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I have been clerking for a bankruptcy judge and am finally getting ready to leave after a 3 year term. I am applying to bankruptcy firms right now and was asked by one if I was applying for a first year associate position. I said yes, but I’m not sure what the standard is generally for law clerks. Do most law clerks go from clerkship to first year associate? Is this something I should be negotiating? I am painfully unaware of how this works.

No. Most would start as at least a second year.

Go back and say second year. You have some skills under your belt. First years don't know anything (including myself).

It is definitely negotiable.

I can't speak for bankruptcy clerkships, but most district court and court of appeals clerks will get credit for their time. Sometimes firms will only offer one year of credit for a two-year clerkship, and rarely a firm will only offer one year of credit for two separate clerkships. But no credit for a clerkship is very uncommon, at least for district/circuit court clerks.

I was a two-year BK clerk and received full class credit. It's unlikely you'd receive three years, however.

Current bankruptcy clerk (3 years of clerking). I recently received an offer proposing to place me as a 2nd year.

You should negotiate - after clerking you should really be slotted as a 2nd or maybe 3rd.

dude you should out the firm that gives you a first-year status, this is simply not right to put a third year law clerk as a stub. Whether you are a mid-level or second-year depends on which judge/ area you clerked for. First year is setting your career back for an entire year while the partners will use you as a mid-level

If youre trying to make partner wouldn't you rather be a relatively experienced associate the firm can bill as a first year than an in over your head third year?

What does it mean to be a 'stub.' Does it refer to the first few months before the new calendar year for all new hires? Or just for those who will be a first year when the new calendar year starts?

If you're in up-or-out big law it may be preferable to start as a first (or second) year rather than trying to get full "class credit". I don't see how you could possibly learn many junior-type tasks through clerking but I also didn't clerk.

the concept that you would rather discredit your experience to gain some edge on billable hours, for the purpose to be a competitive partner candidate in seven years is LAUGHABLE to me. hahahahahahahahah. If you are starting as a first year after three years, it goes on your resume saying "yeah I mailed it in during my entire clerkship career and I clerked at Idaho Bankruptcy court"