Accepting law firm offer for post-clerkship? Forum

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rubixcube02

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Accepting law firm offer for post-clerkship?

Post by rubixcube02 » Sat Sep 25, 2021 6:54 pm

Current 3L here with a clerkship lined up for the year after graduation. I received a full-time offer from the firm I was at for 2L summer, with the option to keep it open until after my clerkship. Happily, thanks to some savings, a bar prep course isn't prohibitively expensive for me, so I'm not factoring my firm covering the bar prep course into my thought process. Is there anything wrong with keeping the offer open until after I'm done clerking, just to keep my options open?

johndonne

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Re: Accepting law firm offer for post-clerkship?

Post by johndonne » Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:58 pm

Ask your judge. She or he may have a policy.

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Re: Accepting law firm offer for post-clerkship?

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:25 pm

Curious about the OP question, and also curious what reneging looks like. I've got a clerkship lined up and am headed to a 100% offer firm after 2L. If I accept but end up with a lit boutique offer post-clerkship, would I generally just have to repay the bar prep costs/stipend? Would the new firm typically reimburse that repayment?

justbrowsingmydude

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Re: Accepting law firm offer for post-clerkship?

Post by justbrowsingmydude » Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:23 am

I am in the same process as all of you. Accepted offer from 2L SA firm, decided to clerk afterwards and then notified the firm. Their policy is that they will not require reimbursement unless you do not go back to them post-clerkship. However, we haven't broached what happens if, for whatever reason, they pull their return offer. This is fairly standard across the board from what I can tell.

The main consideration however is your Judge's policy. Also, as a clerk you cannot receive money (i think this is an absolute but individual judges may have discretion?) from the firm you are returning to until after you finish. Similarly, if your judge is okay with this then you need to be sure that you aren't working on any matters related to the firm you will be joining afterwards.

rubixcube02

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Re: Accepting law firm offer for post-clerkship?

Post by rubixcube02 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 7:33 pm

Thanks all. I asked my judge and his only policy is that I take myself off any cases where my firm is involved. So I'm leaning towards keeping the offer open and paying for the bar myself...anyone see any red flags with this course of action?

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