V20 Lit -> Fed Clerk -> Lit Boutique Forum

[Anonymous User]

I've accepted a V20 offer in a major market, and I've missed the boat for clerking. Would working for the v20 firm for a few years and then clerking in a federal district court give me a good shot at lateraling to a firm like Boies? Is the clerkship really necessary for lateraling to a smaller lit boutique (I imagine the sudden pay cut as a clerk would suck)?

[anon168]

I've accepted a V20 offer in a major market, and I've missed the boat for clerking. Would working for the v20 firm for a few years and then clerking in a federal district court give me a good shot at lateraling to a firm like Boies? Is the clerkship really necessary for lateraling to a smaller lit boutique (I imagine the sudden pay cut as a clerk would suck)?

BSF is not a boutique.

That being said, your proposed route (V20-clerk-boutique) is certainly doable. Just depends on what boutique we are talking about.

[Anonymous User]

My judge only hires alums, and we've all had biglaw experience. It seems like the plurality return to their old firms, with the next biggest cohort going to a boutique, then AUSAs, then academia.

[rayiner]

I've accepted a V20 offer in a major market, and I've missed the boat for clerking. Would working for the v20 firm for a few years and then clerking in a federal district court give me a good shot at lateraling to a firm like Boies? Is the clerkship really necessary for lateraling to a smaller lit boutique (I imagine the sudden pay cut as a clerk would suck)?

One year at a firm -> clerk is very common. You could do more years at a firm, but that's less common.

[KidStuddi]

If you clerk after working at a firm, you'll actually be paid more. I've heard from former clerks how they would work side-by-side with their co-clerks doing the exact same work, but co-clerk who had been in private practice for 2 years was making like 10-15k more because of how federal compensation works (note she have been exaggerating the difference in pay, but there is a difference). For that reason, some people argue that going to a firm first is actually the preferable route.

[Anonymous User]

If you clerk after working at a firm, you'll actually be paid more. I've heard from former clerks how they would work side-by-side with their co-clerks doing the exact same work, but co-clerk who had been in private practice for 2 years was making like 10-15k more because of how federal compensation works (note she have been exaggerating the difference in pay, but there is a difference). For that reason, some people argue that going to a firm first is actually the preferable route.

No, the pay difference isn't an exaggeration. Entry level (in my locality) is ~$56K and the next step up is $68K.