One of the many benefits of having a federal clerkship is the extra bonus you’ll receive if you decide to head to a Biglaw firm post-clerkship. Many elite firms really want people with highly demanding clerkship experience to work for them, and that’s why the high end of bonuses for federal clerks who decide to join some Biglaw and boutique firms post-clerkship can reach six figures. To that end, we’ve recently learned of a yet another litigation powerhouse that’s increased its clerkship signing bonus.
Sources tell us that Quinn Emanuel — a firm that brought in $2,079,448,000 gross revenue in 2023, putting it at No. 18 on the Am Law 100 — has increased its already generous signing bonus for all federal district and appellate court clerkships to $175,000. For a second qualifying clerkship, the firm offers an additional $25,000, for a total signing bonus of $200,000. Click here to see more information on the firm’s U.S. compensation and benefits. It really pays to work for the “most feared” law firm.
So, which other firms are offering six-figure bonuses to former clerks? Hueston Hennigan offers a market-leading $180,000 bonus to federal clerks who join the firm. Boies Schiller offers an impressive $150,000 bonus for all federal clerkships, or $175,000 for those who have completed multiple clerkships. Plaintiffs firm Dovel & Luner offers $140,000 as a clerkship bonus. Cravath offers clerkship bonuses of $125,000, while those who have completed a clerkship of two years or two one-year clerkships will receive a bonus of $150,000. Susman Godfrey offers $125,000 for one clerkship, and $150,000 for two. Fish & Richardson made headlines with an impressive number to former clerks ($115,000), but that only applies to folks with Federal Circuit experience and it requires two years of service as a clerk. Robins Kaplan offers $100,000 bonuses to former federal clerks. Munger Tolles pays a bonus of $80,000 for a single federal clerkship, and $105,000 for those with two federal clerkships under their belt.
With the rush on top talent in a still hot lateral market, what are the other firms waiting for? Don’t they want to capture some of the magic that former federal clerks can offer? If you have information about any firm’s clerkship bonuses, you should email us or text us (646-820-8477) with all the details. Thanks.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
