Which Law Firm Won The SCOTUS Clerk Sweepstakes (Again)?
Is this collection of top talent worth more than $2 million in signing bonuses?
We’re a few days into November, so you know what that means: Biglaw bonuses are just around the corner. Last year, Cravath kicked off the season on December 2, the Monday after Thanksgiving. Law firms have been doing relatively well this year, so let’s hope that the numbers are robust.
Under no circumstances, however, will year-end bonuses at major law firms be as big as the signing bonuses paid to Supreme Court law clerks. Which leading law firm just laid out more than $2 million in SCOTUS clerkship bonuses?
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
For at least the third year in a row, Jones Day hired more Supreme Court clerks than any other firm — and it even upped its haul from six to seven. Six of the seven hires came from the same Term (October Term 2013), which we believe to be the most SCOTUS clerks ever hired by a single firm from a single clerk class. If you’re aware of any firm that has ever hired seven or more SCOTUS clerks from the same Term, let us know.
Over at the Legal Times, Tony Mauro has this report:
Jones Day announced Wednesday it has hired seven former U.S. Supreme Court law clerks as associates in recent weeks. And if the news sounds familiar, that’s because Jones Day hired six former clerks last year and six the year before, for a total of 19 Supreme Court clerk hires in three years.
It is a trend that appears to build on itself, as clerks follow a well-trodden trail to a firm that enables them to keep in contact with fellow and former members of the exclusive club of Supreme Court clerks.
“We are thrilled to have become the firm of choice for this small and highly sought-after group of young lawyers,” said Jones Day partner Beth Heifetz, who chairs the firm’s issues and appeals practice.
How much did the firm pay for this talent? A signing bonus of at least $300,000 per clerk, on top of the usual six-figure base salary. (Some firms paid $330,000 signing bonuses this hiring cycle, but Jones Day denied belonging to the $330K club — at least for the time being.)
Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
Who took second place in the SCOTUS clerk hiring sweepstakes? We believe that would be Orrick, which announced in September its hiring of five former clerks (including three from last Term).
Speaking of SCOTUS clerks, we have almost enough news for a fresh hiring update. If you have information to contribute about a hire for October Term 2015 or beyond, please email us, subject line “SCOTUS Clerk Hiring,” or text us (646-820-8477). Thanks.
Seven More Supreme Court Clerks Join Jones Day [The Blog of Legal Times]
Orrick Hires Five Former Supreme Court Clerks [Supreme Court Brief]
Earlier: Supreme Court Clerk Hiring Watch: Into 2016 We Go — Plus SCOTUS Clerk Bonus News
Which Law Firm Won The SCOTUS Clerk Sweepstakes?
Sponsored
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
