Working Moms
CarrieAnneJD
member
Attorney, judicial clerkship
CarrieAnneJD
member
in Working Moms
Hey mommas,
I am a first-year associate, and I'm currently pregnant (20 weeks). I have a job offer at a different small firm (significant pay cut) and they know I'm pregnant, but I was just contacted by a judge to interview for a judicial clerkship. I've wanted to clerk since I heard about clerkships in law school, so I do want to go for it. However, I'm nervous about the maternity leave and the interview process. I don't want to hide the fact that I'm pregnant from the judge, but at the same time, I don't want to not get the job simply because I'll need maternity leave in the fall. And yet, it's a small district and it would affect the chambers (and would I really want to work for a judge who would not hire a qualified candidate because she's pregnant?). What are your thoughts on interviewing for a clerkship while pregnant? What do I say if they ask about needing any "reasonable accommodations" (technically pregnancy isn't a disability under the ADA, but I'll likely need ADA accommodations at some point for medical issues due to pregnancy, which are protected)? Should I just forget about doing a clerkship at all and take the associate gig? Thanks.
I am a first-year associate, and I'm currently pregnant (20 weeks). I have a job offer at a different small firm (significant pay cut) and they know I'm pregnant, but I was just contacted by a judge to interview for a judicial clerkship. I've wanted to clerk since I heard about clerkships in law school, so I do want to go for it. However, I'm nervous about the maternity leave and the interview process. I don't want to hide the fact that I'm pregnant from the judge, but at the same time, I don't want to not get the job simply because I'll need maternity leave in the fall. And yet, it's a small district and it would affect the chambers (and would I really want to work for a judge who would not hire a qualified candidate because she's pregnant?). What are your thoughts on interviewing for a clerkship while pregnant? What do I say if they ask about needing any "reasonable accommodations" (technically pregnancy isn't a disability under the ADA, but I'll likely need ADA accommodations at some point for medical issues due to pregnancy, which are protected)? Should I just forget about doing a clerkship at all and take the associate gig? Thanks.
Re: Attorney, judicial clerkship
See if u can reach out to other people/older attorneys to find out how it actually works/if it is feasible. But I always say you might as well try. Applying for the clerkship won't affect your other job offer right? You'll still have the firm to fall back on?
Good luck! And let us know how it goes!