Please note this content was written by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges.
1.) One-on-One Time with a Federal Judge.
A knowledgeable, experienced and approachable U.S. bankruptcy court judge will spend individual time with you and provide you with insights that you will not be able to obtain anywhere else. What is better than that? And, by its very nature, bankruptcy matters proceed at a relatively faster pace than matters before other federal judges, so you are likely to be involved with litigation and mediation from inception to completion during your time with a bankruptcy judge.
2. Develop Skills for Networking Like a Pro.
Bankruptcy professionals are a tight-knit community and you will have unique opportunities in your clerkship to observe and interact with many insolvency lawyers, accountants, turnaround specialists, judges and other clerks both during and outside of court at seminars and conferences. These experiences will help you develop early networking skills as a new attorney.
3. You Will Never be Bored.
The cases you will work on will be both factually and legally interesting and will include large and small businesses trying to reorganize in a wide variety of industries, individuals trying to keep their houses and cars while seeking to discharge their debts, farmers trying to save their family farms, and even on occasion a foreign cross-border case or a municipality or other governmental entity insolvency case.
4. Become an Effective Advocate.
You will be able to observe numerous lawyers and their styles and learn to develop the most successful style for you in persuading judges to support your clients’ positions and requests for relief.
5. Acquire a Specialized Skill Set.
You will see how bankruptcy law is applied and interpreted in depth. Bankruptcy law and procedure is a unique and marketable area of expertise. Unlike other types of code-based law, bankruptcy cases often turn on unique facts that can change the legal analysis making a broad exposure to many 1 Did you know that the word “bankruptcy” is a derivation of the Italian words “banca rotta” which translates in English roughly to “broken bench?” Reportedly, when a Genoan money lender became insolvent the locals broke his work bench. cases invaluable. Especially in times of economic downturns, your particularized knowledge will be in demand!
6. Your Research and Writing Skills Will Soar.
You will learn research and writing skills ranging from quick assessments for court calendar notes, to memos assessing legal issues as well as draft memorandum opinions on unique issues.
7. Rule the Rules.
If you plan to practice in court, you need to know the rules. You will learn many of the applicable rules, including federal rules of bankruptcy procedure, civil procedure and evidence and local bankruptcy rules together with practical procedural tips, tools and forms. This will save you significant time and money (and potential embarrassment) in your future practice.
8. Bankruptcy Has Everything.
Contrary to popular belief, bankruptcy practitioners are the last generalists. Debtors face many issues involving nonbankruptcy law including contract and UCC disputes, family law, real estate, trusts and estates, taxes, intellectual property, regulatory and labor issues. Bankruptcy judges must address many of these issues which often affect debtors’ discharges or plans of reorganization.
9. Excellent Transition Position to Many Diverse Careers.
Being a clerk is a resume enhancer which can lead to many different types of government and private positions, the law clerk pay is competitive and there are no billable hours! Employers value your clerkship experience and often give credit for a clerkship in their pay scales.
10. If You Want to Be a Judge Someday….
Many current bankruptcy judges started their legal careers as externs or law clerks. How do you know unless you try it? Diversity in every aspect is important on the federal bench. Bankruptcy courts are looking for ways to increase diversity by their hiring practices for externs and law clerks. Come one, come all! A Bankruptcy Court Clerkship/Externship/Internship–Check it out today! The National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges is an association of the Bankruptcy Judges of the United States which has several purposes: to provide continuing legal education to judges, lawyers and other involved professionals, to promote cooperation among the Bankruptcy Judges, to secure a greater degree of quality and uniformity in the administration of the Bankruptcy system and to improve the practice of law in the Bankruptcy Courts of the United States