DC Big Law after State Supreme Court Clerkship
Hello everyone! Graduated with honors and law review from a T50 and got barred last February. Curious what my career options look like in the DMV area after clerking at the Maryland Supreme Court in August 2026-27.
I know litigation is the path, and I’d like to go into Big Law, but I’m worried the market is too competitive right now without a federal clerkship. Especially in DC, it’s my understanding that a COA clerkship is required for any kind of appellate work, so that’s definitely off the table.
My law school’s career services office has been somewhat useless given that only 4 alums have clerked at the Maryland Supreme Court, and they all later went on to federal district clerkships. Do any of you in or around DC work with former State Supreme Court Clerks? My plan is to just network incredibly hard and try to get into a general lit practice at a bigger firm.