Networking is particularly effective in gaining employment with small firms as they frequently hire people they know and like. Government agencies, including district attorney's and solicitor's offices and state judges, generally hire in the spring. Working in the extern program for an organization that interests you can be a good way to access possibilities for permanent employment. Many government agencies post job listings with us, and we subscribe to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council newsletter, which lists positions for various prosecutors' offices. Judicial clerkships are an excellent way to gain valuable post-graduate experience.
Most judicial clerkships are two year appointments.
Federal judges hire far in advance, interviewing students during the fall of the year approximately two years prior to graduation. State judges hire their clerks closer to the starting date of employment. In addition, the CSO presents a program on judicial clerkships each year, usually in late October or early November. Corporate legal departments generally are small, sometimes consisting of only one or two attorneys, and usually hire only experienced attorneys. Because they do not have the resources to devote to training, and attorneys are frequently handling somewhat complex matters, corporations like to hire attorneys who have already gained experience in other settings, particularly in law firms.