Alums detail benefits of clerking
by Darren Schenck
photos by Mikel Healey
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| Lisa Paez '09 lists reasons to pursue clerkships |
Dozens of 1Ls gathered in USC’s Town & Gown last week to hear why they should consider working as a judicial clerk after graduating from law school. On hand to persuade them were attorneys from eight of Los Angeles’ most prominent law firms, each a sponsor of the annual Fall Judicial Clerkship Reception.
“These firms clearly think clerking is important,” said master of ceremonies Dave Walsh ’85, a partner at Morrison & Foerster and a member of the law school’s Board of Councilors’ Clerkship Committee. “While many, many people have said that they wished that they had clerked, I’ve never met a clerk who said they wished they hadn’t.”
Sponsoring the event were Paul Hastings; Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP; Morrison & Foerster; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Irell & Manella LLP; Sidley Austin LLP; Jones Day; and O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
Dean Robert K. Rasmussen told the students the question they should be asking is: “Why should I be doing this, and why now?”
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| Dave Walsh '85 emceed the event |
“We want you to understand your options coming from an elite law school,” he said. “It is the case when you look at courts across the country that [the clerks] are the top students from the top law schools.”
Several USC Gould alumni spoke at the event. Stephen Harris ’96, who has served as a hiring partner at Paul Hastings, said that many of his firm’s top job candidates had clerked.
“Think about it: you’ve had an extra year of training to think exactly like a judge thinks. You know how to write so judges want to read it,” he said. “Even if you’re not going to work in a big law firm, you’ll learn how to become a better lawyer, and I do think that’s something all of us should aspire to.”
Harris also asked the 1Ls in attendance if they had taken advantage of the 45 minutes before the program began to speak with one of the partners or associates in attendance. About a third of the students raised their hands.
To the rest of the students, Harris said, “When you have opportunities to build relationships, please do so. Remember that one of the great things about USC law school is you have the alumni network. Please, please, please take advantage of it.”
Lisa Paez ’09, an associate at Paul Hastings, opened by asking students if they knew what a clerkship was. When only about half of the 1Ls raised their hands, she explained that clerks serve as research attorneys for federal and some state judges, researching issues and drafting opinions.
“You’re basically the judge’s right hand,” she said.
So why would one clerk?
“First…it’s awesome. It’s the best year that anyone has in their legal career, hands down,” she said. “One, you build relationships. Two, you work on your research and writing in a way you never thought possible. And three, you see both good and bad lawyering.”
She added that the relationship you build with your judge “will last a lifetime.”
Kyle Casazza ’07, a litigation associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson, emphasized the value of working closely with one judge for an entire year.
“When you begin your clerkship, your judge will be one of – if not the most – accomplished lawyer you’ve ever met by that time, or they wouldn’t be where they are,” he said. “As a law clerk, you’ll have the rare opportunity of working only for them every day for an entire year, and in some cases longer. With your judge, you’ll have the opportunity to learn to be a better thinker, a better writer, a better colleague and a better person.”
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| Prof. Hannah Garry, center, talks with 1Ls |
Prof. Hannah Garry, chair of the law school’s Faculty Clerkship Committee, described her own clerkship as “life-changing.” She urged students to seek out faculty who serve on the committee and cultivate them as mentors.
“They’re specifically here to mentor you. We’ll offer one-on-one mentorship meetings with faculty for you to attend. So seek them out,” she said.
Although students won’t begin preparing their clerkship applications until the first semester of their 2L year, Garry told them it’s not too early to begin thinking about the logistics.
“Focus on your writing skills, focus on developing relationships with the faculty – judges put a lot of weight on faculty recommendations – and do judicial externships,” she said.
In November, Garry will be hosting a workshop, “Clerkships 101,” for 1Ls who want to learn more about the “nuts and bolts” of applying for clerkships.
To learn more about judicial externships and clerkships, contact the Office of Career Services at 213.740.7397.
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