You can boardmail me if you want:

First -- Is your clerkship district or appellate?

Second -- during my clerkship I received several mailers from large international law firms that would not have looked at me before my clerkship. The only reason I did not apply to them is because I got married during my clerkship to a woman I met in my singles ward and her work kept me in Vegas.

So I signed on with one of the largest firms in Vegas.

Here's the deal, in my opinion you should try to work for the biggest, baddest law firm you can for at least some amount of time. Big law firms give big money, but they should also give you great experience that you cannot duplicate at a smaller firm --- UNLESS you go with a firm that is a small boutique shop that is at the top of its game.

You want to work at a firm that has major clients. This generally makes it easier to jump in house -- i.e. you work on a larger merger or large litigation for a client, sometimes they like you enough that they reach out to you to come in house. General Counsel offices are moving the way of becoming mini-law firms. So they recruit the best they can find from the best law firms.

Third -- the Judge you work for should have great insights into who is good and who is bad in the area. Work your tail off for the Judge. Always do your best work. Always review it "one more time" before handing it to the Judge for review. Always be willing to go the extra mile for your judge. Your federal clerkship will stay on your resume forever. Your Judge's opinion of you will bless or curse you forever as well.