I have the opportunity to clerk for a judge in an area of law I particularly enjoy and want to go into, but several people have told me it would be a mistake to clerk. My dilemma is whether i should take a clerking position with a judge or get into a law firm and learn how to actually practice law.

My grades aren't top of my class, do to connections I have a shot at a clerkship. I'm just worried that if I apply and get accepted, then I'll be missing out on a big career step at another firm.

Thanks for any advice.

Do you have a job lined up at a law firm?

If you were clerking for a court of appeals judge and you wanted to do appellate work, i'd say take the clerking position. But, cash is king, and law firm experience will trump any clerking position that will pay half as much.

Do you even want to practice bankruptcy?