Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring Forum

(Seek and share information about clerkship applications, clerkship hiring timelines, and post-clerkship employment opportunities)
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Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:16 pm

Nothing. Looking forward to applying to M&A / Cap Markets gigs once I'm kicked out of the hallowed halls of my courthouse.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:24 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:10 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:05 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:19 pm
How many of you are still looking for post-clerkship jobs?

It's now mid-April, which is beyond the sweet spot of early March for post-clerkship hiring, and I'm starting to get really worried. I thought scoring biglaw after clerking would be easy, but it seems like no firms are hiring!
Same. It's been very quiet. d.ct>COA clerk.
D. Ct. clerk. I’ve had interviews this week and last week.
Mind Sharing which markets?

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:27 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:24 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:10 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:05 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:19 pm
How many of you are still looking for post-clerkship jobs?

It's now mid-April, which is beyond the sweet spot of early March for post-clerkship hiring, and I'm starting to get really worried. I thought scoring biglaw after clerking would be easy, but it seems like no firms are hiring!
Same. It's been very quiet. d.ct>COA clerk.
D. Ct. clerk. I’ve had interviews this week and last week.
Mind Sharing which markets?
NY

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:29 pm

I'm a COA clerk and landed a corporate associate position in CA. I will say that if you have a halfway convincing story about why corporate, I think there is demand out there for corporate associates, even if you are coming off a clerkship. I had been planning to apply for corporate positions post-clerkship.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:46 pm

Has anyone managed to land traditional biglaw offers in Chicago?

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Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:25 am

Has anyone heard anything from big law firms in DC? COA clerk over here. Total radio silence so far.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 20, 2021 5:31 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:25 am
Has anyone heard anything from big law firms in DC? COA clerk over here. Total radio silence so far.
Gibson has been hiring for awhile now, but isn't taking many clerks.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:15 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Apr 20, 2021 5:31 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:25 am
Has anyone heard anything from big law firms in DC? COA clerk over here. Total radio silence so far.
Gibson has been hiring for awhile now, but isn't taking many clerks.
Anyone know about Wilmer DC's standards for clerk hiring? Grades, etc

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:01 pm

Anyone know what the standard big law clerkship bonuses are for two clerkships these days? And if firms are generally willing to negotiate for a higher bonus?

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Fireworks2016

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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Fireworks2016 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:06 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:01 pm
Anyone know what the standard big law clerkship bonuses are for two clerkships these days? And if firms are generally willing to negotiate for a higher bonus?
Standard is 70k. Can't speak to whether it can be negotiated upward, but given the relatively slow hiring cycle, I wouldn't bet on it.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 2:38 pm

Fireworks2016 wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:06 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:01 pm
Anyone know what the standard big law clerkship bonuses are for two clerkships these days? And if firms are generally willing to negotiate for a higher bonus?
Standard is 70k. Can't speak to whether it can be negotiated upward, but given the relatively slow hiring cycle, I wouldn't bet on it.
Yes, this is absurd. I'm thinking of stating outright in my cover letters that I'd be willing to forgo both a bonus and class credit.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:49 pm

Trying to get a sense of timelines with post-clerkship interviews and hiring—for people who have interviewed and received offers at BL firms in the past couple of months, are those offers to start in the fall? Is that the typical hiring schedule? Or do some firms ask for immediate availability (I guess depending on when your clerkship ends)?

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:53 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:49 pm
Trying to get a sense of timelines with post-clerkship interviews and hiring—for people who have interviewed and received offers at BL firms in the past couple of months, are those offers to start in the fall? Is that the typical hiring schedule? Or do some firms ask for immediate availability (I guess depending on when your clerkship ends)?
I received a couple offers this month. Everyone preferred if I could start immediately following my clerkship, but most were open to a later (1-2 months) start date.

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Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 4:51 pm

Fireworks2016 wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:06 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:01 pm
Anyone know what the standard big law clerkship bonuses are for two clerkships these days? And if firms are generally willing to negotiate for a higher bonus?
Standard is 70k. Can't speak to whether it can be negotiated upward, but given the relatively slow hiring cycle, I wouldn't bet on it.
How would a candidate go about negotiating, say, if the candidate already has an offer from a firm offering $105k clerkship bonus, but the candidate's top choice is the firm offering the standard $70k? I presume the firm offering $70k wouldn't rescind an offer just because the candidate politely asked for more?

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:06 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 4:51 pm
Fireworks2016 wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:06 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:01 pm
Anyone know what the standard big law clerkship bonuses are for two clerkships these days? And if firms are generally willing to negotiate for a higher bonus?
Standard is 70k. Can't speak to whether it can be negotiated upward, but given the relatively slow hiring cycle, I wouldn't bet on it.
How would a candidate go about negotiating, say, if the candidate already has an offer from a firm offering $105k clerkship bonus, but the candidate's top choice is the firm offering the standard $70k? I presume the firm offering $70k wouldn't rescind an offer just because the candidate politely asked for more?
Other firms have no interest in matching Quinn Emanuel - many have tried.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:28 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:06 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 4:51 pm
Fireworks2016 wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:06 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:01 pm
Anyone know what the standard big law clerkship bonuses are for two clerkships these days? And if firms are generally willing to negotiate for a higher bonus?
Standard is 70k. Can't speak to whether it can be negotiated upward, but given the relatively slow hiring cycle, I wouldn't bet on it.
How would a candidate go about negotiating, say, if the candidate already has an offer from a firm offering $105k clerkship bonus, but the candidate's top choice is the firm offering the standard $70k? I presume the firm offering $70k wouldn't rescind an offer just because the candidate politely asked for more?
Other firms have no interest in matching Quinn Emanuel - many have tried.
I figured, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. I have heard from a recruiter that firms may be willing to negotiate a bit on bonuses, including for clerks.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:00 pm

Any leads/movement in CA? I'm a clerk in CDCA/NDCA/SDCA (not EDCA) and things are not looking good.

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Generic1L

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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Generic1L » Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:33 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:00 pm
Any leads/movement in CA? I'm a clerk in CDCA/NDCA/SDCA (not EDCA) and things are not looking good.
I got an offer from a V50 in SF. I ended up going somewhere else, but it seems like the market is opening up. I'm not IP, so take this with a grain of salt, but it also seems like a lot of CA offices are dying for IP/Patent talent.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:54 pm

Generic1L wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:00 pm
Any leads/movement in CA? I'm a clerk in CDCA/NDCA/SDCA (not EDCA) and things are not looking good.
I got an offer from a V50 in SF. I ended up going somewhere else, but it seems like the market is opening up. I'm not IP, so take this with a grain of salt, but it also seems like a lot of CA offices are dying for IP/Patent talent.
Quoted OP. Did you have previous biglaw experience before clerking? Seems like the majority of firms hiring lit associates (post-clerkship or otherwise) are looking for candidates with 3-5 years of experience.

Generic1L

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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Generic1L » Thu Apr 22, 2021 5:35 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:54 pm
Generic1L wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:00 pm
Any leads/movement in CA? I'm a clerk in CDCA/NDCA/SDCA (not EDCA) and things are not looking good.
I got an offer from a V50 in SF. I ended up going somewhere else, but it seems like the market is opening up. I'm not IP, so take this with a grain of salt, but it also seems like a lot of CA offices are dying for IP/Patent talent.
Quoted OP. Did you have previous biglaw experience before clerking? Seems like the majority of firms hiring lit associates (post-clerkship or otherwise) are looking for candidates with 3-5 years of experience.
I did not. Dist. Ct. -> CoA. But I will say the majority of my interviews came from inside referrals (which includes me reaching out to people I had a tenuous-at-best connection with). And most of those interviews were at firms that did not have a publicly available litigation position. Some of my friends reached out because their firms were giving out ridiculous referral fees, but I'm pretty sure most Biglaw firms give their associates some sort of referral fee. All that to say I'd talk to your pals/former classmates/professors/etc. and see if they can gauge their offices' needs right now.

I'll also note that my practice area seems to be in demand. Because I'm not anon I don't want to speak too specifically, but I'll just say that firms appear to be adjusting to this administration.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:00 pm

So, what happens if August rolls around and you've still got nothing? Because I am headed steadily in that direction. (T6, good grades, unremarkable d.ct. clerkship.)

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Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:34 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:00 pm
Any leads/movement in CA? I'm a clerk in CDCA/NDCA/SDCA (not EDCA) and things are not looking good.
Clerking in one of those districts and received an offer in March from one of the better, big-law and non-boutique firms in SF. I have a few years of big law experience before clerking.

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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:07 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:00 pm
So, what happens if August rolls around and you've still got nothing? Because I am headed steadily in that direction. (T6, good grades, unremarkable d.ct. clerkship.)
Keep the faith. My co-clerk last year landed his associate job in June or July.

Anonymous User
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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:11 pm

Is anyone else starting to lose faith in scoring a litigation position and considering applying to the overwhelming amount of corporate/transaction job postings? And if so, how are you explaining the shift in interest?

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Re: Fall 2021 Post-Clerkship Hiring

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:56 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:11 pm
Is anyone else starting to lose faith in scoring a litigation position and considering applying to the overwhelming amount of corporate/transaction job postings? And if so, how are you explaining the shift in interest?
"I clerked, which is the most litigation-y thing one can do, but realized I hate it and now I want to spend 100 hours a week moving commas around."

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

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