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If the firm I'm doing my 2L summer with typically covers bar expenses, but I want to defer their offer (assuming I get one) to clerk for a year, will they still cover bar expenses? Does this vary from firm-to-firm?

I know this is really early, but barbri has that bar review fee matching thing right now so I was wondering if I need to be putting money in or if I can count on the firm paying for it. Thanks in advance!

Generally yes.

Biglaw will cover your bar expenses even if you defer to clerk. The only snag may be your judge - check with him/her (once you get a clerkship) to be sure the judge is OK with it.

I think many judges are not ok with you taking money from a firm. I had to cover my own bar fees, which sucked, but the firm will reimburse me (plus the clerkship bonus) when I get there.

Anonymous User wrote:I think many judges are not ok with you taking money from a firm. I had to cover my own bar fees, which sucked, but the firm will reimburse me (plus the clerkship bonus) when I get there.

Totally depends on the judge, but, for what's it worth, the federal law clerk ethics handbook specifically says it's okay to accept bar exam reimbursement fees while you're still clerking. https://oscar.uscourts.gov/assets/Maint ... s_2011.pdf (see page 25).

My firm paid for bar costs and my judge allowed it. My judge's rule is nothing can get paid by the firm during the clerkship itself. He said as long as they pay everything before I start and I don't accept any advances or other scratch from the firm until my term is over, it's all good.