Big Law - Law Clerk Salary Forum

[Anonymous User]

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?

[Tr3]

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.

[QContinuum]

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.

Yep. Small/midlaw firms often do pay clerks (significantly) less, but a V50 NY BigLaw firm? No way.

[Anonymous User]

I think Willkie does not pay its law clerks and first years the same salary but I’m not sure how much that is.

[Anonymous User]

I think Willkie does not pay its law clerks and first years the same salary but I’m not sure how much that is.

Can anyone confirm this?

[Anonymous User]

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.

[Anonymous User]

I think Willkie does not pay its law clerks and first years the same salary but I’m not sure how much that is.

Can anyone confirm this?

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]

Willkie's memo on ATL does identify law clerk's separately:

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

[2013]

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.

[QContinuum]

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.

Agree. For instance, it also breaks out summers, though SAs are paid on the same salary scale as first-years.

[Anonymous User]

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

[lawfan2012]

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

I think a weekly salary would make it 3654 * 52 = $190,008

[Anonymous User]

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

I think a weekly salary would make it 3654 * 52 = $190,008

That's correct - we're paid bi-weekly, not semi-monthly. Both SAs and 1st years make $190k.