When I first considered applying for a federal clerkship, the only information I had was a recent graduate’s pitch: “Every former clerk I’ve spoken to has said clerking was the best job they ever had.”

Most people I know who clerked would agree. (But we also know that’s not always the case, as recent news and congressional hearings on sexual harassment in the judiciary show.) Nonetheless, clerking should be, and usually is, a wonderful experience. It can also be a key credential, opening doors to prestigious litigation boutiques and government positions that focus hiring efforts on former clerks.