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Within biglaw it is understood that years spent clerking prior to joining the firm constitute relevant experience for purposes of determining class year, but does this same understanding apply to non-biglaw jobs? (E.g., government jobs, in-house positions, or even positions in small boutique firms).

For instance, if a job posting requires "3-4 years experience at a large law firm," and one has 2 years experience as a clerk (DCt + CoA) plus 1-2 years in biglaw, does that person really fit the job description? I think applying anyway is the best advice, but my question is how a non-biglaw employer would look at years spent clerking (especially if the non-biglaw position doesn't involve directly engaging in litigation).

well if a job posting says "3-4 years of experience" and you are a third or fourth year associate, then I think you fit the bill.

In other words, applying for the position while you are a third or fourth year associate is what counts. If you're coming in from another job, say a government agency, then it would probably be a case-by-case kind of thing.