Thanks for the insight.

Timely post -- this came up today at my firm's partnership meeting. In short: "no, but firms will likely modify clerkship bonus structure."

Here is what my firm is doing (we a market leader in many towns, including my office, DC)
- biggest change: we will no longer offer a bonus to attorneys joining our general litigation practice -- we will continue to offer class credit for district/circuit court clerkships (up to 2 yrs);
- we will continue to offer a competitive bonus for those joinig our appellate/scotus practice from federal appellate/scotus clerkships;
- we will continue to offer a competitive bonus for those joining our IP practice from a fed. circuit clerkship

Definition of "competitive" will likely change -- no double-dipping for back-to-back (non-scotus) clerkships.

hope this helps.

That does help, though I don't like the news. I saw the writing on the wall early last fall, so I applied for district court clerkships in my area. As a result, I'm going to leave a firm to start a two year district court clerkship within the next couple of months. I'm happy to get into a government job for a little while, but I was hoping that I'd get a bonus when I rejoined a firm. Oh well.

11:39 -- 2 years from now may be better. good luck!

penis.

7:57 - and is your firm still hiring clerks?

here are a few dc-firms that i applied to (got accepted at one) and i think are probably are still hiring clerks, some with bonus for lit:
- hogan & hartson
- skadden
- zuckerman spaeder
- kirkland & ellis
- mcdermott will and emery
- wilmer
- omelvany myers
- williams & connley

good luck

vagina

Thanks 7:21

pussy fart.

March 11 (or other commenters w/ knowledge),

What do you mean by "double dipping"? Does this mean a two-year clerk (Dist. to COA) will get the same bonus as a one-year clerk?

On a related note, how does your firm treat a clerk who goes from COA to Dist. then to your firm, for bonus purposes? Is s/he treated as a dist. clerk or a COA clerk?

(I ask because I am a COA clerk and am considering doing a Dist. clerkship in the hopes of getting better offers in Fall '10 or '11 than I am getting now for Fall '09). Thanks for any help.

10:56, how has your search been? I am a dist. clerk and my search hasn't been too great for Fall '09 positions.

10:56 am,

I'm a former COA clerk; current junior partner (biglaw, DC).

Following two consecutive 1-year clerkships (COA and D. Ct., no matter the order), most bigger firms in major markets will continue to bring you in as a third year associate. With biglaw, bonuses over the past few yrs for a 2-year clerkship range from approximately 35k-70k. That may change -- and some firms may get rid of clerkship signing bonuses altogether -- but I'm sure at most firms you will still get 2 yrs credit for 2 yrs of fed clerking. Particularly if you are doing lit.

John