair, be sure to participate. These are events designed to connect students and employers, so do not pass up the opportunity to meet employers face-to-face.
Private job listing boards, such as PSJD, are also a great resource. You can create a profile on these sites to reflect your job preferences. Employment opportunities that fall within your criteria will then be emailed to you. This saves you time because you do not need to log on to the site every day to see if anything new has been posted. It can also help you better target potential employers since the listings will match your interests exactly.
Another invaluable resource is networking. Make sure you take full advantage of your law school network, but don’t stop there. You can leverage your undergraduate college network and your family, as well as friends and associates of friends. Depending on the type of practice you are interested in, you may also want to connect with attorneys, judges, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations. You should also consider reaching out to attorneys you worked with in the past. Networking is more art than science, but when done right, it can be an incredibly powerful tool. Do not overlook the importance of personal referrals in the legal profession; connections can be an invaluable part of clinching an opportunity.
Don’t forget to leverage your law school resources. Many schools actually have interviews lined up prior to the bar exam through which participating employers can virtually interview and select students for interviews during the week between the bar exam and the official release of results. While some employers still require bar passage prior to hiring, many others do not even require a law license until the end of the year.
In addition to summer clerkships, some legal employers offer seasonal, temporary, or part-time employment opportunities, as well as unpaid intern positions.
Writing an Impressive Application
Your resume and cover letter give you an opportunity to describe in detail your qualifications in a way the application form does not allow, and to explain your specific interest in the position. It generally pays to use the same resume for every application, but to craft individual cover letters for each application. Your cover letter should indicate that you are genuinely interested in the position for which you are applying, and specify how your experience is relevant to the position. It should not be a generic letter addressing the court.
Be sure to include the following information in your cover letter: In the first paragraph, explain how important it is for you to land a post-bar clerkship, and why. If you are a recent graduate, be sure to state whether you are sitting for the February or July bar. If you need to supplement your grades , come back to these at the end of the letter. In the second paragraph, note why you want to work at a particular court. This could be based on location, or because you know something about one of the judges. It should be a little more specific than "Your court is highly regarded," or "I have heard wonderful things about your court." In the third paragraph, highlight any relevant experience that you possess. Tell the employer why your experience is particularly valuable to them. Be sure to include anything noteworthy about your grades. For example, if you were one of only a handful of students in your class to receive the top grade in a bar prep course, this is worth mentioning. Keep in mind that your reviewer will likely be sifting through hundreds of applications. Make yours readable and clear, while at the same time making sure that it stands out from the crowd.
Preparing to Ace Interviews
With the competition of post bar clerkship jobs being so fierce, you’re going to have to be exceptionally well-prepared for your interview. So prepare accordingly and research how to conduct yourself in such an interview.
Common Questions You Can Expect
- If we called your law professors, what would they say about you?
- What specific skills can you bring to this position?
- Why do you want to work for our court?
- Do you read the newspaper or watch television? Which shows or news programs do you find interesting and why?
- Can you tell us about a time in which you excelled in team leadership?
- Why are you interested in this post bar law clerk position?
Tips on How to Give Yourself the Best Chance of Getting Hired
Practice interviewing with peers and adjust your responses accordingly to their feedback.
Research the Judges you could be working for. Many of them are likely published authors or judges so look for anything that was written about them in the Newspapers or websites like Law.com.
Be sure to arrive early. This demonstrates your punctuality as well as your enthusiasm to work at that particular court.
Try your best to remember the names of all the Judges you were interviewed by. At the end of your interview, be sure to thank the judges for their time and consideration. Sending a handwritten note on letterhead is highly encouraged.
Making the Shift to Attorney
So you’ve passed the bar exam and have successfully officially gone from a law student to an attorney, now what? Well if you are in the process of launching your legal career, cross your fingers that you landed that 6 week post bar clerkship or co-attorney opportunity you were hoping to get at that other firm in your first round of interviews. If you didn’t receive an offer, no worries, many people don’t and have an equally bright future ahead of them. With the help of this article, you will have a complete post bar law clerk resource at your fingertips. Whether you were fortunate enough to land a position or not. We’ll delve deeper into the "why’s" you should consider a post bar clerkship in our next section but let’s touch on what you can expect during transition period of being an attorney.
Well, that’s a really great question. But it’s one that’s been asked by many before you. A good starting point is to separate answering this question into two segments: Practical and Ideal. But before we delve deeper, let me say this. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being realistic, practical, and down to earth. The old adage of, "Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds" is never more true than when you’re navigating your career. First and foremost, focus on doing your best work and always put your best effort forward. Never stop thinking of ways you can improve yourself and your work. No matter how busy you are, you should always do your best. What makes a good attorney?
Without a doubt, a successful post bar Clerk or Co-Attorney position can set you up for numerous opportunities in the future . One of the most valuable advantages of either of these positions is they can potentially allow some attorney firms to hire you directly as an attorney. In some respects, a post bar clerkship or co-attorney position can serve as an extended final interview of sorts. Assuming you did well in your clerkship and/or co-attorney position, you could have a much shorter transition period before being hired or promoted as an attorney depending on the firm and position you’re applying for. Once that happens, you’re considered a fully licensed attorney and are eligible to begin billing clients out at attorney rates.
Post bar clerk positions are sought after like candy; you’re competing against multiple different candidates all vying for the same position. So, what can you do to increase the odds in your favor? How about showing the firm your sincerity about wanting to work there. This can be accomplished by writing a thank you note to the firm. Simple but effective, a nice touch that can have a big impact on your candidacy.
Even if you were offered a position at another firm, seek out and apply for post bar clerk positions. Why do this? Because it shows a willingness to go above and beyond. It also indicates you are willing to put in the hard work to achieve the results you want. Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager. They want to know that you care about doing a great job. That you are going to put in the effort to learn what you need and the skills necessary to succeed. A sincere, well written thank you note accomplished this.
