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I've heard of some firms only paying clerkship bonuses to people who clerk right out of law school. Is this the case at most biglaw firms? All? Some? Only a few?

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard of some firms only paying clerkship bonuses to people who clerk right out of law school. Is this the case at most biglaw firms? All? Some? Only a few?

Check NALP.

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard of some firms only paying clerkship bonuses to people who clerk right out of law school. Is this the case at most biglaw firms? All? Some? Only a few?

Are you asking about clerkship bonuses for a law clerk that was an associate before the clerkship? In that situation, I don't think you would qualify for a "clerkship" bonus, but it probably depends on the firm. From what I can tell, you might not get a "clerkship" bonus but you might get a "signing" bonus that takes your clerkship experience into consideration.

legalese_retard wrote:Are you asking about clerkship bonuses for a law clerk that was an associate before the clerkship? In that situation, I don't think you would qualify for a "clerkship" bonus, but it probably depends on the firm. From what I can tell, you might not get a "clerkship" bonus but you might get a "signing" bonus that takes your clerkship experience into consideration.

Do you have any basis for that assumption? Because generally firms award clerkship bonuses to make up for the pay cut/reward associates for developing valuable experience; I'd be surprised if any significant number of them told associates they didn't qualify for the 50k just because they'd worked a year or two prior. I know several alum clerks who did receive bonuses.

bruinfan10 wrote:

legalese_retard wrote:Are you asking about clerkship bonuses for a law clerk that was an associate before the clerkship? In that situation, I don't think you would qualify for a "clerkship" bonus, but it probably depends on the firm. From what I can tell, you might not get a "clerkship" bonus but you might get a "signing" bonus that takes your clerkship experience into consideration.

Do you have any basis for that assumption? Because generally firms award clerkship bonuses to make up for the pay cut/reward associates for developing valuable experience; I'd be surprised if any significant number of them told associates they didn't qualify for the 50k just because they'd worked a year or two prior. I know several alum clerks who did receive bonuses.

All the stuff I read from firms just said, "had prior experience as a clerk for a judge." No mention of time.

But now that I think of it they only showed it for years 1-3. Check S&C's webpage. They had it on there last I checked.

bruinfan10 wrote:

legalese_retard wrote:Are you asking about clerkship bonuses for a law clerk that was an associate before the clerkship? In that situation, I don't think you would qualify for a "clerkship" bonus, but it probably depends on the firm. From what I can tell, you might not get a "clerkship" bonus but you might get a "signing" bonus that takes your clerkship experience into consideration.

Do you have any basis for that assumption? Because generally firms award clerkship bonuses to make up for the pay cut/reward associates for developing valuable experience; I'd be surprised if any significant number of them told associates they didn't qualify for the 50k just because they'd worked a year or two prior. I know several alum clerks who did receive bonuses.

Spoke to an alum clerk that said he was considered a "lateral" hire even though he came directly from a clerkship. As a lateral, he did not qualify for the clerkship bonus.

legalese_retard wrote:

bruinfan10 wrote:

legalese_retard wrote:Are you asking about clerkship bonuses for a law clerk that was an associate before the clerkship? In that situation, I don't think you would qualify for a "clerkship" bonus, but it probably depends on the firm. From what I can tell, you might not get a "clerkship" bonus but you might get a "signing" bonus that takes your clerkship experience into consideration.

Do you have any basis for that assumption? Because generally firms award clerkship bonuses to make up for the pay cut/reward associates for developing valuable experience; I'd be surprised if any significant number of them told associates they didn't qualify for the 50k just because they'd worked a year or two prior. I know several alum clerks who did receive bonuses.

Spoke to an alum clerk that said he was considered a "lateral" hire even though he came directly from a clerkship. As a lateral, he did not qualify for the clerkship bonus.

Ouch, that's a real bummer.

I know at least one V10 whose policy is to pay the clerkship bonus if you work for them, leave to clerk, and then come back to work for them. I'm not sure if they do it for people who didn't work there before they clerk.

Obviously you need to check with your firm, but all of my co-clerks who have returned to their firms have gotten the clerkship bonus (even if they were not returning to litigation).