Big Law - Law Clerk Salary Forum
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Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Hi. I am joining a big law V50 NY corporate practice firm. I just realized that my offer letter states that I will receive a law clerk's salary which is determined by the firm on an annual basis. Any idea what this means? The next line mentions that first-year associates receive 190k.
Do firms pay law clerk's a different salary than first-year law associates?
Do firms pay law clerk's a different salary than first-year law associates?
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Typically "law clerk" just means that you've not yet been admitted to the bar. I haven't heard of any biglaw firm paying less for law clerks. Your title should change after you get admitted.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Yep. Small/midlaw firms often do pay clerks (significantly) less, but a V50 NY BigLaw firm? No way.Tr3 wrote:Typically "law clerk" just means that you've not yet been admitted to the bar. I haven't heard of any biglaw firm paying less for law clerks. Your title should change after you get admitted.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
I think Willkie does not pay its law clerks and first years the same salary but I’m not sure how much that is.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Can anyone confirm this?Anonymous User wrote:I think Willkie does not pay its law clerks and first years the same salary but I’m not sure how much that is.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
I was an hourly law clerk in the NYC office of a large non-NYC firm, but my situation was unusual. I started before the rest of my first-year class (in May as opposed to September) because I had done an LL.M. and had already passed the bar. The firm originally wanted me to start in the fall, but allowed me to work as a law clerk over the summer.
I believe I was paid $80/hr, so about $166k annually based on a 40 hr workweek. This was before the last round of raises, so I was making about $14k less than the $180k I made as an associate.
I believe I was paid $80/hr, so about $166k annually based on a 40 hr workweek. This was before the last round of raises, so I was making about $14k less than the $180k I made as an associate.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
I'm starting at Willkie this fall (current 3L) and have never heard of this before. Offer letter just says first-year salary is 190,000. I would really hope they would be more explicit if law clerks were being paid less.Anonymous User wrote:Can anyone confirm this?Anonymous User wrote:I think Willkie does not pay its law clerks and first years the same salary but I’m not sure how much that is.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Willkie's memo on ATL does identify law clerk's separately:
https://abovethelaw.com/2018/06/todays- ... -raises/2/

https://abovethelaw.com/2018/06/todays- ... -raises/2/

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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Maybe I read the Willkie email differently, but I don’t think it necessarily means that salary is different.
I think it just means that the class of 2018 is not included in the salary scale (because they haven’t started yet), but will be getting paid the same.
I think it just means that the class of 2018 is not included in the salary scale (because they haven’t started yet), but will be getting paid the same.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Agree. For instance, it also breaks out summers, though SAs are paid on the same salary scale as first-years.2013 wrote:Maybe I read the Willkie email differently, but I don’t think it necessarily means that salary is different.
I think it just means that the class of 2018 is not included in the salary scale (because they haven’t started yet), but will be getting paid the same.
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
Willkie SAs are paid $3,654. Source: https://www.nalpdirectory.com/employer_ ... lkie%22%7D
Based on a previous response, the annual compensation would be 3,654 * 4 * 12 = $175,392
Based on a previous response, the annual compensation would be 3,654 * 4 * 12 = $175,392
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
I think a weekly salary would make it 3654 * 52 = $190,008Anonymous User wrote:Willkie SAs are paid $3,654. Source: https://www.nalpdirectory.com/employer_ ... lkie%22%7D
Based on a previous response, the annual compensation would be 3,654 * 4 * 12 = $175,392
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Re: Big Law - Law Clerk Salary
That's correct - we're paid bi-weekly, not semi-monthly. Both SAs and 1st years make $190k.lawfan2012 wrote:I think a weekly salary would make it 3654 * 52 = $190,008Anonymous User wrote:Willkie SAs are paid $3,654. Source: https://www.nalpdirectory.com/employer_ ... lkie%22%7D
Based on a previous response, the annual compensation would be 3,654 * 4 * 12 = $175,392
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