I currently have a DCt Clerkship lined up for the fall and am slated to start at a firm the following year. The firm is giving me a 50K bonus. I hadn't originally considered applying for COA clerkships because I did not have the flexibility to live outside of where I will be working (NYC). However, I think I will have that flexibility in 2 years (after I finish my first year at the firm). I am therefore considering applying to COA judges around the country for the 2016 term.
Here's my question: will I be able to get an additional bonus if I switch firms after clerking for a COA? I realize the firm that's giving me the 50K won't give me more money, but will a different firm? If there are firms that will do this, which ones?
Second Clerkship Bonus Forum
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legalese_retard
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Re: Second Clerkship Bonus
First, a lot of firms have claw-back provisions tied to their clerkship bonuses. I think most require to pay back your bonus if you leave the firm a year after you started.Anonymous User wrote:I currently have a DCt Clerkship lined up for the fall and am slated to start at a firm the following year. The firm is giving me a 50K bonus. I hadn't originally considered applying for COA clerkships because I did not have the flexibility to live outside of where I will be working (NYC). However, I think I will have that flexibility in 2 years (after I finish my first year at the firm). I am therefore considering applying to COA judges around the country for the 2016 term.
Here's my question: will I be able to get an additional bonus if I switch firms after clerking for a COA? I realize the firm that's giving me the 50K won't give me more money, but will a different firm? If there are firms that will do this, which ones?
Next, a second clerkship bonus based on your scenario will depend on the firm. Some firms will give you a clerkship bonus for the COA clerkship, while other firms may view you as a "lateral hire" and one that does not qualify for the clerkship bonus. However, I think those firms will probably give you a "signing bonus," which would essentially be a second clerkship bonus.
However, you should also consider the implications to your class year designation for partnership/salary determinations. I don't remember the firms, but I have come across firm websites that will only give you "associate class credit" for one year of clerking even if you clerked for more than one judge. So if you clerk for a district court year one, work for the firm year two, and then work for the COA judge for year three, the firm may classify you as a third year associate when you join the new firm, even though you should be a fourth year associate based on your law school graduation year.
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Anonymous User
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Re: Second Clerkship Bonus
I am in roughly the same position that OP is considering (i.e., I clerked on the district court, worked at a firm, and am now clerking on a circuit court). I received a full clerkship bonus from my firm after clerking on the district court, but I did work for over a year. My firm has told me I will be eligible for another bonus if I return (but I don't have any concrete details on this).
My sense is that a second clerkship bonus may be offered to you outright if you go to a different firm, or is something that will be up for negotiation. And if one firm is willing to offer you a bonus, that would give you some leverage to negotiate with other firms.
As to the class year credit, it would be almost unheard of for a large firm in a major market not to give you class credit for two years of clerking. That is standard (at least for the class of firms most federal clerks are considering). A lot of people are now doing two clerkships (including many of the most desired firm applicants), and holding them back a class year would seriously damage a firm's ability to recruit clerks. I do think that if you clerked for three or more years, things could get trickier.
My sense is that a second clerkship bonus may be offered to you outright if you go to a different firm, or is something that will be up for negotiation. And if one firm is willing to offer you a bonus, that would give you some leverage to negotiate with other firms.
As to the class year credit, it would be almost unheard of for a large firm in a major market not to give you class credit for two years of clerking. That is standard (at least for the class of firms most federal clerks are considering). A lot of people are now doing two clerkships (including many of the most desired firm applicants), and holding them back a class year would seriously damage a firm's ability to recruit clerks. I do think that if you clerked for three or more years, things could get trickier.
