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Hey all. 3L, some finance work experience before school. Clerking. Have a lit offer at [massive, high ranking biglaw firm].

Kinda wondering if I should bail on lit, for reasons others have described.

Interestingly, my firm told me clerks do not get class credit or bonuses if they go corporate. Maybe I could negotiate this (I do have arguably-relevant experience). Is that policy surprising? When law school began, I thought firm prestige settled the question of whether a clerk could expect $$/standing regardless of practice group.

I think it is probably firm specific. It's an understandable policy/position for a corporate department to take (experience isn't really that relevant), but the prestige and competitive market for associate talent can make that position harder to maintain in practice. I got a year bump and a standard bonus even though I was corporate. I've also heard about firms splitting the difference (for example, someone with a district and appellate clerkship getting one year class year credit if they go corporate, or doing a bonus with an early review period for the class aspect).

I would recommend just doing your clerkship and revisiting the issue as you look for employment as you are likely going to be able to find a corporate firm that gives you the year and the bonus.