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Many people now clerk a year after law school. But with covid and firm deferrals, that means many first years will be leaving after 6-7 months. For people that found out about their clerkship later in the cycle (after accepting the firm return offer) and especially for those who just recently got a '21 spot, when are you telling your firm?

It seems risky to mention it. I doubt that firms will like the fact that you're leaving after only a few months. On the other hand, the firm deferred and therefore delayed your career start, so in some sense they caused it.

The few month difference is not going to matter. Are you clerking at the municipal traffic court?

Unless you’re doing some useless clerkship like municipal court or some limited jurisdiction state courts not applicable to your biglaw job nobody will bat an eye. It’s a year of training the firm doesn’t have to pay for.

Not a litigator but it looks to me like across biglaw there are first-years who leave to clerk after only about 8 months anyway (even pre-COVID).