Negotiating Clerkship Bonus? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm going to a mid-sized litigation boutique in a major market, non-NYC/DC. Currently clerking for a federal district court.

I accepted an offer from this firm as a summer, so nearly 2 years ago. At the time, the going rate in this market for a d. ct. clerkship bonus was 30K. I'm the only summer to have accepted an offer from my class (boutique = small class). Over the last couple of months, the firm has extended offers to a couple of other clerks to start in the fall. My understanding is that the clerkship bonus at many firms has risen to 50K, and Quinn and some other firms now pay 75K.

My question is this: what is the best way to find out the bonus amount the other folks they just made offers to will receive? Also, is it worth it to try to negotiate a bump to 50K, even if I can't find out what the others are getting?

[rpupkin]

FYI, market rate for clerkship bonuses in major cities has been $50K for at least 8 years. If your firm was paying a $30K clerkship bonus two years ago, then it's not a firm that pays market. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for something higher (it almost never hurts to ask), but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

[Anonymous User]

FYI, market rate for clerkship bonuses in major cities has been $50K for at least 8 years. If your firm was paying a $30K clerkship bonus two years ago, then it's not a firm that pays market. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for something higher (it almost never hurts to ask), but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

This will out my market, but I split my summers both summers. The firm I split with was also offering 30K. I think it's just this particular market. (Yes, I'll just come out and say I'm in Texas).

So I suppose this is a better question: Texas folks who are going to Texas-based firms (NRF, BB, V&E, or other Texas boutiques), are you getting 50K? My recollection during OCI is that the big 3 were paying 30K at the time. What are they paying now?

[Anonymous User]

You can certainly try to negotiate an increased clerkship bonus. They may well give you the new clerkship bonus (if they have upped it). On the other hand, unless you have some leverage (and it is probably close to getting pretty late to gain any leverage in the form of another offer), there may be relatively little incentive for them to give you the increased bonus. But email HR and ask. It can't hurt, and if it is a standard policy, it seems likely that they will give you any increase.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone gotten word of a biglaw firm offering more than $75k for two federal clerkships?

Couple caveats: My question excludes bonuses for the Federal Circuit, Bristow, and SCOTUS. Also, I know Kellogg pays more but they are just too different to be much of a precedent for other big law firms.