What kind of bonus do small claims court clerks get?

4:16 - It's intended to measure the % of people who don't care. I like it.

This is just another example of law firms paying for credentials. Since law school doesn't really prepare you for the actual practice of law, all the firms are paying for is someone who can fill up a decent attorney bio page.

Well, considering that those with Supreme Court credentials would have probably been hired at those firms right out of law school, they potentially sacrificed $100K worth of salary for each year they remained a clerk. (SCOTUS clerks get paid around 60K). For those not privy to mathematics, that's 160K (current first year salary) - 60K. Add the bonus at these firms and that's another $35K at the least.

So, it's not as if these clerks are getting a complete windfall here, they are almost in the same place as any one else in their class year, albeit, with much better future prospects.

"[F]uture prospects" as opposed to past prospects.

Since the bonus is set by market forces, doesn't it have to be just right?

WHITE GIRLS WITH ASIAN GUYS!!!!!!

adam smith,

not necessarily. there are all sort of reasons why markets may not be "just right" (e.g., information asymmetries)

i doubt it that those who are voting "too high" would feel that way if they were receiving those bonuses.

I think the real question is the vetting process for many of these clerks. I clerked in the D.C. District court and knew quite a few D.C. Circuit clerks who acquired S.C. clerkships prior to drafting an opinion because they went to Yale and clerked for the "right judge." I think the fact that there are "feeder" judges is even more problematic . . .

I think I understand the joke behind Loyola 2L. It's that the poster is intentionally unfunny and repetitive to the point that one wants to kill him or her. But could someone explain the "WHITE GIRLS WITH ASIAN GUYS!!!!!!" thing? I'm lost there.

If people choose to make the money-for-prestige tradeoff, they shouldn't get some sweet backend deal at the end of it. That's absurd. Their reward is that they got a prestigious job that thousands of lawyers only WISH they could have. If that's not enough for them, then they can spend those two years actually toiling away at a law firm, rather than living their charmed ivory tower lives.

They're not all THAT much smarter than their classmates who didn't get clerkships. Do you seriously think that the person who goofed and got one B her second year at HLS is worth SO MUCH LESS than the one who got the A and, therefore, the clerkship?

Dear econ dorks,

Zzzzzzzzzzzz.....

econ - it is becoming much more common for the supremes to hire clerks after a year or two at big law, thereby raising their clerkship salaries to over 80. and it is no longer a secret among potential clerks that a year at a firm makes a big difference in pay. ergo, they are even better off than you state.

as - the notion that markets are "correct" is complete bs. adam smith did not believe it either. his 'invisible hand' was consistent with substantial regulation. if markets are always 'just right,' explain the recent action in subprime mortgage lenders.

Anon 2:02: Salaries for Supreme Court clerks, unlike clerks at other levels of the federal judiciary, do not increase based on prior experience. That is, all Supreme Court clerks receive the same salary.

Correct. So, for example, if a NY 5th year went to be a SCT clerk for 60k, taking the missed salary and bonus into account, he/she would actually lose money. Certainly no windfall. Some firms pay full salary while an associate is loaned to a pro bono organization. Firms should also be willing to bring people who clerk back up to full salary.

This is ridiculous. Supreme Court clerks are the "elite" of the law school students. That's not to say that there are others in law school that are extremely intelligent, but SCOTUS clerks obviously achieve a certain amount of prestige over the rest of the lot. Compare SCOTUS clerk salaries and resultant bonuses with those of other elite professions, and they are not out-of-line. Look at investment bankers, pro athletes, etc.

8:19 PM

Yes.

As I wrote in an earlier thread, I don't begrudge these clerks their bonuses. If the firm gets to brag about clerks, then they've got to create a financial incentive to obtain those bragging rights. As to whether they're far and away better lawyers than their peers, I have no doubt that SCOTUS clerks are incredibly talented and intelligent - certainly more talented and intelligent than I am - and that they're more than up to the challenge of working in a large law firm. That said, I do think that there's a prodigal son mentality in that SCOTUS clerks are immediately given a chance to shine at these places whereas others in their class had to slog through shit assignments with crazy partners. SCOTUS clerks are set up to succeed, as they should be considering what they bring from their clerkships to the firm. The rest of us? Not so much.

"I have no doubt that SCOTUS clerks are incredibly talented and intelligent"

Nor I.

"and that they're more than up to the challenge of working in a large law firm"

Um... because being treated like gods and fed peeled grapes while you sit in an ivory tower writing the law of the land and thinking deep, unpragmatic, academic thoughts, and treated as though you shit solid 24-karat gold, makes you qualified for the bitch-slap that is young associate life? Um... right.

Not all SC Clerks take the $$$ and run - many go straight into academia and government jobs.

I think $200,000 is fine for a bonus, I honestly think it should be higher (in addition, other federal clerkships should get a bump in the 15K-35K that they normally get).

I'm taking out $180K in loans to go to school - I need some way to pay them back.

Some traffic court clerks go into academia too. I hope to teach DUI law Wednesday night at the highschool.

Why does everyone toss around the $200,000 number? I heard that some SC Clerks were given a $250,000 bonus last year. One friend of mine clerking on the Court was already offered that much this year by at least one firm.

"Um... because being treated like gods and fed peeled grapes while you sit in an ivory tower writing the law of the land and thinking deep, unpragmatic, academic thoughts, and treated as though you shit solid 24-karat gold, makes you qualified for the bitch-slap that is young associate life? Um... right."

Hey, you said it, Anon 2:06 - not me :).