Demotion to a law clerk from being an associate? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I did some research on my firm I'm heading this summer, and according to NALP, these people who summered there at a particular year should have all gotten full time offers. But now I see that they are now a law clerk instead of a full time associate... I looked at their linkedin profile and it confirms that they were once a summer associate but now a law clerk...

Can anyone shed light on what's happening? I'm starting to freak out a bit thinking that this is occurring because of financial troubles within the firm?

[Johann]

Yeah that sounds pretty bad. Only consolation would be bar failed?

[Bildungsroman]

Sometimes firms will label new associates as law clerks until they get admitted to the bar.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. But it can't be that they weren't admitted to the bar yet since it's already what freaking March.

I mean... the situation is from these people supposedly getting an offer as reported on Vault and NALP to now looking on their page to them going from summer associate-->law clerk...

This isn't everybody but for a few people. Optimistically I did see an individual who was listed as a law clerk promoted to an associate so good news?

Also I'm thinking, if a firm offers instead a summer associate a law clerk position post-graduation, does that mean that the firm can report via NALP full offers for that summer class?

[Anonymous User]

OP here. But it can't be that they weren't admitted to the bar yet since it's already what freaking March.

I mean... the situation is from these people supposedly getting an offer as reported on Vault and NALP to now looking on their page to them going from summer associate-->law clerk...

This isn't everybody but for a few people. Optimistically I did see an individual who was listed as a law clerk promoted to an associate so good news?

Also I'm thinking, if a firm offers instead a summer associate a law clerk position post-graduation, does that mean that the firm can report via NALP full offers for that summer class?

This is completely normal. In many states the character and fitness process takes a very long time so people will not actually be admitted into the bar for many months after they've passed the bar exam.

[Anonymous User]

If your firm is in NY this is 100% the reason why they are law clerks. Mostly everyone in NY is a law clerk until atleast Jan. after taking the bar.

[Anonymous User]

Its because they aren't admitted yet. In my class at a NY firm, the very first person admitted was in mid February, and some people weren't admitted until the summer. On top of that, you have to factor in how fast the firm updates website profiles, which doesn't always happen immediately. At this time last year, nearly all of us, save for one or two, were still "law clerks". The firm made a big point that we not hold ourselves out as associates until bar admittance was completely done, and that process is painfully long.

[Anonymous User]

Phew! I talked to a friend about this and he told me that he noticed how in the website, the law clerks didn't state whether they were admitted yet whereas associate profiles did mention their bar admission. I'm sorry for bothering TLS regarding this but hopefully this thread will be useful to someone else in the future who might freak out in a similar fashion like I did.

[Desert Fox]

I've only ever seen it for someone not barred. Non associates will have another title.

If this ny it often takes years to get barred.

[mmelittlechicken]

I've only ever seen it for someone not barred. Non associates will have another title.

If this ny it often takes years to get barred.

[TLSModBot]

So I did some research, and it turns out that some people after entering into law firms were 'barred.' Like, 'barred' from practicing law? Is the firm facing massive ethics violations as well as financial problem? I'm freaking out, man.

[A. Nony Mouse]

So I did some research, and it turns out that some people after entering into law firms were 'barred.' Like, 'barred' from practicing law? Is the firm facing massive ethics violations as well as financial problem? I'm freaking out, man.

Dude, barred means you've been admitted to the bar. You need to calm down. Or stop trolling.

[TLSModBot]

So I did some research, and it turns out that some people after entering into law firms were 'barred.' Like, 'barred' from practicing law? Is the firm facing massive ethics violations as well as financial problem? I'm freaking out, man.

Dude, barred means you've been admitted to the bar. You need to calm down. Or stop trolling.

Are there really people on here dumb enough that the above statement could have been seriously uttered or understood as such?

[A. Nony Mouse]

So I did some research, and it turns out that some people after entering into law firms were 'barred.' Like, 'barred' from practicing law? Is the firm facing massive ethics violations as well as financial problem? I'm freaking out, man.

Dude, barred means you've been admitted to the bar. You need to calm down. Or stop trolling.

Are there really people on here dumb enough that the above statement could have been seriously uttered or understood as such?

Oh, you're not the OP. So there wasn't really any reason to post that anon, then.

[lowly_associate]

So I did some research on my firm I'm heading this summer, and according to NALP, these people who summered there at a particular year should have all gotten full time offers. But now I see that they are now a law clerk instead of a full time associate... I looked at their linkedin profile and it confirms that they were once a summer associate but now a law clerk...

Can anyone shed light on what's happening? I'm starting to freak out a bit thinking that this is occurring because of financial troubles within the firm?

We have a couple like this in my firm. They haven't been demoted or failed the bar, character and fitness is just taking eons. Florida, go figure.